Can a Complete Tech Novice Create a Website Using Everyday Language on ChatGPT?
The latest Silicon Valley catchphrase for an advance in generative AI, "vibe coding," promises to make computer programming as simple as chatting online. Can it deliver on this promise?
The Promise of "Vibe Coding"
OpenAI co-founder and former Tesla employee Andrej Karpathy described "vibe coding" as "giving in to the vibes, embracing exponentials, and forgetting that the code even exists." He claims that building a project or web app is as simple as "seeing stuff, saying stuff, running stuff, and copying and pasting stuff, and it mostly works."
The Reality of "Vibe Coding"
While some, like New York Times columnist Kevin Roose, claim to have created websites and apps without any knowledge of programming, others are skeptical. "People who do not have programming expertise often struggle to use these kinds of models because they don’t have the right kinds of tools or knowledge to actually evaluate the output," said Nikola Banovic, professor of computer science at the University of Michigan.
The Limitations of "Vibe Coding"
Even with some coding knowledge, creating an app that works can be a challenge. Claude Rubinson, a professor of sociology at the University of Houston-Downtown, wanted to create an application for his students two years ago without tinkering with the code generated by ChatGPT. After a lot of trial and error, the app finally worked, but "I’m convinced it wouldn’t have worked if I hadn’t understood the code," which allowed him to guide the interface using the appropriate language.
The Importance of the "Prompt"
Mastering the "prompt" is crucial in getting the desired result. "Programmers have certain levels of AI literacy that allows them to get what they want out of the models," said Banovic. "Everyday users will not know how to prompt," he warned.
The Future of "Vibe Coding"
While "vibe coding" may not make coding irrelevant, it may change the way developers work. "Maybe, just maybe, we’re looking at a fundamental shift in how software is created and who creates it," said online marketing specialist Mattheo Cellini on Substack. However, some predict job displacement, particularly for those focused solely on basic coding tasks.
FAQs
- What is "vibe coding"?
- "Vibe coding" is a term used to describe the new generative AI models that produce lines of code on demand in everyday language, through writing or speech.
- Can anyone use "vibe coding"?
- While anyone can use "vibe coding," those without programming expertise may struggle to use these kinds of models.
- Will "vibe coding" make coding irrelevant?
- No, but it may change the way developers work.
- Will "vibe coding" lead to job displacement?
- Yes, particularly for those focused solely on basic coding tasks.