This article explores the rise of vibe coding—a technique allowing software development via AI—and questions if it can reduce costs significantly, potentially sidelining programmers.

Vibe Coding: Can AI Cut Software Development Costs and Make Programmers Obsolete? 🤔

Welcome, tech enthusiasts! Today, we’re diving into a fascinating topic that’s generating plenty of buzz in the development community: vibe coding. This trendy method allows you to create software with just your words! But wait—will this revolutionary shift in coding render our beloved programmers obsolete? Let’s dig in! 🔍

What is Vibe Coding? 🌈

Imagine telling a computer, "Generate me a landing page in pink, which includes fields for first name, last name, and email address." Voilà! With vibe coding, that’s all it takes. You can let AI do the heavy lifting and whip up your code, freeing you to focus on other important tasks (like binge-watching your favorite series).

For instance, Cursor, a startup from San Francisco, is raking in investment, having recently secured $900 million for their tool that enables vibe coding using natural language. And let’s not forget GitHub Copilot! With 15 million users, it generated $500 million in revenue last year, proving the appetite for AI-assisted coding is massive! 🤑

Can AI Actually Reduce Development Costs? 💰

Ah, the million-dollar question! Traditional software projects see around 60% of their budget eaten up by developer salaries. So, is there a silver lining? 🌦️ Here’s the gist:

Shrinking Teams: AI could allow seasoned developers to tackle tasks that used to require a whole team of juniors. Instead of a team of five, you might just need one savvy pro with some snazzy AI tools.
- Think about it: a senior developer commands around 155 PLN an hour, while a junior earns 67 PLN. Your budget savings could reach 45,000 PLN a month! Talk about incentive!
Empowering Non-Techies: Imagine a world where product owners and marketers can generate their app code? AI tools are making this possible, which could bring costs down to nearly zero for basic applications. Yes, you read that right!

But hold your horses; nothing’s definitive just yet. It’s also possible that we might see a mix of models combining human ingenuity and AI capabilities. 🤝

What’s Holding Back Vibe Coding? 🛑

Despite its allure, vibe coding faces hurdles:

Incomplete Automation: AI excels at generating code but still struggles with compiling and deploying it. You still need technical know-how for that! Some platforms, like Replit, are exceptions but quite rare.
Quality Control: Generated code can be subpar, leaving room for bugs galore! This poses risks, especially for non-techies who lack debugging skills.
Security and Control: AI often lacks transparency about the origin of the code bits it throws out. This could lead businesses into murky waters, especially regarding data privacy regulations like GDPR.

Who will Benefit from Vibe Coding? 🎉

Organized Teams: Big IT teams with clear coding standards and documentation will thrive, allowing AI to serve as a valuable team asset.
Repetitive Tasks? No Problem!: Marketing will no longer need to involve developers in every landing page redesign. With vibe coding, they can whip up what they need in less than an hour!
Innovators and Startups: Agile teams can build MVPs in record time, sidestepping lengthy development processes.

How to Prepare for Vibe Coding Implementation? 🛠️

Measure Results: Understand that vibe coding isn’t a silver bullet. Assess costs, timelines, and product quality before diving in.
Sort Out Documentation: High-quality input leads to quality output. Organize your coding standards and documentation to improve AI results.
Invest in Team Education: Training staff to interact effectively with AI tools can provide a competitive edge—both operationally and strategically.

Final Thoughts 💭

Vibe coding isn’t magic—it’s a tool! To work its wonders, it must be embedded in a well-managed environment that emphasizes technique and detail. It’s an exciting time for tech, but let’s keep our programmers on standby for now—they're not going anywhere just yet!

Author: Bartosz Szkudlarek, CEO of Eversis