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Tuesday, April 1, 2025 9

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What is vibe coding, and how

needs. While human project managers
and coders can precisely frame how the
code needs to take shape in order to best
serve a specific use case, an AI code

does it help non-coders? generator may not understand the larger

context of what it is creating. In other
words, a gen AI tool may indeed produce
the code that the user requested, but this
generated code might be too slow to run,
When it comes to non-programmers, vibe coding can be a fun way to generate code for personal projects too expensive to maintain, and too long to
without formally learning the more technical parts of the skill scan regularly for security risks. This will
require further fixes and customisation in
the future, either by the AI model or even
Sahana Venugopal a human.
Mr. Karpathy himself noted that
The story so far: AI-generated code “grows beyond my
n February, OpenAI co-founder and usual comprehension, I’d have to really

I former Tesla employee Andrej

Karpathy described a coding
process by which he commanded a
Large Language Model (LLM) to generate
code. He ran the results, copy-pasted
read through it for a while.” Similarly, a
product such as an app or a website that
relies on huge banks of AI-generated code
created with just “vibes” will be harder —
and more expensive — for humans to
content, and let the system figure out maintain and upgrade at periodic
errors so he could surrender to the intervals. Though experienced users like
“vibes” of coding instead of actually Mr. Karpathy can review their
focusing on the highly technical details of AI-generated code, spot errors, shorten it,
code creation. “There’s a new kind of plug security vulnerabilities, increase
coding I call ‘vibe coding’, where you fully speeds, edit the text prompts, or carry
give in to the vibes, embrace out other advanced processes, untrained FROM THE ARCHIVES
exponentials, and forget that the code vibe coders will not be able to make sense
even exists. It’s possible because the LLMs of the letters, numbers, and symbols in
(e.g. Cursor Composer w [sic] Sonnet) are the code.
Know your
f1ccf833-44c4-4575-b5cd-33fe76bd21c0

f1ccf833-44c4-4575-b5cd-33fe76bd21c0
getting too good,” Mr. Karpathy posted on Another major disadvantage of
X. And so, “vibe coding” was coined. The AI-generated code is that it is difficult to
term has taken on a life of its own after AI
companies released a series of new
models designed to help users generate
hold someone responsible when there are
incidents such as major bugs or security
exploits.
English
code, even if they don’t know coding. On a separate note, the very idea of
AI-generated code may be abhorrent to K. Subramanian
How does vibe coding work? those who see coding as a creative art S. Upendran
Think of a digital tool you would like to form. This is similar to the way many
build, or a virtual task you might like to creators object to AI-generated stories, “Do you think your boss will give you a
carry out, like building an AI model that music, or art. Other critics have claimed raise?”
helps you learn a new language, that vibe coders are simply copying or “I don’t know. I’m afraid to even think
developing an app to remind you to drink scraping older codes generated by other about it.”
water every hour, designing a personal humans, raising ethical and plagiarism “You know, sometimes you say ‘afraid
website with an attractive video playing in concerns when such machine-generated to’ and sometimes ‘afraid of’. When do
the background, or even alphabetising a code is used in competitions, hackathons, you use which?”
list of 500 names in an Excel sheet. To a job applications, or funding ventures. “You normally use ‘afraid of’ when
non-coder, these are daunting tasks. One you’re sacred of someone or something.
may need to hire experts, carry out Will vibe coding replace traditional For example, many children are afraid of
extensive research independently, look coding? the dark. Hyenas are afraid of lions.”
for workarounds that do not involve This is highly unlikely. AI coding tools are “Can I say, some of the best batsmen in
coding, or even just bite the bullet and still highly experimental at this point in the world are afraid of Anil Kumble?”
learn how to code. With generative AI time. Though machine-generated code is You most certainly can. It is also
tools, users can now build an app by being used to build everything from apps possible to say, most batsmen in the
typing text prompts describing the kind of to AI models, their generators are still world are afraid to face Anil Kumble.”
code they want. All they have to do is prone to making mistakes or producing “ ‘Afraid to face’? When do you use
simply copy and paste the code to get the unwieldy code due to a lack of context ‘afraid to’?”
desired output. But the outcome isn’t regarding why the code is being “It is generally used when you’re
always what one expected. generated. Furthermore, it is exceedingly sacred of doing something.”
For example, we asked an AI tool to reckless to turn over your entire database “I’m afraid to ask my boss for a raise.
generate Javascript code for a pop-up that to an LLM just to give it more context for The Vice-Chancellor is afraid to ask the
would ask users which pizza flavour they basic code generation. However, AI striking students to go back to class.”
hated the most, and praise the user’s coding tools are rapidly improving, with “ ‘Afraid to’ also means ‘hesitate to’.
“good taste” if their answer included the offerings like Cursor considering the Don’t be afraid to tell me if you need any
term “pineapple” anywhere. While the user’s context and their coding style. help.”
code for this request was successfully The essence of vibe coding is that the “So, when you use ‘afraid to’, it is
generated, the AI tool added some extra coder is not engaging seriously with their usually followed by a verb. Is that right?”
code so that the system would comment results and lacks line-by-line “Yes! And ‘afraid of’ is followed by a
“Interesting choice!” to users who comprehension of their own code. While noun.”
provided other pizza flavours. This was such a half-baked approach may work out “I see. My grandmother is afraid to get
something the original user forgot to for playful apps or games meant for into a moving train.”
consider. personal use, businesses and enterprises “You generally don’t ‘get into’ a train,
Though a beginner can run such codes, that serve real users need their code to be you ‘get on’ a train.”
they will have no idea whether the code GETTY IMAGES coherent to those who make it and “Get on?”
generated by AI could be shorter, more manage it. Mr. Karpathy himself noted “That is right. You ‘get into’ a
efficient, or tweaked to be more traditional way. generating code with AI was “not too bad that vibe coding had an element of compartment, but ‘get on’ a train or a
user-friendly. In essence, we ran the For programmers who have a basic for throwaway weekend projects.” He laziness and involved making plane.”
AI-generated code, but neither created idea of what to do, vibe coding can help shared a basic game and a small AI low-intelligence queries. “I ask for the “I see. But what about a car?”
nor thought about its structure. complete simple projects, identify basic assistant/reading guide that he built when dumbest things like “decrease the “You ‘get into’ or ‘get out’ of a car. But
errors, or implement quick bug fixes to vibe coding. padding on the sidebar by half” because you ‘get on’ and ‘get off’ a plane, train,
What are advantages of vibe coding? speed up the development process. I’m too lazy to find it. I “Accept All” bike, scooter, etc.”
When it comes to non-programmers, vibe Again, this applies to low-stakes scenarios What are the disadvantages? always, I don’t read the diffs anymore. “Is it ok to say, the Prime Minister got
coding can be a fun way to generate code where any coding mistakes and omissions Vibe coding becomes a major problem as When I get error messages I just copy off the plane at Delhi.”
for personal projects without formally will not lead to catastrophic well as a massive security risk when it is paste them in with no comment, usually “Yes, it is. But these days, the word
learning the more technical parts of the consequences. seen as a way to replace experienced that fixes it,” he had posted on X. ‘deplane’ is used very often.”
skill. Vibe coding is also an option for In the case of experts and highly human coders with amateurs or It is not likely that well-established or “Deplane! What does it mean?”
those who dislike the coding process but trained software developers, vibe coding untrained coders who give orders to AI well-funded companies would allow their “It means to get off the plane. For
require it for low-stakes projects and can be used in conjunction with chatbots instead of coding from scratch or products to be built in such a shoddy example, the President deplaned in
low-risk tasks. Vibe coding can expose traditional coding methods in order to understanding existing codebases. fashion. Vibe coders also cannot compete Delhi.”
newbies to a dizzying range of computer channel one’s time or energy into those This is because no code exists in a with professional human coders who “So, if you get off the train, can you say
languages, coding methodologies, tasks that require the most intervention, vacuum. Enterprise-level codes are leverage AI coding in a skilled manner. ‘detrain’?”
technical uses, and problem-solving so that minor or more generic parts of the painstakingly written and stress-tested to But as an increasing number of codebases “Who knows? May be people will start
approaches in order to ignite their workflow are handled by the machine. serve specific business, medical, become AI-generated, it is high time to using it very soon.”
interest in learning how to code the Mr. Karpathy himself noted that educational, scientific, or technological scrutinise the viability of vibe coding. “By the way, what is ‘squidgy’?”
“It means ‘soft and moist, soggy’. Do
you know what ‘squiffy’ means?”
“No”.
“It means ‘slightly drunk’.”
Please send in your answers to Published in The Hindu on December
THE DAILY QUIZ dailyquiz@thehindu.co.in 19, 1995.

