What Is Vibe Coding?
Vibe coding is a natural language-driven, AI-assisted way to build software. Instead of writing every line of code, you describe your desired outcome to an AI system, which then generates functional code. The term was coined by AI researcher Andrej Karpathy in February 2025, describing it as a new approach where you "fully give into the vibes."
The concept resonated so strongly that Collins English Dictionary named "vibe coding" its Word of the Year for 2026. Understanding how to start vibe coding has become essential for anyone wanting to build apps quickly.
The Vibe Coding Workflow
Traditional Coding
- Years learning programming languages
- Write every function manually
- Debug syntax errors for hours
- Weeks to build a simple app
- Expensive developer salaries
Vibe Coding
- No programming experience needed
- Describe what you want in English
- AI handles technical implementation
- Minutes to first working prototype
- Starting at $5/month
Prerequisites (Hint: Almost None!)
One of the most appealing aspects of learning how to get started with vibe coding is that you do not need programming experience. According to Website Builder Expert, vibe coding is designed for anyone who wants to build software without getting stuck in technical complexity.
A Clear Idea
Know what you want to build. The more specific your vision, the better the AI can help you.
A Computer
Any modern computer with internet access. No special hardware or software installations needed.
Some Time
Plan for 1-2 hours for your first session. You will be surprised how quickly you progress.
What You Do NOT Need
Are You Ready for Vibe Coding?
How would you describe your programming experience?
Choosing Your First Vibe Coding Tool
According to Manus.im's 2026 analysis, the top vibe coding tools include Cursor, Lovable, Bolt.new, v0, and Replit. For mobile app development, choosing the right tool is especially important since most web-focused tools do not generate true native apps.
| Tool | Best For | Beginner-Friendly | Pricing |
|---|---|---|---|
| NativelyRecommended | Native mobile apps (iOS + Android) | From $5/mo | |
| Lovable | Web apps with complex backends | From $20/mo | |
| Bolt.new | Browser-based full-stack apps | From $20/mo | |
| Replit Agent | Autonomous development | Free tier | |
| v0 by Vercel | Next.js components | Free tier | |
| Cursor | Developers wanting AI assistance | $20/mo |
Why Natively for Mobile Apps?
If you want to build mobile apps for iOS and Android, Natively is specifically designed for this. Unlike web-focused tools, Natively generates real React Native code with Expo that compiles to truly native apps—not webviews.
- Native performance on iOS and Android
- Full source code ownership
- One-click App Store deployment
- Supabase backend included
- Starting at just $5/month
- No coding experience required
Writing Your First Prompt
According to Softr's best practices guide, the key to successful vibe coding is clear, specific prompts. The more precise your instructions, the better the AI understands what to generate.
Vague Prompt (Avoid)
"Make me an app"
Too vague. The AI does not know what kind of app, who it is for, or what features you need.
Specific Prompt (Good)
"Build a task management app for freelancers that allows them to track daily tasks, set reminders, and view completed tasks by week. Include user authentication and a clean, modern interface."
Clear purpose, target user, specific features, and design preference.
The Perfect Prompt Formula
App Type + Target User
"Build a [type] app for [who]..."
Core Functionality
"...that allows them to [main actions]..."
Key Features
"Include [specific features]..."
Design Preference
"...with a [style] interface."
Try Building Your Own Prompt
Interactive Prompt Builder
Practice writing clear prompts. Fill in the blanks to generate your first vibe coding prompt.
Step-by-Step: Build Your First App with Natively
Here is a hands-on vibe coding tutorial using Natively. This guide follows the best practices outlined by Index.dev's vibe coding guide.
Sign Up for Natively
Go to natively.dev and create your account. No credit card required to start. You will get access to the AI app builder immediately.
Tip: Visit natively.dev/create
Describe Your App
Enter a clear description of what you want to build. For example: "Build a habit tracker app that lets users add daily habits, mark them complete, and see weekly progress with charts."
Tip: Be specific about features
Watch AI Generate Your App
The AI will analyze your description and generate a complete mobile app. This typically takes 2-5 minutes. You will see real-time progress as components are created.
Tip: Generation takes 2-5 minutes
Preview and Test
Use the built-in preview to see your app running. Test all the features. Click through screens to verify the user experience matches your vision.
