If you’ve been on X (Twitter) or TechTok lately, you’ve probably heard the term “Vibe Coding.” Popularized by Andrej Karpathy, the term refers to a new paradigm of software development. It’s the move from being a meticulous typist, worrying about semicolons and syntax errors, to being more like an architect or a conductor. You tell the AI the vibe of what you want, watch it create code, and then guide it in the right direction.
Vibe coding is not about being lazy; it’s about taking the friction out of turning your imagination into something real. It uses Large Language Models (LLMs) to take care of the boilerplate code while you focus on the logic and the user experience.
Ready to stop typing and start vibes? Here are the top 10 tools you need to vibe code your next project.
1. Cursor (The Editor Reimagined)
Currently the king of the vibe coding hill, Cursor isn’t just an editor with an AI plugin bolted on; it’s built from the ground up for AI interaction.
- The Vibe: Press Cmd+K, type “Create a dark mode dashboard with a sidebar,” and watch it write the files instantly.
- Why it’s #1: Its “Composer” feature can work across multiple files at once, understanding your entire codebase context better than anything else out there.
2. v0 by Vercel (Generative UI)
v0 is a generative UI tool developed by Vercel. It is the ultimate frontend vibes solution because it solves the “blank canvas” issue.
- The Vibe: You type “Make me a login form with a cyberpunk aesthetic,” and v0 generates the code using React, Tailwind CSS, and shadcn/ui. You can then cycle through different variations until you find the one that matches your mental image.
- Best For: Rapidly prototyping beautiful interfaces without getting bogged down in CSS classes.
3. Bolt.new (Instant Full-Stack)
Bolt.new is a web-based tool that is pure magic. You tell it what you want, and it not only writes the code but also sets up the environment, starts the server, and deploys the app.
- The Vibe: It runs entirely in your browser. You can chat with it to build a backend, connect a database, and tweak the frontend all in one tab. It supports complex tasks like “Build a SaaS landing page that connects to Stripe.”
- Best For: Going from idea to deployed URL in under 10 minutes.
4. Claude 3.5 Sonnet (With Artifacts)
Many vibe coders recommend Claude 3.5 Sonnet for its sophisticated code understanding. The “Artifacts” function is a total game-changer.
- The Vibe: When Claude writes code, it opens a dedicated window (the Artifact) next to your chat. You can see the React component or the HTML page render instantly. You can edit the code right there in the preview window.
- Best For: Complex logic, Python scripts, and generating clean, readable code that works on the first try.
5. Replit (Core + Agents)
Replit has come a long way from being a basic online code editor to being a full-fledged AI agent powerhouse. Their “Core” models are specifically fine-tuned for coding.
- The Vibe: You can turn on “Ghostwriter” Autocomplete to finish your sentences or use their “Agents” to build entire features. You can say, “Add a search bar to this app,” and the agent will find the right files, edit them, and handle the imports.
- Best For: Collaborative coding and deploying web apps instantly.
6. Windsurf by Codeium
Windsurf is the first AI-native IDE that integrates a technology called “Cascade.” It combines the deep understanding of the codebase with a chat interface.
- The Vibe: It feels incredibly “flow-state” friendly. It anticipates what you are going to do next. Its “Copilot++” feature is faster and more context-aware than GitHub’s Copilot, making it feel like the IDE is reading your mind.
- Best For: Developers who want a VS Code alternative that feels faster and smarter.
7. GitHub Copilot Workspace
This is GitHub’s take on the vibe coding trend. It upgrades Copilot from a simple autocomplete assistant to a complete project manager.
- The Vibe: You open an issue in your repository and click “Workspace.” Copilot creates a step-by-step plan to solve the issue. You can edit the plan, then let it execute the code changes across dozens of files.
- Best For: Teams already using GitHub who want to automate the boring parts of feature development.
8. Lovable.dev
Lovable is basically “v0 but for full-stack apps.” It heavily emphasizes the “GPT-4o” experience to create functional web apps.
- The Vibe: It creates a “Supabase” backend for you automatically. You can describe a database schema, and Lovable will not only build the UI to display it but also set up the SQL database and authentication behind the scenes.
- Best For: Non-technical founders or developers who want to spin up a startup MVP (Minimum Viable Product) in a weekend.
9. Debuild
Debuild is a low-code tool that uses AI to enable you to describe your web app and build it instantly.
- The Vibe: It’s less about writing code and more about describing an app. It generates React components automatically and allows you to customize the UI via a visual editor. It’s very fast for simple CRUD (Create, Read, Update, Delete) apps.
- Best For: Quick internal tools and dashboards.
10. Supermaven
If “Vibe Coding” to you means “type as fast as possible without thinking,” then Supermaven is the engine for you. It is an autocomplete tool that boasts of its speed.
- The Vibe: It provides suggestions almost instantaneously, often before you’ve finished typing the function name. It handles long context files better than almost anyone else.
- Best For: Pure speed. It integrates with VS Code and JetBrains to turn you into a 10x developer simply by finishing your thoughts.
The Future of Coding is Vibe-Based
The days of memorizing syntax arguments and searching for the missing brackets are numbered. Vibe coding is not a trend; it is a paradigm shift in how we communicate with machines. These tools enable you to work with code like clay, moulding it, shaping it, and honing it through conversation rather than typing.
