Vibe Coding
By Richard Rost

39 days ago

Vibe Coding and the Illusion of Understanding

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Let's talk about vibe coding, where developers use AI tools to generate code by describing what they want rather than writing it themselves. We'll discuss the benefits and risks of relying on AI for coding, the importance of understanding programming fundamentals, and why it's crucial not to skip the learning process, especially for business-critical applications. You'll also hear some thoughts on how AI is changing the nature of learning to code and why structured tutorials still matter in today's environment.

Full Article

Read the full article here: Vibe Coding. And be sure to subscribe to my Captain's Log!

Keywords

Captain's Log, vibe coding, AI coding assistant, code generation, AI code review, code fundamentals, debugging, data integrity, SQL Server, VBA, PowerShell scripts, programming mindset, short-form learning, database relationships, code prototyping, error handling, code acceleration

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Intro

Transcript

Greetings, folks, Richard Rost with Computer Learning Zone. Time for another Captain's Log entry.

Let's talk about this whole vibe coding thing. If you haven't heard the term yet, it basically means you just tell the AI what you want and let it write the code for you. It's like having a junior developer who never sleeps and doesn't complain about your specs. You stay in the driver's seat conceptually, but the machine is doing most of the typing. In theory, you focus on the idea while the AI handles the syntax, the loops, the plumbing.

Now, I'm not going to sit here and pretend I'm above it. I use AI for code all the time. If I need a quick function, to sort an array, or import a text file, or hammer out some boilerplate VBA that I've written a hundred times before, yeah, I'll let the AI do it. I already know how it works. I just don't feel like spending 20 minutes typing something I had memorized since the first Bush administration. At this point, it's muscle memory, not intellectual exercise.

And that's where vibe coding makes perfect sense to me. As an experienced developer, it's a power tool. It's like using a nail gun instead of a hammer. I still know how framing works. I'm just getting the job done faster and with fewer smashed thumbs.

Where I start to get nervous is when people try to build entire applications this way without understanding what's under the hood. I see folks spinning up full websites, business apps, database systems, all by prompting an AI and copy-pasting whatever it spits out. And yeah, it works until it doesn't. And when it doesn't, it usually breaks at 4:55 pm on a Friday. Then what? When something breaks, slows down, corrupts data, or starts throwing errors that make no sense, you're stuck. And if you don't understand the fundamentals, you don't even know where to start.

It's like having calculators in math class. I'm all for calculators. I use a calculator every day. But you have to learn basic arithmetic first. You still need to understand why 4 plus 4 equals 8 before you trust the machine telling you the answer. Otherwise, you're just blindly accepting output.

Same thing with vibe coding. AI is fantastic at producing results. It's not automatically fantastic at teaching you how to think like a programmer, and thinking like a programmer is the real skill.

Back when I was learning, way back in the day, I typed code in line by line out of books and magazines. Half the time I didn't fully understand what I was typing, but the act of doing it built the mental wiring. You learn patterns, logic, cause and effect, debugging instincts. That friction mattered. Every paste-run skips the entire growth process.

The car analogy fits here too. You don't need to know how an engine works to drive. That's fine. Casual users can absolutely vibe code their way to a small app, a hobby project, something non-critical. No problem there. But if you want to build cars, design engines, or fix one when it explodes, you better know what's under the hood, preferably before the explosion.

Same thing goes for software. If it's business critical, if money, customers, or data integrity are involved, you cannot rely on vibes alone.

Star Trek covered this decades ago. In the original series, The Apple, Captain Kirk and crew encounter a society completely dependent upon a machine called Vaal. It runs their lives, keeps the weather stable, provides food, maintains order. Sounds great. Still, it starts malfunctioning. The people have no idea how anything works because they've never had to think for themselves. The Enterprise shows up and has to save the day, and I'm pretty sure they violated at least three sections of the Prime Directive. But hey, even in the 23rd century, somebody still has to be the sysadmin. OK, Scotty, time to three-finger salute this entire planet.

Then you've got a similar theme in the Next Generation episode "When the Bough Breaks." Picard and crew discover a highly advanced but dying civilization that automated everything, including reproduction and societal systems. Over time, they lost the knowledge to maintain their own technology, and when things started failing, they couldn't fix them. They had the tools, but not the understanding. Sound familiar? That's the long-term risk of vibe coding if it's taken to its extreme. If we outsource all the understanding to machines, we create a generation of builders who can't repair what they build.

Now to be fair, AI is not the villain here. It's a tool. It's a powerful one. I actually agree with a more balanced take that I've been seeing lately. Use AI as an assistant, not a replacement. It helps you debug, explain, prototype, accelerate. But still learn the fundamentals, still build projects yourself, still struggle a little. Because that struggle is where the real learning happens.

