What Is Vibe Coding?
Vibe coding is a new way to build software. It uses AI to write the actual code for you. You do not need to type difficult commands. Instead, you act like a manager. You tell the AI your plan. You focus on the "vibe" or the feeling of the app. The AI handles the technical details.
The goal is to move fast. You can build a website or a game in minutes. In the past, this took weeks or months. This method lets you forget that the code even exists. You focus entirely on the result.
The Origin Story
The term comes from a famous computer scientist named Andrej Karpathy. He used to work at OpenAI and Tesla. In February 2025, he posted a tweet that changed everything.
He wrote about a new style of coding. He said he just "gives in to the vibes." He described using tools like Cursor Composer. He would speak to his computer using voice commands. He asked the AI to make changes without looking at the code. If there was an error, he just told the AI to fix it.
This post went viral. It gave a name to what many people were feeling. It showed that AI was finally good enough to take over the hard work.
Why Collins Chose It as Word of the Year
Every year, dictionaries pick a word that captures the mood of the world. In 2025, that mood is about creativity and AI. Collins Dictionary looked at billions of words from websites and books. They saw that "vibe coding" was being used everywhere.
Alex Beecroft is the managing director at Collins. He said the term shows a major shift. It shows how human creativity and machine intelligence are working together. It beat other popular words to take the top spot.
The Runners-Up
The list of other words tells us a lot about 2025.
- Clanker: A mean name for robots or AI.
- Broligarchy: A mix of "bro" and "oligarchy." It refers to rich tech owners.
- Biohacking: Changing your diet or sleep to live longer.
- Micro-retirement: Taking short breaks between jobs to enjoy life.
"Vibe coding" won because it is positive. It is about building things. It offers a promise that anyone can be a creator.
How to Vibe Code: A Simple Workflow
You might wonder how this actually works. It is quite simple. The process usually follows a loop.
- Describe the Goal: You write a prompt in plain English. For example, "Make a website for my bakery".
- Generate: The AI writes the code and builds the site.
- Test: You look at the result. Maybe the colors are wrong.
- Refine: You tell the AI, "Make the buttons blue".
- Repeat: You keep doing this until it looks perfect.
You do not need to read the code files. You just look at the screen and judge the "vibe." If it feels right, you move on.
The Best Tools for Vibe Coding
You cannot do this with just any text editor. You need special AI tools. These tools are smart agents. They understand your project. Learn more to find the best vibe coding tools.
Cursor
Cursor is the most famous tool right now. It looks like a normal code editor but has a brain. It has a feature called "Composer." You can chat with Composer and tell it to change multiple files at once. It uses powerful AI models like Claude 3.5 Sonnet.
Replit
Replit is great for beginners. It runs in your web browser. You do not need to install anything. It has an "Agent" that can plan and build apps for you. It can even deploy your app to the internet with one click.
Lovable
Lovable is a newer tool. It is the "prompt-to-app" generator. You type a prompt, and the AI build a full web application. It can handle the database and the design. Perfect for building a startup idea in a weekend.
Finding the Right Tools
There are so many new tools coming out every week. It can be hard to keep track of them all. You need a guide to help you choose.
Recommended Resource: Vibe-Coding.uk
If you want to start your journey, you should visit vibe-coding.uk. This website is the ultimate tool navigation site for this movement. The site uses vibe coding as its core keyword because it is dedicated to this topic.
The main content of the website is to collect various vibe coding tools. It also lists other development tools. It serves as a trusted guide. You can find categories for AI editors, web builders, and chat assistants. It helps you save time. You do not have to search Google for hours. You can see the best options all in one place. Whether you are a pro or a beginner, vibe-coding.uk helps you find the software you need.
The Risks: The Vibe Coding Hangover
Everything has a downside. This new way of coding is fast, but it can be risky. Experts call this the "Vibe Coding Hangover".
This happens when you build something too fast. You might not understand how it works. Suddenly, the app breaks. You try to ask the AI to fix it, but the AI gets confused. You are stuck with a mess. This is often called "spaghetti code."
Security Dangers
There are also security risks. AI learns from the whole internet. Sometimes it learns bad habits.
- Insecure Code: The AI might use weak passwords.
- Bad Libraries: It might install software that is not safe.
- Data Leaks: If you do not check the code, you might accidentally share private data.
A report by Databricks showed a scary example. They asked an AI to build a game. The AI used a method called "pickle" for the network. This is known to be unsafe. A hacker could have taken over the computer. The user did not know because they never looked at the code.
Vibe Engineering
To fix this, people are talking about "Vibe Engineering." This is a more grown-up version of the trend. It means using AI to be fast, but still being careful. A vibe engineer uses AI, but they also test the work. They make sure the app is safe and strong.
Success Stories
Despite the risks, people are building amazing things. The most famous story is about Pieter Levels. He is a well-known indie developer.
He used AI tools to build a 3D flight simulator game. He did it in just a few hours. He described what he wanted, and the AI wrote the complex logic. The game became a huge hit. It reportedly makes over $50,000 a month.
This proves that you do not need a big team. You do not need millions of dollars. You just need a good idea and the right AI tools.
The Future: What Happens in 2026?
We are only at the beginning. The technology is getting better every day. Experts have some predictions for the next few years.
The Rise of the Orchestrator
Jobs will change. We might not need as many junior coders. Instead, we will need "Orchestrators." These are people who are good at managing AI. They will know how to describe a product perfectly. They will lead a team of AI agents to do the work.
Software Will Be Everywhere
Making software is becoming free. This means we will have more apps than ever. A teacher could make an app just for their class. A local club could have its own social network. The barrier to entry is gone.
Education Will Shift
Schools will change how they teach. Memorizing syntax will be less important. Critical thinking will be key. Students will learn how to design systems. They will learn how to verify AI work.
Conclusion
The selection of "vibe coding" as the Word of the Year is a wake-up call. It tells us that the future is here. We are moving from a world of hard logic to a world of natural intent.
This shift is exciting. It gives power to the people. You can build your dreams without years of study. But it also requires responsibility. We must learn to use these tools safely. We must check our work.
If you are ready to jump in, do not go alone. Use resources to help you. Visit vibe-coding.uk to find the best tools for your project. The world of software is open to you. All you need is a vibe and a voice.