“Vibe coding” your own app using AI is easy! 7 tools and tips to get started

Use AI chatbots instead of AI Assist IDE

Your first instinct may be to use an AI-assisted integrated development environment (IDE). What you've heard of is that it's good for vibe coding, such as Windsurf, Cursor, or Claude Code (technically not an IDE, but not a point). All of these tools are built for AI coding, so it's a great place to get started, right?

Well… no. These tools are designed to make highly productive programmers even more productive. In other words, it assumes a level of knowledge that amateur coders like you and me will get scared. Diving into these programs immediately can confuse and disappoint you.

Windsurf

Needless to say, IDEs with AI are also quite expensive. Most people use it a little free, but it's easy to require a paid plan with the Uber-Casual Vibe Coder. Many such IDEs are billed based on usage rather than flat monthly rates.

It's better to use an AI chatbot as an amateur vibe coder. The downside here is that you need to copy the code that goes back and forth between the chatbot and the code editor. It's a bit annoying, but it's not too bad if the project is small.

Choose your AI chatbot carefully

When it comes to AI chatbots with programming proficiency, there are several options to choose from. All popular ones are enough to get you started, but there are still some recommendations.

Don't want to use dimes? Try Google's AI Studio. This chronically underrated AI tool offers free, effective, unlimited access to Google's latest Gemini Pro models.

Google AI Studio has several drawbacks. Google trains your data (it's not guaranteed to be a non-paid service). The interface is not optimal and there is no desktop or mobile version. However, none of these are serious obstacles to amateur vibe coding.

Matt Smith/Foundry

But if you pay a little and want an attractive interface with desktop and mobile apps, I recommend Anthropic's Claude Opus.

I like the Artifacts feature in Claude. This splits the code in a different interface pane. You can also provide previews in Claude itself to run some code (such as HTML or JavaScript), and you can also download the code from this pane to your PC. Although our competitors emulate it with similar features, I think Anthropic's implementation is still the best.

Stick to popular programming languages

Choosing a programming language is a major obstacle for both amateurs and experienced programmers. With hundreds of options, dozens of people mature, and each promoter tends to have a strong opinion, it is easy to fall into the paralysis of analysis.

However, when it comes to vibe coding, we recommend sticking to popular and tolerant languages. That is, if the usual suspects in JavaScript/Typescript, Python, HTML, and possibly C# feel cheeky. AI models are trained on data across the web, so AI is best in these languages. The more popular a language, the more examples there are, and the more source data you use, the better the generation results will be.

As for how generous a particular language is, it's an important aspect to consider, as it will make your program running faster even if there are bugs. Some languages, such as Rust and C++, have strict syntax and architectural requirements that can become nightmares to debug.

Veteran coders can be repulsive to the idea of ​​willing to accept bugs in their programs, but for beginners it's better to have a buggy functional program than a program abandoned because it didn't work.

Alternatively, you can have AI choose the language. Describe the program you want to create and ask your chatbot to create it in any language that you think is most appropriate.

Select a simple code editor

Once you have selected your chatbot and coding language, you will need to select the software you will use to edit your code.

You may feel pushed towards a full-fledged programming IDE like Visual Studio. For casual coding, we recommend simpler code editors such as Notepad++, Sublime Text, and Ultraedit. (My bias is for MemoPad++.)

Matt Smith/Foundry

Code editors lack the comprehensive terminal, debugging, and remote development capabilities found in many IDEs. However, the code editor offers a fast, functional and friendly interface that looks like a barebone text editor you may be using (such as Notepad), but offers useful features such as auto-completion of code.

I think it's small (and reinventing the wheels)

Scope creep is a common problem faced by all programmers and can stop the cold. Large projects are more difficult than small projects, and as the project grows larger, coding the atmosphere becomes more difficult.

So, you might want to try out the vibe by coding your path to a full-fledged 3D game or world-class accounting software, but you might want to keep your horse and start small. very small.

Matt Smith/Foundry

Here is an example of a great entry-level project for atmospheric coding:

• A Python script that automates specific tasks, such as reducing web pages for data and filtering documents by various criteria.
• Single page personal website or app in HTML and JavaScript.
• A single feature app programmed in Python or C#.

My first atmospheric coded project was a dice rolling tool with text-version capabilities in the tabletop strategy game Battletech. You can roll the dice, announce the results of the roll, and speed up your play. I also coded my personal website. This is a single page of HTML with JavaScript.

Use AI to troubleshoot issues, answer questions, and generate documentation

You might be surprised at how quickly AI can help you code basic tools and programs. Pop out a simple Python script is very easy. At some point you may find yourself doing it several times a day.

However, it may be highly dependent on vibe coded projects. It could lead to another problem. It's about tracking how each script and program works and getting confused by dependencies.

For example, Python programs usually don't work immediately. You need to install Python and various libraries that are used to accomplish different things within your scripts. Not only do you need to understand that, but if you are moving to another computer, you also need to set up Python and its dependencies on that computer.

Luckily, AI is good at solving this problem. Just ask a question and you will be provided with instructions on how to install a new programming language and related libraries on your computer. This usually includes just a handful of command line prompts.

We also recommend that you ask AI to create documentation to teach new users how to use the generated program, and end all vibe coding sessions. Also, if you use AI to modify an existing script or program, we recommend asking for all the changes it makes. Documentation helps to remember how the program works and It helps to make it work when switching computers.

Pick up your Arduino and/or Raspberry Pi

Python scripts and web pages are useful, but there's a lack of pizza…and it can be disappointing for any new Vibe Coder. If you want to try programming something more specific and exciting, I recommend picking up an Arduino or Raspberry Pi.

Going this route will likely increase the starting cost and make your atmospheric coding journey more complicated. You will need to buy hardware and possibly solder iron. You also need to pick up some skills that AI can't help, like soldering.

Raspberry Pi

You can use AI to suggest Arduino or Raspberry PI projects, but I recommend you explain Computers and choose a tutorial that already exists, like this Raspberry Pi Pico W Weather Station. The tutorials explain the basics of course, but we can further explain the concept that AI chatbots do not fully understand and handle edge cases.

For example, there was a temperature sensor that was different from the temperature sensor in the tutorial, so I had to wire it in a different way than the one shown and change the code to identify the sensor. With the help of AI, I was able to make the necessary changes in just 15 minutes.

Read more: Anyone can do it with a practical Raspberry Pi project