What Is Vibe Coding? A Simple Guide for Business Owners

What is vibe coding? It’s building a website or app by describing what you want to an AI tool in everyday words, and letting the AI write the code for you. You don’t need to know how to program; you chat, check the result and ask for changes.

Vibe coding definition and meaning#

The term comes from Andrej Karpathy, an OpenAI co-founder, who coined it in February 2025. He described a way of coding where you “fully give in to the vibes” and “forget that the code even exists”. By the end of that year, Collins Dictionary had named “vibe coding” its Word of the Year for 2025.

In practice, the vibe coding meaning has broadened. Today, most people use it for any website or app built mainly by chatting with an AI tool, whether by a business owner with no coding experience or a developer working faster.

I’m Jay, a freelance web developer based in Melbourne. I use AI tools in my own work, and I also fix websites that others have built this way, so here’s a balanced look at what vibe coding is good for and where it goes wrong.

Vibe coding tools#

The best-known vibe coding tools for building websites and apps are Lovable, Bolt and Base44. Others include Replit and Vercel’s v0, while developers often use AI coding assistants such as Cursor inside their usual tools.

Lovable vs Bolt vs Base44#

All three let you build by chatting. The main differences are who’s behind them and how much they handle for you:

	Lovable	Bolt	Base44
Made by	Lovable	StackBlitz	Wix (bought it in June 2025)
How it works	Chat to build a web app, then publish	Chat to build; runs in your browser	Chat to build; it manages the technical side for you
Database and logins	Built in with Lovable Cloud, or connect your own Supabase	Offers databases and hosting through Bolt Cloud	Built in: data storage, logins and publishing
Worth knowing	Includes built-in SEO and security checks	You can see and edit the code as you go	Most hands-off, but less control over how it works

These tools change fast, so check their current features and prices before you choose.

Can a small business build its website with vibe coding?#

Yes, and for some jobs it’s a great choice. Vibe coding works well for:

• testing a business idea quickly before spending real money
• a simple landing page or a small brochure-style site
• an internal tool, such as a booking tracker or a quote calculator
• showing a developer exactly what you want before they build it properly

It’s riskier on its own for a website your business depends on: one that takes payments, stores customer details, or needs to rank well on Google. Those need someone to check security, speed and SEO, which AI tools don’t always get right.

If all you need is a simple site you can edit yourself, a website builder may also do the job. My comparison of Squarespace vs hiring a web developer covers the costs.

What are the risks?#

Vibe coding makes building fast, but it doesn’t remove the need for checking. The main risks are:

• Security gaps. AI tools can leave databases open or secret keys in the code. In 2025, researchers reported problems like this in apps built with Lovable and in the Base44 platform.
• Not showing on Google. Some AI-built sites are hard for Google to read, or launch without the basic setup Google needs.
• Code that’s hard to change. Each new prompt can break something that worked before, especially as the site grows.
• Ownership. Your site, data or domain may live inside the tool’s account rather than yours.

When to bring in a developer#

You don’t need a developer to try vibe coding. However, it’s worth getting one involved when:

• your site will take payments or store customer details
• it’s live but not showing on Google; see why a Lovable website isn’t showing on Google
• you’re about to launch and want it checked; see 7 things to check before you launch an AI-built website
• every change you ask for breaks something else

Built something with AI and want it checked?#

I check, fix and finish AI-built websites for businesses in Melbourne and around the world, whether it needs a quick cleanup or a proper rebuild.

Message me on Fiverr with your website address and the AI tool you used. Messages, orders and payments are all handled securely on Fiverr.

I’m a freelance web developer in Melbourne with 8+ years of experience building fast, secure, SEO-friendly websites and web apps.

Common questions#

What does vibe coding mean?#

It means building software by describing what you want to an AI tool in everyday words and letting it write the code. The term was coined by Andrej Karpathy in February 2025.

Is vibe coding safe?#

It can be, but it isn’t automatically. AI tools can leave security gaps, such as open databases or exposed keys, so check your site before launch, especially if it handles payments or customer details.

Which tools do people use for vibe coding?#

Popular ones include Lovable, Bolt and Base44 for building whole websites and apps, plus Replit and v0. Developers often use AI coding assistants such as Cursor.

Can I build my business website with vibe coding?#

Yes, especially for a simple site or to test an idea. For a site that takes payments, stores customer details or needs to rank on Google, get it checked by a developer before you rely on it.

When should I bring in a developer?#

Before launch if your site handles payments or personal details, when it isn’t showing on Google, or when every change breaks something else.

Sources#

• Vibe coding, Wikipedia (origin of the term, Karpathy quote)
• “Vibe coding” named Collins Dictionary’s word of the year, CNN via KVIA, November 2025
• Wix further expands into vibe coding with acquisition of Base44, Wix, June 2025