
In recent months, the way developers and programmers approach writing code has changed profoundly, introducing the concept of "Vibe Coding" thanks to Artificial Intelligence tools that automate and simplify code writing and review. Among the main IDEs with the assistance of AI we find Visual Studio Code (VSCode) with Copilot e Cursor, which can "predict" the code the programmer is writing, allows you to talk to the AI to solve problems in the code in real time, and can find bugs and inconsistencies on its own.
In this scenario, the emerging concept of "vibe coding" fits in: a paradigm in which programming becomes an increasingly creative, intuitive and interactive activity, rather than purely technical. But is all that glitters gold?
What is Vibe Coding?
Vibe coding is a new approach to software development, in which the programmer works in synergy with Artificial Intelligence to generate code in a more fluid, intuitive and immediate way. This technique is based on the combination of human intuition and creativity with the speed, precision and breadth of knowledge of AI tools such as GitHub Copilot or Cursor. The goal is to make the development process less mechanical and more dynamic, allowing the developer to focus more on logic and creativity, delegating repetitive and routine aspects to the machine instead.
How Vibe Coding is Changing the Programming Profession
Traditionally, software development was dominated by detailed, manual code writing, often requiring repetitive tasks and lengthy debugging sessions. Today, with advanced AI-based tools, the programmer is increasingly taking on the role of “creative supervisor,” leveraging AI’s ability to quickly write functional code and fix its imperfections. This shift makes the role more focused on logical design, innovation, and workflow management, rather than meticulously writing code.
Among the main advantages are increased productivity, thanks to the drastic reduction in the time needed to write code. AI solutions anticipate and complete the programmer's work, allowing him to dedicate himself to more strategic tasks. In addition, these tools reduce errors, helping to quickly identify bugs and syntactic problems, thus improving the overall quality of the code. Finally, the reduced cognitive load allows programmers to dedicate more time to the creative and innovative aspect of development.
Despite the many advantages, there are also some important critical issues. For example, a possible over-reliance on AI could cause a loss of fundamental skills. Furthermore, AI could produce code that is functional but not 100% optimized or efficient, also complicating the review and debugging phase, especially for less experienced developers.
Benefits of Vibe Coding
- Increased productivity thanks to reduced development times.
- Dramatically reduced errors and increased code quality.
- More space for creativity and innovation.
Critical Issues and Limitations
- Possible loss of key skills.
- The quality of the automatically generated code is not always optimal.
- Complexity in code review and debugging.
- Privacy concerns: In many cases, the code that is written is sent to external servers in order to process the AI's responses
Comparison of the main tools for Vibe Coding
Let's now see an overview of the main tools available for vibe coding, with particular attention to features and costs:
tool | IDE Integration | Average monthly cost | Main strengths |
---|---|---|---|
GitHub Copilot | High (VSCode, JetBrains) | 10$ | Reliability, large community, ease of use |
Cursor | High (dedicated IDE) | 20$ | Advanced customization, optimized workflow |
Amazon Code Whisperer | Media (AWS Cloud9, VSCode) | Free with AWS, then pay-as-you-go | Perfect for AWS Cloud environments |
TabNine | High (multi-platform) | 15$ | Speed and lightness in code generation |
JetBrains AI Assistant | High (JetBrains Suite) | Included in JetBrains subscriptions | Great integration with JetBrains ecosystem |
Criticism from the developer world
There is no shortage of criticism of these new AI-based tools. Some experienced developers argue that vibe coding risks devaluing the profession, making it easier for less skilled people to enter the sector and generate lower-quality code. This could lead to the spread of technical problems that are not immediately detectable, security vulnerabilities, and inefficiencies. Therefore, it is essential to balance the use of AI with solid technical skills and a thorough review of the generated code.
Privacy and code security risks
Security and privacy are sensitive issues when it comes to AI coding tools. Many tools operate on cloud platforms that may handle or store sensitive code fragments, potentially posing privacy and intellectual property risks. Additionally, automatically generated code may introduce security vulnerability not easily identifiable by the programmer. It is therefore essential to establish clear policies for handling sensitive data and implement thorough code reviews.
Future Prospects of Vibe Coding
The future of vibe coding looks very promising. With the continued evolution of AI technologies like GPT-5 and advanced automatic code generation models, IDEs will be increasingly capable of accurately predicting and meeting developer needs. However, ethical and legal issues surrounding the liability of automatically generated code will also need to be addressed.
Conclusions
Vibe coding certainly represents a revolution in software development, redefining the profession of the programmer in terms of creativity and productivity. Although it offers significant advantages, it is necessary to carefully address its critical issues, promoting a conscious use of AI tools to ensure safety, quality and sustainability over time.