A few months ago, I watched a founder with zero technical background build a working customer portal in an afternoon. Not a mockup. Not a wireframe. A functional app with user authentication, a database, and a clean UI.
She didn't write a single line of code. She described what she wanted, and AI built it.
This is vibe coding—and it's changing who gets to build software.
What Exactly Is Vibe Coding?
The term comes from Andrej Karpathy, former director of AI at Tesla, who tweeted in early 2025: "There's a new kind of coding I call vibe coding, where you fully give in to the vibes, embrace exponentials, and forget that the code even exists."
In plain terms: you describe what you want to build in natural language, and AI tools write the code for you. Your job shifts from writing code to directing it—reviewing what the AI produces, giving feedback, and steering it toward what you actually need.
It's not no-code (which limits you to pre-built templates). It's not traditional coding (which requires years of learning syntax). It's something new: real, production-quality code generated from conversation.
Why This Matters Now
Here's what's changed: the tools got good.
A year ago, AI could help you write snippets of code. Today, tools like Lovable can generate entire applications—frontend, backend, database, deployment—from a description. You say "build me a booking system for a salon," and you get a working app you can actually use.
The barrier to building software just dropped from "hire a developer" to "describe what you need."
For business owners, product managers, and founders who've had ideas stuck in their heads for years? This is the unlock.
The Tool Landscape: Beginner to Advanced
Not all vibe coding tools are created equal. Here's how I think about the progression:
Beginner: Lovable
If you're starting from zero, Lovable is where I'd point you. It's designed for people who've never touched code. You describe your app, it builds it, and you can deploy it live—all without leaving the browser.
What you can build:
- Internal tools and dashboards
- Customer-facing apps and portals
- MVPs to test business ideas
- Automations with real interfaces
Lovable handles the complexity (hosting, databases, authentication) so you can focus on what you're building, not how.
Intermediate: Bolt, Replit
Once you've got your feet wet, tools like Bolt and Replit give you more control. You're still using AI to generate code, but you're starting to peek under the hood—making tweaks, understanding how pieces connect.
Advanced: Cursor, Claude Code
For those who want to go deeper, Cursor and Claude Code let you work directly with code while AI assists. This is where professional developers are increasingly spending their time. You're not just describing apps; you're building complex systems with AI as your pair programmer.
The progression isn't mandatory. Plenty of people build exactly what they need with Lovable and never move beyond it. But if you catch the bug and want more control, there's a clear path.
Real Results, Real Businesses
This isn't theoretical. People are building real companies this way.
Harry Roper, founder of Imaginary Space, runs a $100K/month agency building production apps with Lovable. His team has shipped software for enterprise clients including the UK Military and Dude Wipes. He estimates 80-90% of their code is AI-generated.
One of their apps handled 7,000 users on launch day without issues. These aren't toys—they're production systems.
The pattern I'm seeing from my work here in Richmond and with clients across the country: the people who succeed with vibe coding aren't the most technical. They're the ones who can clearly articulate what they need and iterate quickly on feedback.
Getting Started
If you're curious, here's what I'd recommend:
1. Start with a real problem. Don't build a todo app. Build something you actually need—a tool for your business, an automation that saves you time, a prototype of that idea you've been sitting on.
2. Learn the basics. Harry Roper has a vibe coding course that walks you through the fundamentals. It's the fastest way to understand what's possible and how to think about building with AI.
3. Keep it simple at first. Your first app doesn't need to do everything. Get one thing working, then expand.
4. Expect iteration. Vibe coding isn't magic. You'll go back and forth with the AI, refining your descriptions, adjusting the output. That's normal. That's the process.
The Honest Limitations
I'm not going to pretend this solves everything.
Complex, enterprise-scale systems still need experienced engineers. Apps that handle sensitive data require security expertise. And while AI can generate code quickly, someone still needs to understand what it's doing—especially when things break.
Vibe coding is a tool, not a replacement for all technical knowledge. But for the vast majority of business applications? It's more than enough.
Where This Is Going
The tools are improving faster than most people realize. What required a developer six months ago can be done by a founder with an idea today. The gap keeps closing.
My take: learning to build with AI is one of the highest-leverage skills you can develop right now. Not because everyone needs to become a developer—but because the ability to turn ideas into working software changes what's possible for your business.
Ready to start building?
If you want to learn vibe coding from scratch, Harry's course is the best place to start. If you've got an idea and want help bringing it to life, I work with businesses here in Richmond, VA and across the US to turn AI ambitions into working systems.