What if you could build software without learning to code?
Not drag-and-drop website builders with templates and limitations. Real, custom software. Apps that do exactly what you want. Websites that look exactly how you imagined.
Just by describing what you want.
That's vibe coding. And it's not a fantasy — it's happening right now.
What is Vibe Coding?
The term comes from Andrej Karpathy — former Tesla AI director and OpenAI founding member. He noticed something: people were building real software just by talking to AI, describing what they wanted, and iterating until it was right.
No syntax. No studying. No debugging cryptic error messages.
Just... vibes.
Vibe coding is:
- Describing what you want in plain English
- AI handles the actual code
- You guide the direction and make decisions
- Iterate until it's right
The key insight: You already know what you want to build. You just don't know how to build it. Vibe coding removes the "how."
Who is This For?
Vibe coding is for anyone who:
| If you... | Vibe coding is for you |
|---|---|
| Have ideas but can't code | Yes |
| Tried learning to code but got frustrated | Yes |
| Don't want to spend months learning syntax | Yes |
| Want to build something specific, not become a developer | Yes |
| Can describe what you want clearly | Yes |
You don't need:
- Programming experience
- Technical background
- Math skills
- Computer science degree
- Any prior knowledge
If you can explain what you want to a person, you can vibe code.
What Can You Build?
Real things. Useful things. Things that actually work.
Easy to Build
- Personal websites — Portfolios, bio pages, resumes
- Simple apps — Habit trackers, calculators, converters
- Landing pages — For your business, side project, or idea
- Internal tools — Dashboards, forms, trackers for work
- Data tools — Visualizations, spreadsheet replacements
- Prototypes — Test your startup idea before hiring developers
- Automations — Scripts that save you time
Harder (For Now)
- Complex multiplayer games
- Real-time systems with millisecond precision
- Low-level hardware software
- Highly specialized scientific algorithms
But for 90% of what most people want to build? Vibe coding works.
Getting Started
Here's your step-by-step guide to your first vibe coding project.
Step 1: Pick a Tool
You have options:
| Tool | Best For |
|---|---|
| Orbit | Full projects, serious building, agent-first |
| ChatGPT / Claude | Small scripts, quick answers |
| Bolt.new, Lovable, v0 | Quick app generation, prototypes |
For anything beyond a simple script, use an agent-first tool like Orbit. It's designed for building, not just chatting.
Step 2: Start Small
Don't start with your startup idea.
Start with something simple to learn the flow:
- A personal bio page
- A simple tip calculator
- A reading list tracker
- A random quote generator
You'll learn how vibe coding works without the pressure of a big project.
Step 3: Describe Clearly
The better you describe, the better results you get.
Less effective:
"Build me an app"
More effective:
"Build a web app where I can add books I want to read, mark them as read when I finish, and rate them 1-5 stars. Show a list of all my books sorted by rating. Simple, clean design."
Include in your description:
- What it should do (features)
- What it should look like (roughly)
- Who will use it
- Any specific requirements
You don't need to be technical. Just be specific.
Step 4: Iterate
The first result won't be perfect. That's completely fine.
Vibe coding is a conversation:
- "Make the button blue instead of gray"
- "Add a search bar at the top"
- "The date format is wrong — use MM/DD/YYYY"
- "Can you make the text bigger?"
- "Add a way to delete items"
Each iteration gets you closer. Don't accept the first output — keep refining.
Step 5: Ship It
When you're happy with what you've built, deploy it.
Most tools have one-click deployment. Hit the button, and your creation is live on the internet. Real URL. Real website. Built by you.
That's it. You just built software.
Tips for Better Results
After watching thousands of people vibe code, here's what separates good results from great results:
Be Specific
| Vague | Specific |
|---|---|
| "Make it look better" | "Use a dark background with white text, bigger headers, and more spacing between sections" |
| "Add some features" | "Add a search bar and a filter for date range" |
| "Fix the design" | "Make the buttons rounded with a subtle shadow" |
Specificity gets results.
Break Complex Things Down
Don't do this:
"Build me a full e-commerce site with payments, user accounts, inventory management, and shipping integration"
Do this:
"Let's start with a page that shows a list of products with images and prices"
Then add features one at a time. Complex projects are just simple projects stacked together.
Describe the User Flow
Walk through how someone would use your app:
"When someone visits, they see a welcome screen with a 'Get Started' button. When they click it, they go to a form where they enter their name and email. After submitting, they see a dashboard with their information."
This helps the AI understand context and connections.
Use Examples
References are powerful:
- "Make it look like Notion's sidebar"
- "Similar to how Spotify shows album covers"
- "Layout like a Twitter profile page"
You don't need to describe everything from scratch.
Don't Accept Bad Results
If something's wrong, say so. Be direct:
- "This isn't what I asked for"
- "The layout is broken on mobile"
- "This feature doesn't work when I click it"
Iterate until it's actually right.
Mistakes to Avoid
Learn from others' mistakes:
Starting Too Big
The mistake: Trying to build your full vision in one prompt.
The fix: Start with the smallest useful version. Add features after the core works.
Accepting First Output
The mistake: Assuming the first result is final.
The fix: Plan to iterate. First output is a starting point, not the finish line.
Being Too Vague
The mistake: "Build me something cool"
The fix: Describe specifically what you want, who it's for, and how it should work.
Ignoring Errors
The mistake: Seeing something broken and hoping it fixes itself.
The fix: Describe the error clearly. "When I click X, Y happens instead of Z."
Not Testing
The mistake: Looking at your creation without actually using it.
The fix: Click every button. Fill every form. Test on mobile. Find problems before users do.
Do You Need to Learn to Code Eventually?
Honest answer: probably not.
For most projects, vibe coding can take you all the way. You can build, ship, and maintain real software without ever writing code yourself.
But here's something interesting:
You're already learning.
Every time you describe what you want, you're learning to think like a developer. Every iteration teaches you how software works. Every error you fix teaches you debugging.
Vibe coders often pick up programming concepts naturally — not from studying, but from building.
If you eventually want to learn traditional coding:
- You'll have context that bootcamp students don't
- You'll understand why things work, not just syntax
- The transition will be easier
But it's not required. Vibe coding is a complete skill on its own.
The Future is Building by Describing
Here's what's true right now:
- You can build real software without learning to code
- AI handles the implementation
- You handle the ideas and decisions
- The barrier between "idea" and "working software" is disappearing
A year ago, this wasn't possible. A year from now, it'll be even easier.
The people who start vibe coding now will have a massive head start. They'll have built things. They'll understand the flow. They'll have shipped.
You don't need permission to build software anymore.
You just need to start.
Ready to Try Vibe Coding?
Orbit is built for vibe coders. Describe what you want, AI agents build it. No setup, no configuration, no coding required.
- Describe your idea in plain English
- Watch AI agents build it in real-time
- Iterate by just talking
- Ship with one click
Or learn more about Orbit for vibe coders.