Welcome to the definitive guide to vibe coding terms. Whether you're new to AI-assisted development or looking to expand your knowledge, this comprehensive guide covers all the essential terms and concepts you need to know in 2025.
Vibe coding has transformed how developers work since its introduction by Andrej Karpathy in early 2025. Whether you're a seasoned developer exploring AI assistance or someone new to coding entirely, understanding these vibe coding terms is crucial for modern software development.
This glossary serves as your definitive guide to vibe coding words, terms, and concepts. We'll explore everything from popular platforms to essential workflows that define this new era of development.
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The Complete Vibe Coding Glossary (A-Z)
Accept/Reject
Interface option in vibe coding platforms that allows developers to selectively approve or decline AI-suggested code changes. Essential for maintaining code quality while leveraging AI assistance.
Agent Mode
Advanced feature in tools like Cursor and Windsurf where AI can actively search through and understand your entire codebase to provide context-aware assistance. Enables deeper understanding and more accurate suggestions.
Bolt.new
Visual-first vibe coding platform optimized for rapid frontend development and prototyping. Features include:
- Live previews
- Claude integration
- One-click Netlify deploys
- Hot reload capabilities
- Native npm integration
Claude
Advanced AI model by Anthropic, widely used in vibe coding for its deep understanding of code and ability to provide detailed explanations and suggestions. Known for its helpful, honest, and harmless approach to code assistance.
Cursor
Popular AI-powered code editor that combines the familiarity of VS Code with advanced AI capabilities. Features include:
- Real-time code suggestions
- Natural language code generation
- Code explanation and documentation
- Git integration
- Multi-model support
Dotfiles
Configuration files used to customize vibe coding tools and environments. Often shared among developers to maintain consistent AI-assisted development setups.
Expo Go
Mobile development platform that enables rapid prototyping and testing of mobile applications using vibe coding principles. Allows for quick iteration and testing on real devices.
Function Calling
AI capability that allows models to understand and execute specific programming functions based on natural language descriptions. Key feature in modern vibe coding tools.
GitHub Copilot
AI pair programmer that provides real-time code suggestions as you type. One of the first mainstream tools to popularize AI-assisted development.
Hot Reload
Development feature that automatically updates the application in real-time as code changes are made. Essential for rapid iteration in vibe coding workflows.
Integration
Process of connecting various AI tools and platforms to create a cohesive development environment. Key aspect of setting up an effective vibe coding workflow.
Jupyter
Interactive notebook environment that supports vibe coding through its ability to mix code, documentation, and AI assistance in a single interface.
Karpathy, Andrej
AI researcher who coined the term "vibe coding" in early 2025, describing the emerging practice of AI-assisted software development.
Lazy AI
Development approach that maximizes the use of AI tools to minimize manual coding effort while maintaining code quality and functionality.
Model Switching
Ability to seamlessly switch between different AI models (e.g., Claude, GPT-4) within a single development environment to leverage their unique strengths.
Netlify
Popular deployment platform that integrates well with vibe coding tools, offering automated deployments and preview environments.
OpenAI
Leading AI research company whose models (GPT-4, etc.) power many vibe coding tools and platforms.
Prompt Engineering
Art and science of crafting effective prompts to get the best results from AI coding assistants. Essential skill for vibe coders.
Quick Fix
AI-powered feature that suggests and implements rapid solutions to common coding problems and errors.
Replit
Cloud-based development environment that supports vibe coding through its integrated AI features and collaborative capabilities.
Supabase
Open-source Firebase alternative that works well with vibe coding tools for backend development and database management.
TypeScript
Typed superset of JavaScript that's particularly well-suited for vibe coding due to its strong type system and AI-friendly structure.
Unit Testing
Testing approach that's enhanced by AI in vibe coding, with tools able to generate and maintain test cases automatically.
Vercel
Deployment platform that offers seamless integration with vibe coding tools and frameworks, particularly for frontend applications.
Windsurf
AI-powered development platform that combines code generation with project management features, designed specifically for vibe coding workflows.
Xcode
Apple's IDE that has integrated AI features for iOS development, supporting vibe coding practices in mobile app development.
YAML
Configuration format commonly used in vibe coding for defining AI tool settings and project configurations.
Zero-shot Learning
AI capability that allows models to understand and generate code without specific training examples, fundamental to vibe coding tools.