Vibe coding promised to democratize software engineering but instead has created a new class of power users. The platform is popular among developers, founders, and designers, who are daily active users of other tech tools. However, most people still think AI equals ChatGPT and aren’t interested in trying out vibe coding demos.
The author, who has zero engineering background, tried vibe coding despite feeling like a “silent majority.” They struggled with the setup, security, and imagination required to use the platform, and their success rate is 50/50. The author isn’t alone; others have also had difficulty using vibe coding.
The problem lies in the fact that vibe coding requires technical expertise, which is often a barrier for non-technical people. Companies like Poke and Wabi are working on products instead of tools, making it easier for consumers to use AI agents without requiring terminal commands or API keys.
To succeed, startups need to make vibe coding accessible to everyone, not just developers. The author believes that the right on-ramp will be built, allowing millions of people to build software who never thought they could.
Source: https://a16z.com/most-people-cant-vibe-code-heres-how-we-fix-that