I've also been watching discussions about how coding tutorials are supposedly dead because of AI. I don't buy that either. The format might be changing. Attention spans are shrinking thanks to short-form social media dopamine machines that make learning anything longer than 30 seconds feel like homework. The job market might be fluctuating, but the need for structured learning hasn't gone anywhere. If anything, it's more important now. Because when AI gives you an answer, you still need to know if it's a good answer. That's the part people forget.

In my world, especially working with databases like Access and SQL Server, fundamentals matter even more. Data integrity, relationships, indexing, concurrency, error handling. You vibe code that stuff wrong and you don't just get a bug. You get corrupted data or a business that can't operate Monday morning. And that's a great way to meet your clients' lawyers. That's not a weekend hobby app anymore. That's real world impact.

So yeah, I'm not anti-vibe coding. I use it. I enjoy it. It's fun watching AI spit out Python or VBA or PowerShell scripts on demand. It feels like living in the future. Minus the flying cars we were promised. But I'm also old school enough to believe that you should still learn how to code if you want to call yourself a developer. Otherwise, you're just steering the ship without knowing how the engines work. And if the engines fail, you're adrift, staring at error messages like they're written in ancient Klingon.

So that's my take. Use the tool, embrace the speed, enjoy the convenience, but don't skip the understanding part if your livelihood depends on the software you're building. Because the moment the tool becomes the only one who understands how your systems work, you've already lost control of it.

I'm curious, where do you land on this? Are you using AI to accelerate code you already understand? Or are you letting it build things you couldn't explain if they broke tomorrow?

Thanks for watching this entry in my Captain's Log. If you want to see more of my personal stories, rants, and reviews, check out my blog at the link shown there or just scan the QR code on the screen. As long as I'm in the next log, I'll see you in the next video. Thanks for watching. I hope you enjoyed this video.

If you're watching on YouTube, make sure you subscribe to my channel and click the bell icon so you get notified anytime I release a new video. And make sure you like and share this video with your friends.

And make sure you stop by my website for lots of free lessons on all kinds of different topics: Microsoft Access, Excel, Word, Windows, and lots more. It's computerlearningzone.com and I've also got a short URL, 599CD.com. That's a long story, but stop by anyway.

We hope to see you soon.

Quiz

Q1. What is "vibe coding" as described in the video?
A. Telling AI what you want and letting it write code for you
B. Writing code by hand without any automation tools
C. Using only open-source code libraries in development
D. Coding while listening to music to set the mood

Q2. According to the presenter, what is a valid use case for AI-generated code for experienced developers?
A. Building business critical systems from scratch
B. Writing repetitive or boilerplate code quickly
C. Replacing all human developers in a business
D. Creating entirely new programming languages

Q3. What concern does the presenter have about building entire applications solely with AI?
A. The cost of using AI services is too high
B. Applications will be too secure to access
C. Users may not understand how anything works under the hood
D. AI will refuse to build full applications

Q4. What analogy does the presenter use to describe relying on calculators in math class?
A. Calculators work best for algebra only
B. Calculators never malfunction
C. You need to understand arithmetic before trusting calculators
D. Calculators teach you how to do complex math

Q5. What lesson do the Star Trek episodes referenced in the video illustrate?
A. The importance of automating all society functions
B. That outsiders always sabotage advanced civilizations
C. That dependency on machines without understanding is dangerous
D. That space travel is the future of society

Q6. According to the video, what is the real skill that AI cannot teach by itself?
A. Typing speed
B. Syntax memorization
C. Thinking like a programmer
D. Graphic design

Q7. What does the presenter recommend regarding the use of AI tools for coding?
A. Avoid using AI for any coding tasks
B. Use AI as a replacement for all coding education
C. Use AI as an assistant, but still learn fundamentals
D. Only use AI to create websites

Q8. What is a potential consequence of "vibe coding" business critical applications incorrectly?
A. The app will always run faster than hand-coded ones
B. Data could become corrupted and impact business operations
C. Users will find the UI more attractive
D. All bugs will be automatically fixed by AI

Q9. How does the presenter feel about AI-produced code for hobby or non-critical projects?
A. It should never be used
B. It is acceptable for casual users and small apps
C. It can only be used by database administrators
D. It requires advanced debugging skills

Q10. What is the presenter's final advice regarding dependence on AI for coding?
A. Delegate all responsibility to AI for efficiency
B. Rely solely on AI for all technical work
C. Embrace AI for speed and convenience but do not skip learning
D. Focus only on front-end development

Answers: 1-A; 2-B; 3-C; 4-C; 5-C; 6-C; 7-C; 8-B; 9-B; 10-C

DISCLAIMER: Quiz questions are AI generated. If you find any that are wrong, don't make sense, or aren't related to the video topic at hand, then please post a comment and let me know. Thanks.

