Vibe coding with AI can look completely different depending on who is using it.
If you are non-technical, you usually describe the end result. If you are technical, you probably break things down first. Neither is wrong. They are just different ways to work, and they lead to different outcomes.
If you are not technical
Most people start by describing the feature in plain language:
- what the app should do
- how it should look
- what should happen when you click something
That is honestly a great way to start.
You get something on the screen quickly, which keeps you motivated. It feels like progress right away, and that matters when you are trying to get an idea out of your head.
The tradeoff is that AI has to guess a lot. Sometimes it guesses right. Sometimes it builds something that technically works but is not really what you meant.
If you are technical
Technical people usually get better results by being more specific up front:
- define requirements in documentation first
- write things down
- break the work into smaller tasks
- test each step before moving on
It feels less magical, but way more reliable.
You are basically treating AI like a fast teammate instead of a mind reader. The smaller and clearer the task, the better the result. It is easier to review, easier to fix, and less likely to blow up later.
What actually matters
The real difference is not whether you can code.
It is how much structure you give the AI.
If you want to explore, stay high level.
If you want to ship something real, tighten the inputs.
That is why vibe coding can feel amazing one day and messy the next. The output usually reflects the quality of the instructions.
Practical Takeaway
Use vibes to explore ideas.
Use structure to ship.
AI is great at moving fast, but it still needs direction. The clearer your docs and task breakdown are, the better your results will be, especially for production work.