What is vibe coding?
Vibe coding is building software mainly by describing what you want to an AI tool and accepting the code it writes, often without reading it closely. The term was popularised by Andrej Karpathy in February 2025. It is fast and cheap for first versions and prototypes. The weakness is that nobody reviews the parts the prompt did not mention, which is where security and edge-case bugs live.
The tools
App builders such as Lovable, Bolt, v0 and Replit generate and host whole apps from a prompt. AI editors such as Cursor write code inside a developer's project. Most app builders use a hosted backend like Supabase or Firebase. Each has its own page here: Lovable, Bolt, v0, Replit, Cursor.
Where it works and where it does not
It works for prototypes, internal tools, landing pages and first versions to test demand. It needs care for anything holding personal information, taking payments or serving business customers. The answer is not to stop, but to add a test: see build cheap, test properly.
Using it well
Founders who ship vibe coded products successfully tend to do a few things. They write down the rules of the product (who owns what, who sees what) and give them to the tool as instructions. They use a managed backend and auth provider rather than letting the tool invent one. They keep the code in version control and export it regularly. They run a checklist before launch and get the app tested once it holds real data. They add automated tests for anything that broke, so a later regeneration cannot quietly undo a fix.
None of this slows the build much. It changes vibe coding from "hope it works" to "build fast, then verify", which is the argument this site makes: see build cheap, test properly.
Getting it checked
TrazTech offers vibe-coding QA and security review, listed from $2,000 CAD. Get at least one other quote on the same scope; the questions to ask a testing firm help compare them.
Related questions
- Is my vibe coded app secure?
- What security holes do AI-built apps have?
- Vibe coded app security and QA testing
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Get matchedCommon questions
Is vibe coding the same as using Copilot?
Not quite. Autocomplete assists a developer who reads the code. Vibe coding delegates most of the writing and much of the reading.
Do real companies ship vibe coded apps?
Yes, especially first versions. The ones that do well test before real users arrive.