Summary

Today's video from Computer Learning Zone is another entry in my Captain's Log where I share some personal thoughts about the growing trend of "vibe coding."

Vibe coding basically refers to relying on AI to write code for you, letting artificial intelligence handle the bulk of programming while you focus on the larger idea. It's like having a junior developer who works tirelessly and never objects to your requirements. You remain in charge of the project's direction, but let the machine do most of the actual coding, from handling syntax to managing loops and background details.

To be clear, I'm not distancing myself from this approach. I use AI tools to generate code frequently, especially for tasks that I'm already deeply familiar with. For straightforward functions like sorting an array or importing a text file, or repetitive VBA routines I've used many times before, I let the AI write it for me. At this point, it feels like muscle memory rather than a coding challenge, and I'd rather not spend unnecessary time typing out something I've known for decades.

For experienced developers, this is where vibe coding truly shines. It's a power tool, streamlining routine work so we can get results faster and with less effort, just like upgrading from a hammer to a nail gun. We still understand how everything works, but we save time and reduce mistakes.

My concern arises when people use this method to create entire applications without grasping the underlying concepts. More and more, I see users building websites, business apps, and databases by simply copying and pasting whatever an AI produces. This can work for a while, until it doesn't. When you encounter a problem late on a Friday, or data gets corrupted, or persistent errors arise, you're in trouble if you lack a basic understanding of what's really happening under the surface.

This situation is similar to relying on calculators in math class. Calculators are great, and I use one daily. But before you trust the device's answers, you need to know how basic arithmetic works. The same principle applies to AI-generated code. AI will quickly churn out results but doesn't inherently teach you the logic and problem-solving skills that define good software development.

When I first learned to program decades ago, I would type out code from books and magazines, often without really understanding what each line did. However, that process of typing it in manually was crucial. It developed my sense of logic, problem-solving abilities, and debugging instincts. If you always just paste code and hit run, you miss valuable opportunities for learning and understanding.

This brings up another useful analogy: driving a car. You don't need to understand the mechanics to operate one for everyday purposes, and for small hobby projects or non-essential tasks, vibe coding is perfectly fine. However, if you expect to design, build, or repair engines, you should definitely understand what's going on under the hood. The same goes for software development, especially when it affects businesses, money, or critical data.

If you rely only on surface-level AI assistance without deeper insight, you risk running into major problems when something goes wrong, and that can have serious consequences.

Pop culture has addressed these issues as well. For instance, in the classic Star Trek episode "The Apple," we see a society entirely dependent on a machine named Vaal. When Vaal fails, the people are helpless because they never learned how anything worked. Similarly, in the Next Generation episode "When the Bough Breaks," the civilization lost the skills to repair their highly automated world. This is a direct parallel to depending on AI to handle all aspects of programming: if everyone relies on one tool without understanding, no one knows how to fix things when the tool breaks.

However, I don't see AI as the enemy. It's a valuable resource and makes a fantastic assistant as long as you use it to help debug, explain, prototype, or accelerate your work. But it should not be a total replacement for actually learning the skills. The struggle, and the process of figuring things out for yourself, is what really builds your expertise.

There's also some discussion about whether AI has made traditional coding tutorials obsolete. I don't think this is the case. The delivery of tutorials may need to evolve, since people's attention spans are shorter, but structured learning is more important than ever. When you get an answer from AI, you need to recognize whether it's actually correct. That judgement is formed by having a strong foundation in the basics.

In my area, especially when working with databases like Access and SQL Server, these foundational skills are crucial. Concepts like data integrity, relationships, indexing, concurrency, and error handling are things you can't afford to get wrong. If you rely on AI to build those things without understanding, you run the risk of corrupting data or stopping a business in its tracks, which can have real consequences.

So, I'm not opposed to vibe coding at all. I use it often and find it fun and efficient to have AI generate scripts on demand. It feels futuristic in a way, but I still believe in the importance of learning to program if you truly want to call yourself a developer. Otherwise, you're flying blind and unprepared for serious challenges when the inevitable problem arises.

In summary, embrace AI for the speed and convenience it offers, but do not neglect the need to understand what you are building, especially if you're responsible for critical software. If you don't understand it, and only the tool does, you've already lost control.