Tip: Test on real device with Expo Go
Iterate Through Conversation
Refine your app by chatting with the AI. Ask for changes: "Make the home screen show a motivational quote" or "Add a dark mode option". Each iteration improves your app.
Tip: Keep requests focused
Deploy to App Stores
When satisfied, use Expo Launch for one-click deployment to both iOS App Store and Google Play. You can also export the full React Native source code to GitHub.
Tip: Export code or deploy directly
Ready to Start Your First Project?
Describe your app idea and have a working prototype in minutes. No coding required. Full code ownership included.
Start Building NowCommon Beginner Mistakes to Avoid
Based on research from Booststash and Questera AI, here are the vibe coding beginner tips to avoid project-killing mistakes.
Building Too Much at Once
Problem: Trying to create a complex app in one prompt leads to poor results.
Solution: Start small. Build one feature at a time. Iterate through conversation.
Blindly Trusting AI Output
Problem: AI-generated code can contain subtle bugs or security issues.
Solution: Always test your app thoroughly. Review code before production deployment.
Skipping Version Control
Problem: Without backups, one bad prompt can break your entire project.
Solution: Export to GitHub regularly. Keep snapshots of working versions.
Using Vague Prompts
Problem: Generic descriptions produce generic, unusable results.
Solution: Be specific about users, features, and design. Use the prompt formula.
Not Testing After Changes
Problem: Each iteration can introduce regressions you do not notice.
Solution: Test every change immediately. Verify previous features still work.
Giving Up Too Early
Problem: First results rarely match your vision perfectly.
Solution: Vibe coding is iterative. Keep refining through conversation.
Your First Project Ideas
According to Nucamp's 2026 guide, the best first vibe coding project is one you can finish in a week and show to another human. Here are proven starter ideas.
Personal Habit Tracker
Track daily habits, mark completions, view weekly streaks.
Sample prompt:
"Build a habit tracker app where users can add habits, mark them complete daily, and see their streaks."
Recipe Collection App
Save recipes, organize by category, create shopping lists.
Sample prompt:
"Create a recipe app where users can save recipes with photos, organize by category, and generate shopping lists."
Expense Tracker
Log expenses, categorize spending, view monthly charts.
Sample prompt:
"Build an expense tracker with categories, monthly totals, and spending charts."
Workout Logger
Log workouts, track exercises, view progress over time.
Sample prompt:
"Create a workout app to log exercises, sets, reps, and view progress graphs."
Book Reading List
Track books to read, currently reading, and finished.
Sample prompt:
"Build a book tracking app with reading lists, progress tracking, and ratings."
Simple CRM
Manage contacts, track interactions, set follow-up reminders.
Sample prompt:
"Create a simple CRM to manage contacts, log interactions, and set reminder notifications."
The 7-Day Vibe Coding Challenge
Pick your idea
One specific problem
Research
Talk to 2-3 users
Setup tool
Complete a tutorial
Build v1
First working version
Test & fix
Fix obvious bugs
Polish
Improve UX
Ship it
Deploy or share
Frequently Asked Questions
What do I need to know before starting vibe coding?
Almost nothing! Vibe coding is designed for non-developers. You do not need programming experience. However, having a clear idea of what you want to build and basic computer literacy helps. The AI handles the technical implementation while you focus on describing what you want.
Which vibe coding tool should beginners use?
For complete beginners building mobile apps, Natively offers the easiest path with AI-powered generation from text descriptions. For web apps, Lovable and Bolt.new are beginner-friendly. Replit Agent is good for those who want more control. Start with one tool, master it, then explore others.
How long does it take to build an app with vibe coding?
A simple app can be generated in 2-5 minutes. A polished MVP typically takes 1-3 days of iterative refinement. Complex applications may require 1-2 weeks. The speed advantage over traditional development is 40-60% according to industry studies.
Is vibe coding safe for production apps?
Vibe coding is excellent for MVPs, prototypes, and apps serving up to 10,000 users. For production, always review AI-generated code for security issues. Choose platforms like Natively that generate exportable, standard code you can have developers review before launch.
What are the biggest mistakes beginners make in vibe coding?
The top mistakes are: using vague prompts instead of specific descriptions, trying to build too much at once, blindly trusting AI output without review, skipping version control, and not testing after each change. Success comes from clear communication with AI and iterative refinement.