Strategy

Vibe Coding Isn't About Code—It's About Solving Problems

Demystifying 'vibe coding' for leaders: why it's the most important trend in building, and what it means for the future of software.

Vibe Coding Isn't About Code—It's About Solving Problems

TL;DR

Vibe coding isn't about writing code—it's about solving problems faster, with less friction, by making natural language the new interface for building. Leaders who overlook this shift risk missing the biggest productivity unlock of the decade.


What Is Vibe Coding?

"Vibe coding" (a term coined by Andrej Karpathy) is a fundamentally new way to build software. Instead of obsessing over syntax or frameworks, you focus on describing what you want—in plain language—and let the machine do the heavy lifting. It's collaborative, iterative, and user-centric. In practice, it looks like opening Cursor, prompting for a feature, and talking the machine into building what you need. Natural language is the new UX.

Why It Matters: The Underlying Trend

Vibe coding isn't a gimmick or a productivity hack. It's a signal that the way we build is changing at the root. The best teams aren't just writing code faster—they're breaking down silos, aligning technical and non-technical minds, and shipping solutions that actually solve user problems. The real story isn't about code—it's about speed, empathy, and outcomes.

  • Break Silos, Build Empathy: Tools like Slack let non-engineers address user pain points directly, closing the gap between product and customer.
  • Customer Success = Technical Fluency: At HubSpot, customer teams use SQL to analyze user behavior, driving features that cut churn. Cross-functional teams resolve issues 2x faster (Forrester).
  • Leadership & Strategy: At Notion and MadKudu, leadership joins hackathons to understand technical trade-offs, making smarter bets with resources.

Demystifying Vibe Coding: It's Not Just for Engineers

The biggest misconception? That vibe coding is only for technical people. In reality, it's about making building accessible to anyone who can describe a problem. The machine handles the code. Your job is to articulate the outcome you want. This shift means:

  • Non-engineers can prototype and iterate without waiting for dev cycles.
  • Leaders can participate directly in the building process, not just the planning.
  • Teams move from "requirements docs" to real, working solutions—faster.

What Leaders Need to Know

If you're a leader, don't sleep on vibe coding. It's not hype—it's a foundational trend. The organizations that embrace it will:

  • Ship faster, with fewer handoffs.
  • Build products that actually solve user problems (not just check boxes).
  • Attract and retain talent that wants to work this way.

The future of building isn't about who can write the best code. It's about who can solve the right problems, the fastest. Vibe coding is how you get there.

Good vibes!

Good vibes!