I'd like to hear your thoughts on this. Are you using AI to supplement skills you already have? Or do you rely on it to build solutions that you wouldn't be able to explain yourself?

If you're interested in hearing more of my stories, rants, and reviews, I invite you to check out my blog. You'll also find many free lessons on Microsoft Access, Excel, Word, Windows, and more at my website.

A complete video tutorial with step-by-step instructions on everything discussed here is available on my website at the link below.

Live long and prosper, my friends.

Topic List

This is a commentary video discussing the pros and cons of using AI for code generation ("vibe coding") and the importance of understanding programming fundamentals rather than just relying on AI-generated solutions.

Article

Vibe coding is a term you might have seen come up recently. The idea behind vibe coding is simple: you tell an AI what you want, and it writes the code for you. It is like having a junior developer who can produce code on demand, tirelessly executing your instructions. You, as the user, stay in control of the project or concept, while the AI handles the syntax, the logic, and the repetitive parts of programming.

As someone who has been coding for years, I will admit that I use AI for code all the time. Whenever I need a quick function to, say, sort an array, import a text file, or create some standard VBA boilerplate I have written dozens of times before, I am happy to let AI type it up for me. Since I already know how the code works, having AI handle the typing is simply a timesaver. It is like using a nail gun instead of a hammer: I understand the fundamentals, but I am speeding up the process.

This approach makes perfect sense for experienced developers because you know enough to review, correct, and understand what the AI creates. The problem arises when people attempt to build entire applications this way without any real understanding of what is happening under the hood. These days, it is not unusual to see people prompt an AI to generate complex solutions, like business databases or websites, then copy and paste the results straight into production. This might work for a while, but when something inevitably breaks, slows down, or throws cryptic errors, those users are stuck. Without a foundation in programming basics, they do not even know where to start troubleshooting.

Think of it like using a calculator for math. We all use calculators, but you need to understand arithmetic before you trust the answers the device gives you. Otherwise, you are accepting the output blindly, with no way to catch mistakes or spot strange results.

It is the same with coding. AI is great at turning instructions into code, but it will not automatically teach you to think like a programmer. And that ability to think like a programmer is crucial for developing good software.

Back when I started learning, I would type in code line by line from books or magazines. I did not always fully grasp what each line did, but practice built my understanding. Hands-on experience ingrains patterns and logic, and teaches you how to debug. Skipping this and just pasting in code from AI can leave you without those vital problem-solving skills.

Another way to think of it is with a car analogy. You do not have to know how an engine works to drive a car. That is fine for everyday use. People can absolutely vibe code their way through hobby projects or simple apps. But if you want to design, build, or repair a car, you need to know what is under the hood. The same goes for mission-critical software. If data integrity, money, customers, or business continuity are on the line, you need to go beyond just accepting AI output.

This scenario reminds me of a few classic science fiction stories. In Star Trek, there are several episodes where societies grow dependent on technology they can no longer understand or repair. When something goes wrong, they have no way to fix it because they lost the knowledge to maintain their own systems. That is the long-term risk of relying totally on AI for development: you could end up with a generation of builders who cannot repair what they have built.

To be fair, the AI is not the problem. It is a tool, and a powerful one. The healthiest approach is to treat AI as an assistant, not a replacement. Use AI to debug, explain code, prototype ideas, and accelerate your workflow. But also make sure to build projects yourself, experiment, and push through some of the hard parts. It is the struggle that really cements learning.

Some say that coding tutorials are obsolete now that AI can answer questions. I do not agree. The format may be changing, and attention spans may be getting shorter, but structured learning is still crucial. The fact is, even when AI gives you an answer, you need the background to judge if that answer is correct, efficient, and safe.

This is even more critical in environments like Microsoft Access or SQL Server, where core concepts matter - data integrity, relationships, indexing, concurrency, and error handling. If you use vibe coding for those and do it wrong, you do not just get a bug - you might get corrupted data or grind a business to a halt. At that level, you cannot afford to be guessing.

So to sum up, vibe coding can be a huge timesaver and is genuinely fun to use - watching AI produce code in Python, VBA, or any other language feels futuristic. But if you want to call yourself a developer or if your software is important to your business, you have to keep learning the fundamentals. AI should be your tool, not your crutch. The more you understand what is happening behind the scenes, the more effective, agile, and safe you will be when something goes wrong.

So, where do you stand? Are you using AI to speed up code that you already understand, or are you letting it build projects you could not explain if they broke tomorrow? Keep learning, keep building, and make sure you control your tools, not the other way around. If you want more lessons and resources on programming or software platforms like Access, Excel, and SQL, make sure you check out my website at computerlearningzone.com.