It’s a Vibe, dude.
How AI is changing the way we build – just set the vibe, and let it happen.
Last time, we talked about Wispr Flow and how it lets you talk your ideas directly into a code editor - clean, efficient, and actually useful. Today, we’re taking that a step further with vibe coding - a mindset shift that changes how we interact with AI when writing software.
This week, there’s been some debate on Hacker News and YouTube about the term "vibe coding." Coined by Andrej Karpathy, it’s not a structured process with steps to follow. Instead, it’s about giving AI natural instructions and letting it fill in the details - turning vague ideas into real, working prototypes.
Instead of getting bogged down in every if statement, CSS tweak, or config file, you set the vibe, and the AI makes it happen. The result? A working thing in an hour or two, not sprints of work. No fluff. No overthinking. Just results.
From Natural Speech to Vibe Coding
Vibe coding is not just about tools like Wispr Flow - it’s about a new way of interacting with AI that feels more fluid and human. The goal? Speak your requirements naturally, and trust the agentic interfaces you’re using - whether it’s Cline, v0, Cursor, or Windsurf - to interpret and execute them.
With vibe coding, instead of manually tweaking CSS or refactoring code, you might just say:
➡️ "Reduce the sidebar padding by half."
➡️ "Rewrite this function to be more efficient."
➡️ "Generate a REST API with authentication."
The AI interprets, executes, and delivers. It’s a shift from traditional development workflows - less micromanagement, more collaboration with AI.
Imagine this: You’re working through a new feature enhancement but struggling to put your thoughts into precise spec documents. Instead of drafting a long PRD, you describe it conversationally to v0, which then produces a functional mockup. Suddenly, your engineering team has something tangible rather than abstract words.
Or maybe you’re dealing with stakeholders - a HIPPO (highest paid person’s opinion) is barking about a me-too feature a competitor has, or just some other hype train BS. Rather than debating hypotheticals, you spin up a quick prototype, showing them what their vision might actually look like.
This is vibe coding. You talk. AI builds. Don’t read the output. Paste in the errors and let the agent do its thing.
Core Principles of Vibe Coding
What Vibe Coding Is:
✅ Intent-driven - You define what you want, and AI handles the how.
✅ Fast & iterative - Speed matters. The goal is to get something functional, then refine.
✅ Fluid & flexible - No rigid steps, just a continuous feedback loop between you and the AI.
✅ About outcomes, not process - If it works, it works. No need to obsess over structure.
✅ A creative collaboration - AI is your partner, not just a tool. You guide it, but you also adapt to its suggestions.
What Vibe Coding Isn’t:
❌ A replacement for engineering skills - Knowing what good code looks like still matters.
❌ A one-shot solution - AI is great, but expect some trial and error.
❌ A rigid framework - There’s no "right way" to do vibe coding—it’s about what gets results.
❌ Just another automation tool - This isn’t about replacing dev work—it’s about changing how we think about building.
Tools for Vibe Coding
The right tools make vibe coding feel natural. Here are three that take it from an interesting idea to a practical workflow:
🗣 Wispr - Speaking Ideas into Code
The best way I’ve seen for speech-to-text input. Talk your ideas out loud and let AI handle the transcription - no stopping to type, no breaking flow. If you want to think and build in real time, this is your starting point.
🎨 v0 - From Thoughts to Mockups
Use Wispr to describe what kind of interface you're imagining. Who are the users? What do they expect? What’s the look, feel, and - most importantly - the vibe? Let v0 generate the first pass, then iterate by talking through refinements. Once you're happy, you can share it easily to communicate your thinking with others.
💻 Cursor (or Windsurf) - Context-Driven AI Development
Where it gets deeper. Sure, you can do UI work here too, but the real magic is in giving proper context and guiding your way through flows. Speak out loud what you’re trying to achieve, feed it as much detail as possible, and let AI work with you. The more you give, the better it gets.
Example: You’re refining a complex user journey, like onboarding flows or checkout optimisations. Instead of endlessly tweaking Figma, describe the flow in Cursor - who the user is, what they need to see, how friction should be reduced. AI won’t just generate screens; it can suggest better logical steps based on the goals you outline.
Why This Matters for Product People
For PMs, designers, and engineers who focus on building rather than getting lost in syntax, vibe coding is a powerful technique. Here’s what it means in practice:
💡 Rapid Prototyping
No more waiting for a dev sprint just to see if an idea holds up. Tools like v0 let you spin up functional interfaces instantly. Take the concept to 3 amigos or refinement.
🎙️ Frictionless Communication
Wispr Flow already lets you skip technical jargon and speak ideas into existence. Vibe coding extends that - giving intent instead of micromanaging implementation.
🚀 Faster Iteration
Over-engineering kills momentum. Vibe coding cuts through the noise so you can focus on what actually matters - shipping something real.
I make stuff with the vibes
Yesterday, I put the principles of vibe coding into action by building an AI chat interface for my Raspberry Pi NAS. Yes, this is a bit on the nerdy side, and I don’t apologise for that, but I’ve been working on using DeepSeek R1 to manage all aspects of my NAS (called, umm, nasty). Because this stuff is hard if you don’t know how.
Instead of manually planning every detail, I used natural language prompts to guide the AI into building out my UI vision. The result? A working prototype that reflects what I had in mind. Check it out here
Over 100 prompts later, I had something real to work with. While that’s excessive for a practical context, it demonstrates the power of iterative development. If you're applying this in a business setting, you shouldn’t really take more than an hour or two (or 10-30 prompts) to validate an idea - you’ve probably got other stuff to be doing. Anything more, and you risk diving too deep into a solution before testing if it meets real user or business needs.
💡 The goal wasn’t perfection - it’s iteration. You’re not aiming to create a final product, but to convey an idea, spark discussion, and explore possibilities.
Yet the Vibe Isn't Just for Code Generation
Speaking to your AI tools can be used in a number of different ways beyond just generating code. Natural language input isn't just for development - it’s an incredibly powerful way to expand your thinking, refine ideas, and create structured output quickly.
For example, you might:
📝 Brainstorm content - Talking to ChatGPT or Claude to build out ideas for articles, blog posts, or even quick stat-based LinkedIn posts.
📊 Control spreadsheets - Using Wispr with Google Sheets or in Excel with Copilot to manipulate data, build charts, or automate repetitive tasks just by speaking.
🔄 Integrate AI into workflows - Applying natural language to various text input fields across different tools to structure thinking, generate drafts, and bring concepts to life faster.
It’s about setting the vibe, man. Remember?
Final Thoughts
Vibe coding isn’t about being reckless with AI-generated code. It’s about speed, efficiency, and getting things working. You’re not writing a manual. You’re setting a tone.
This shift is happening fast, and if you’ve ever spent too much time tweaking pixels or refactoring boilerplate, you already know why it’s a big deal.
So - have you tried letting AI take the wheel on your projects? Does it feel like freedom, or does it feel chaotic? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and let’s talk about what vibe coding means for how we iterate and build faster.