Why Vibe Code?

So, I’m a developer. Why would I start vibe coding?
Simple. I wanted to understand what it actually is and what it can do.

Learning by building things is what I enjoy most, so I decided to create a small gaming hub with games built using vibe coding.
Making games was something I always wanted to try, and this seemed like a good way to start without diving into complex game engines.

I chose simple, classic games so I could still understand and tweak the code. But I didn’t want to just clone existing games, so I added a twist to each one.
This was also a good way to see how AI handles more creative prompts and modified game mechanics.

So What did I Build?

I ended up making 5 games and as I really enjoyed the process, I’m sure that more games will be added in the future.
The games I built are:

• Mystery Slider: a classic sliding puzzle with a twist. You start with blank tiles and have to figure out what position the tile would go following small hints.
• Sol Itaire: which of course is the peg solitaire game we all know, but some pegs are wired and can add pegs, remove pegs or block certain moves. You’ll get the opportunity to earn free pins by chaining moves.
• CodeMaster Blitz: Solve a as much (color) codes in a given time. Fast paced, addictive and a bit chaotic.
• Bomb Blocks: A Tetris-like game, but again with a twist. You can connect symbols to trigger special effects. Sometimes helpful, sometimes not so much…
• Arrival: First Contact for our gaming mascot. Based on Lunar Lander with exceedingly difficult objects interfering with your landing. Can you make it to the surface?

I didn’t want this website to turn into a gaming hub.
I also had an unused domain lying around.
So I decided to use GlowingAlien as a home for my games.
This way I could keep my Astro skills up to date.
It was also fun to “vibe-UX” the design for the website.

Why Vibe Coding Is Interesting for Developers

At the moment AI code generation is still in its early stages. Results can be hit or miss.
But the quality is improving fast.

So why is it interesting for developers to start experimenting with Vibe Code now?

• Learning Opportunity: It’s a chance to understand how AI can assist in code generation.
• Creative Exploration: Vibe Code can generate code based on creative prompts, allowing developers to explore new ideas and approaches.
• Efficiency: For simple tasks or boilerplate code, Vibe Code can save time and effort, allowing developers to focus on more complex and rewarding aspects of development.
• Future-Proofing: As AI continues to evolve, understanding how to work with tools like Vibe Code can be a valuable skill for developers in the future.

Why Vibe Coding Is Interesting for Non-Developers

Vibe coding is not only interesting for developers.
It can also be interesting for people without a programming background.

Here are a few reasons why non-developers might find Vibe Code interesting:

• Accessibility: Vibe Code can make coding more accessible to people who may not have a background in programming, allowing them to create and experiment with code in a more intuitive way.
• Creative Expression: It can be a powerful tool for creative expression, enabling users to bring their ideas to life in a digital format without needing to learn complex coding syntax.
• Educational Value: For those interested in learning about coding, Vibe Code can serve as an engaging introduction to programming concepts and logic, making it easier to grasp the fundamentals of coding through hands-on experimentation.
• Fun and Entertainment: For anyone looking for a fun and interactive way to engage with technology, Vibe Code can provide a unique and enjoyable experience, allowing users to create games, interactive stories, or other digital experiences without needing to write traditional code.

Vibe Coding Workflow

Let me start by saying that I just started experimenting with Vibe-Code/AI code generation, so this is just my personal workflow and it’s still evolving as I learn more about the capabilities and limitations of the tool.

At first, I dumped the whole game idea into a single prompt, including random thoughts and features.
It did produce a game, but it was not really what I had in mind.

One thing that annoyed me was that I had to go through the whole game, fix bugs, and then realize that every change affected something else again.

After the first games I started to realize that I needed to change the workflow.
I will be writing an article about those lessons after this one, but my key takeaway was that I didn’t use the AI to its full potential. I was treating it like a regular code generator, but it can do so much more than that.

Slowly I changed my workflow.
Instead of asking the AI to create a game, I started creating a project.

I let the AI take different roles, almost like a small team.
One agent helped with planning, another with structure, and another with writing code.

By breaking the work into smaller pieces, I had much more control over the final result while still using the AI to generate code and solve problems.

This way I could have a more structured approach to the development process, and I could also have more control over the final result, while still leveraging the AI’s capabilities to generate code and solve problems along the way.

There are a lot more tips to give, but I’ll save those for the next article, where I will go more in depth about the workflow and how to get the best results out of Vibe Code.

Conclusion

Vibe coding and AI code generation are still in an early stage.
But it is already a fascinating tool that could change the way we create and interact with code.

As it is very accessible it does hold some pitfalls. We are going to see a lot of crappy code being generated, but it also has the potential to be a powerful tool for both developers and non-developers alike.
It will allow us to explore new ideas, create interactive experiences, and learn about coding in a more engaging way.

Like every new technology, there is a hype cycle.
We will probably have to go through an ugly phase before we see the real potential.

I still like to see myself as an ‘artisinal’ coder. But I can also see that Vibe Code can be a powerful tool bearing an attractive potential for creativity and efficiency.
I’m excited to see how it evolves in the future.

Now… go check out GlowingAlien and play some games!