Makers of the Malayalam movie ‘Empuraan’ have decided to make cuts to the film
following backlash over certain scenes. Here is a quiz on controversial Indian movies
Vighnesh P. Venkitesh had to tweak its title Questions and Answers to the previous day’s daily quiz: 1. The
following criticisms that it occasion for which the Eiffel Tower was built. Ans: As the centrepiece
X portrayed a Hindu deity in of the 1889 World's Fair; It was supposed to stand for 20 years
QUESTION 1 an explicit fashion. Name 2. The names of these many scholars are inscribed on the border
Name the Hindi movie the movie. encircling the first floor of the Tower. Ans: 72 scholars
released in 2016 that X 3. The development of this mode of communication came to the
decided to move the QUESTION 4 rescue of the Eiffel Tower. Ans: Radio and wireless telegraphy
Bombay High Court against This Hindi movie was 4. The significance of 'Le Jules Verne' and 'Madame Brasserie'. Ans:
cuts ordered by the Censor initially titled ‘Jaffna’, but The two main restaurants on the second floor and first floor
Board. was later changed to avoid respectively
X direct references. Name the 5. The contributions of Maurice Koechlin and Emile Nouguier. Ans:
QUESTION 2 movie. They were the engineers behind the actual construction of the
This movie directed by X tower
Sanjay Leela Bhansali had QUESTION 5 6. The tower surpassed this U.S. structure to become the tallest
to tweak its title which The I&B Ministry had human-made structure in the world. Ans: Washington Monument
initially was the name of a blocked this two-part 7. Many sportspersons got a piece of the iconic tower because of this.
Rajput queen. Name the documentary series, which Ans: A piece of the tower was incorporated into the medals at
movie. deals with the same topic of X
the 2024 Paris Olympics For feedback and suggestions for
X contention as Empuraan, Visual question: Visual: Name the famous scientist seen with Gustav Eiffel. Ans: Text & Context, please write to
QUESTION 3 from social media Makers of this Irrfan Khan-starrer, a remake of a Malayalam Thomas Alva Edison letters@thehindu.co.in
This Malayalam movie by platforms. Name the movie, removed one word from its title after salon associations Early Birds: Siddhartha Viswanathan| Sadhan K. Panda| Tamal with the subject ‘Text & Context’
Sanal Kumar Sasidharan documentary. raised objections. Name the movie. Biswas| Piyali Tuli| Arjun Debnath