Introducing vibe coding

Chris Wysopal at Veracode explains how to securely tap into the flow of AI-assisted development 

 

“Vibe coding” is an emerging trend in software development that’s catching on quickly. At its core, it’s about tapping into a creative flow while coding, where everything just ‘clicks’. With the help of generative AI tools, developers can create new games, apps and websites without having to constantly stop to fix errors or look things up. It’s less about rigid programming structures and more about building from ‘vibes’ and intuition, while the AI assistant handles the grunt work. 

 

In this article, I’ll explore what vibe coding is, why it’s rising in popularity, the benefits it offers developers of all skill levels, and critically, the security risks that come with it. We’ll also look at how to get started and what the future might hold for this quickly growing trend.  

 

 

Why vibe coding has taken off 

Vibe coding has become popular because it solves a long-standing challenge in software development: how to create good quality code at speed, without burning out. AI assistants strip out much of the manual, tedious work that traditionally slows down developers, like writing boilerplate code or searching through documentation. As a result, it lets developers focus on creative problem-solving and innovation. 

 

We’ve already seen how AI can accelerate everyday lengthy tasks, like content creation and research. Now that same acceleration is coming to software development. In many ways, vibe coding represents the merging of creativity and code – with AI tools acting as more than just functional utilities and becoming creative, collaborative partners.  

 

 

How to get started  

The good news is that getting started with vibe coding is pretty simple. Free GenAI tools are widely available, and even a basic ChatGPT subscription is cost-effective and works well. Just describe what you want the programme to do. Any Windows, macOS, or Linux machine will work.  

 

The GenAI chatbot can guide you through setting up environments and installing anything you need – like a Python interpreter – by providing commands you can simply copy and paste. 

 

Personally, I’ve used vibe coding to write Python scripts for advanced local file searches and to analyse and visualise large datasets, with help from ChatGPT. In both cases, the programmes were up and running in about 15 minutes; it’s fast, intuitive and surprisingly powerful.  

 

 

Where vibe coding thrives 

One of the biggest benefits of vibe coding is its accessibility. You don’t need expert-level programming knowledge to create something functional or even impressive. Common beginner mistakes, like syntax errors or struggling with complex data structures or performance issues, are mostly eliminated. Even experienced software users who only have a basic understanding of how the software actually works can get up and running quickly and really excel with vibe coding. 

 

This makes it an ideal entry point for non-traditional developers, who might not write code daily, but would benefit significantly from automating tasks or creating small tools – without having to tap into the IT/developer team or take on freelancers. There is no need to have mastered full-stack development when non-traditional developers can build these software solutions themselves.  

 

The benefits are especially pronounced for small or solo developer teams because AI can serve as an additional, silent team member. That might mean helping brainstorm solutions or even testing code and can result in fewer bottlenecks, faster iteration and more time spent building features that matter.  

 

 

But don’t forget the drawbacks  

However, there is a major caveat to the benefits of vibe coding. AI-generated code – whether created through vibes or otherwise – is rarely secure and can often include hidden flaws that make the software vulnerable to bugs or cyber-attacks. These issues are often subtle and not immediately obvious, especially if the developer isn’t reviewing the code line-by-line or is inexperienced in knowing what to look for.  

 

The risks become even more serious and can spread quickly if the same flawed code is reused multiple times, as it means vulnerabilities don’t just live in one product, but also in third- party code and the broader supply chain. In fact, over 70% of critical security debt now stems from third-party code.  

 

Another growing threat is the recently coined term, “slopsquatting”, which is where bad actors sneak harmful software packages into places where developers might pull code from. If developers rely too heavily on AI suggestions or vibe-based flows, without double checking what’s being added, these risks can be easily overlooked and slip through the cracks. 

 

These challenges highlight a core truth: vibe coding can boost productivity and increase accessibility into the software development sphere, but it doesn’t eliminate the need for secure development practices. 

 

 

What the future holds 

In my view, we’re just scratching the surface. I suspect that, in the future, we’ll likely see AI agents taking on much bigger chunks of the development process with minimal human input. That could unlock incredible innovation, especially for smaller developer and IT teams.   

 

But this progress comes with responsibility. Business leaders will need to ensure security is baked into the development process from the start. That means regularly reviewing code, scanning for issues and making sure the tools developers rely on aren’t unwittingly introducing risks. Crucially, companies need to be doing this before any potential flaws or vulnerabilities in software hit production and impact consumers. 

 

 

A balanced path forward 

Vibe coding represents a powerful new paradigm where creativity and automation are coming together to transform the way software is built. But these benefits must be balanced with caution. Organisations that get this balance right by embracing innovation while also embedding security won’t just build faster; they’ll build smarter and more resilient systems that can adapt and scale safely.  

 

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Chris Wysopal is Co-founder and Chief Security Evangelist at Veracode  

 

Main image courtesy of iStockPhoto.com and monsitj