Vibe Coding: How to Code in Flow Without Burning Out
Let’s be honest for a moment — coding today doesn’t look like coding ten years ago. Back then, it was all about grinding through documentation, writing endless boilerplate, and memorizing syntax just to get something basic running. These days? We’ve got AI copilots, smart IDEs, and tools that practically write half the project for us.
And out of this shift comes a new style of development I like to call vibe coding.
Vibe coding isn’t about being lazy or letting AI do everything. It’s about building in flow: coding efficiently, documenting clearly, and keeping your process clean while letting tools handle the repetitive stuff. If you’ve ever felt stuck between coding the old-fashioned way and leaning too hard on AI, this is the middle ground.
In this blog, I’ll break down:
What vibe coding really means (beyond the buzz)
How to set up a low-cost, efficient workflow
The best tools for vibe coding right now — Gemini CLI, Codex, Cursor, Leveval, and more
Why documentation and clarity matter more than you think
A few real-world tips and mistakes to avoid
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🌌 What is Vibe Coding?
At its core, vibe coding is about flow. You’re not just typing code into an editor; you’re designing a process where every step feels smooth and aligned.
Instead of manually repeating the same boilerplate for the 100th time, you delegate it to AI. Instead of letting your project become a mess, you document your steps as you go. Instead of fighting bugs in silence, you use smart debugging tools to catch issues quickly.
Here’s what vibe coding looks like in practice:
1. You set up your project with clear structure from day one.
2. You keep a running prompts.txt file with every useful AI prompt you use.
3. You update your README.md regularly so your future self doesn’t suffer.
4. You move fast with tools like Cursor and Gemini CLI, but you don’t let clarity slip.
5. You don’t overspend — most of this workflow runs on free or cheap tools.
In short, vibe coding = coding that’s fast, cheap, and clear.
🛠️ Tools That Make Vibe Coding Possible
Vibe coding wouldn’t exist without the ecosystem of AI-powered tools we have today. Let’s go through some of the most useful ones and how they fit into the workflow.
1. Gemini CLI
Google’s Gemini integrated directly into your terminal.
Why I like it:
No heavy IDE needed.
Perfect for quick snippets or debugging on the fly.
You can stay inside your terminal and still get AI-level help.
Pro tip: keep a file called prompts.txt in your project root. Whenever you use Gemini CLI to generate a snippet, save that exact prompt. Over time, this becomes your personal prompt library.
2. Codex
Codex (from OpenAI) is built for generating and completing code.
What it’s good at:
Pattern-heavy work like CRUD operations, REST APIs, database hooks.
Explaining code in plain English.
Filling in repetitive logic so you don’t have to.
Pro tip: Codex shines when you’re stuck on repetitive tasks. Don’t use it for highly custom or business-logic-heavy code — that’s still your job.
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3. Cursor
Cursor is basically VS Code, but with AI baked in.
Why it’s a game-changer:
Inline debugging — it explains errors where they happen.
AI completions that actually understand your project context.
No switching back and forth between ChatGPT and your editor.
Pro move: Because Cursor speeds you up so much, it’s easy to forget documentation. Make a rule: after every significant chunk of progress, update your README.md. It keeps your project alive instead of turning into a black box.
4. Leveval
A lot of people don’t know this one, but Leveval is great for validating AI-generated code.
Why it matters:
AI-generated code looks clean but often hides bugs.
Lveval acts like a “sanity checker.”
It’s especially useful before pushing to production.
5. Other Cheap & Handy Tools
Zed Editor – super fast, distraction-free, AI-ready.
Replit AI – browser-based coding + instant sharing.
GitHub Copilot Chat – feels like pair programming with a senior dev.
Tabnine – lightweight autocompletion for teams.
The point isn’t to use every tool, but to mix and match depending on your workflow.
📑 Documentation: The Secret Sauce of Vibe Coding
This is where most people fail. They get the tools, they write the code, but they don’t document. And when the project grows? Chaos.
I’ll be blunt: documentation is what separates vibe coding from sloppy coding.
Here are the habits that make all the difference:
1. Prompts are assets. Keep a prompts.txt file with every AI prompt you use. It’s part of your project history.
2. README.md is alive. Don’t treat it like decoration. Update it as you go — installation steps, current status, upcoming features.
3. Organize your folders. Keep code, docs, and prompts separate. Clean structure = clear brain.
4. Be specific. Vague prompts = vague results. Write prompts like “Generate a CRUD API in Flask with SQLite auth” instead of “make API.”
5. Small commits. AI can generate big chunks of code, but break it into small, meaningful commits. It makes debugging so much easier.
💡 Real-World Example: Building a TODO App in Vibe Mode
Let’s take a simple example: a TODO app. Instead of coding everything from scratch, here’s how vibe coding plays out:
1. Setup
Create your project folder.
Add a README.md with a one-line description.
Create a prompts.txt file to log your AI prompts.
2. Generate boilerplate
Use Codex or Cursor to scaffold your project (HTML + CSS + JS or a backend framework).
Log the prompt you used.
3. Customize features
Add unique logic manually (like tags, due dates).
Ask AI to assist with tricky parts, but review the output carefully.
4. Validate
Run Leveval or your own tests to check for hidden bugs
5. Document
Update README with setup steps and features.
Commit changes.
By the end, you’ve got a working TODO app built faster than old-school coding, but still clean and well-documented.
⚡ Common Mistakes in Vibe Coding
From my own experience (and from watching others), here are the traps you’ll want to avoid:
1. Over-relying on AI. If you let AI write your entire app, you’ll spend more time debugging than building. Use it as an assistant, not the driver.
2. Skipping documentation. You’ll regret it later. README and prompts are part of the project.
3. Being vague. AI needs clarity. Garbage in, garbage out.
4. Not testing early. AI code might look flawless but still fail at runtime. Test small, test often.
5. Tool-hopping. Don’t use 10 different AI editors. Pick a core setup and stick with it.
Final Thoughts
Vibe coding isn’t about being lazy. It’s about working in a flow where tools handle the heavy lifting, and you focus on clarity, structure, and creativity.
The real trick isn’t the tools — it’s the discipline. Document as you go, keep your README alive, save your prompts, and stay specific. That’s what turns AI-assisted coding from chaos into clarity.
Once you start vibe coding, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it. The grind disappears, and what’s left is flow — building things fast, cheap, and clean, without losing your sanity.
So next time you
sit down to code, don’t just grind. Find your vibe.
My twitter :- https://x.com/_sarthak_buddy
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