David Heinemeier Hansson (DHH), creator of Ruby on Rails, shared his thoughts on AI-assisted vibe coding in a recent six-hour podcast interview with Lex Fridman. DHH is passionate about programming and productivity, and he believes that AI can be a powerful tool for developers.
While DHH enjoys using AI tools to generate drafts, look up APIs, or get second opinions, he prefers not to let AI drive his code. Instead, he uses AI-generated code in a separate window and focuses on typing out the code himself. For him, programming is about more than just writing efficient code – it’s also about expressing oneself creatively.
DHH agrees that vibe coding can be a valuable skill, but only if done thoughtfully. He cautions against relying solely on AI-generated code and warns that “if you can just vibe code it, you’re not a programmer.” Instead, he advocates for learning how to write clean, well-structured code by hand.
The creator of Ruby on Rails also emphasizes the importance of humility when it comes to predicting the future. He notes that society has already lost several skills due to technological advancements and reminds us that “no one knows anything” about what jobs will be replaced by AI in the future.
DHH’s message is clear: programming should be learned through hands-on experience, not just by watching others or using tools. “You have to do the sit-ups,” he says, comparing it to fitness. By doing so, developers can build skills that are harder to replace with technology.
Source: https://thenewstack.io/dhh-on-ai-vibe-coding-and-the-future-of-programming