Vibe Coding Beginner's Guide - Essential Skills in the AI Era

1. What does it mean to "really use AI"?
Many people think that using AI means being able to write prompts and chat in a dialog box. In reality, you don't need to write the prompts; AI can write them better and more professionally (the first image is a prompt for an architect that Claude Code wrote for me). Chatting in a dialog box is always too fragmented and cannot form a system. True "usage" means letting AI do the work for you. Don't treat AI as a chatting partner; treat it as your brainstorming partner, as your CTO. What you need to do is let AI create tools that take over your repetitive and tedious tasks every day, allowing AI to productize your ideas.

2. Getting involved with Vibe Coding is addictive, and the feedback mechanism helps you learn quickly.
I studied Communication Engineering during my undergraduate years, and my main research was writing code for chips, also known as embedded development. I will never forget the thrill that came from the moment I first lit a small light bulb on a microcontroller with code. What you think is what you get; you type a line of code, and the real world immediately gives you feedback with a lit light. From then on, coding all night became the norm. The fastest way to learn: instant feedback.
exam
AI generation

3. Your new identity: not a programmer, but a product manager
Don't worry about how to write code or what programming language to use; that's not your concern. In the world of Vibe Coding, the division of labor is extremely clear:
• The role of AI: responsible for "how to do it" (writing code, fixing bugs).
• Your job: responsible for "what to do" (raising requirements, pointing out issues).
You don’t need to understand the syntax of code, but you need to understand your own needs. The clearer you can describe your needs, the better AI can perform.

4. The Biggest Pitfall: AI's "Goldfish Memory"
Why are complex projects easily ruined? Because large models have limitations on context length, which means that AI has a poor memory. If you chat with it for too long, it forgets what you initially wanted to do and starts to make things up (which we call "hallucination"). Vibe Coding is not achieved through chatting in a dialogue box.
Solution: Don't just rely on words, but on documentation. Manus and Claude Code do a great job in context management because they understand how to look at "files." Files are like external hard drives for AI, helping it remember everything it has done. Context only handles the current task, and once completed, it is stored in the file to keep it, clearing the memory and starting a new job. When memory needs to be awakened, it retrieves from the file.

5. Core Method: Building Block Logic
How can beginners tackle complex things? Never try to achieve everything at once. Think using the logic of stacking building blocks:
a. Deconstruction: Don't let AI do "", let it first do "an input box".
b. Just look at the results: you don't care how the code is written (you can't understand it anyway). You just need to try: can I send it out when I type in the input box?
This block is good
Throw it back for AI to redo
c. Assembly: Putting together the verified "blocks" is your product.
First partial, then whole; first run through, then restructure. This is the core philosophy of Vibe Coding.

6. How to get started? (Tools and Tactics)
Don't get tangled up in which tool is the best; choose the most suitable "tactical combination" based on your budget and level of investment.
Plan A: Zero-Cost Trial Version (suitable for validating ideas)
Core logic: Use free tools to run the smallest process.
a. Brain (Product Manager): Use ChatGPT or other free dialogue models.
◦ Task: Discuss and brainstorm with it. Turn your vague ideas into a clear "requirements document" and force it to break down the large requirements into individual "building blocks" (modules).
b. Workshop (Development Environment): Download Google Antigravity (
◦ Task: This is your "factory", where you have a free quota every day. Build the project framework here.
c. Substitute employees: Configure Gemini CLI.
◦ Task: Each Google account has a free quota. When Antigravity's free quota is exhausted, continue working with Gemini.

Plan B: Cost-effective Practical Version (suitable for continuous output)
Core logic: An investment of $20 per month yields industrial-grade precision. This is currently the most cost-effective configuration.
a. Main Configuration: ChatGPT Plus Membership ($20/month) + IDE (Antigravity / Cursor (no need to activate paid membership)/ VS Code).
b. Hidden Benefits: CodeX CLI.
◦ Many people do not know that after subscribing to ChatGPT, you actually have access to an extremely powerful command-line programming tool, CodeX CLI, which can be installed and used with one click at no extra cost.
◦ Advantage: In coding, CodeX is more precise than Gemini and better understands complex logic.
c. Double stream operation (tactical skill):
◦ Open two terminals.
◦ Terminal A (Gemini Free Version ): Handles "dirty and tedious tasks", such as writing comments and generating simple test data.
◦ Terminal B (CodeX Paid Version ): Handling "fine work" and writing core business logic.
◦ Purpose: Good steel is used on the blade to maximize the value of that 20 dollars.

Plan C: Ultimate Geek Edition (suitable for complex system development)
Core logic: Assemble a special forces team to let each AI utilize its strengths.
◦ ChatGPT: Strategic Consultant. Responsible for brainstorming and producing the initial draft of the requirements document.
◦ Gemini: Auditor. Responsible for reviewing requirement documents, identifying omissions, and further refining requirement documents.
◦ Claude Code: Architect. This is currently the "strongest brain," with tools like Agents, Output-Style, Skills, etc. to manage context.
◦ CodeX: Special Forces. Within the framework established by Claude Code, precisely execute the coding of each small module.

Last piece of advice: don't ask me "how to install these tools". You've already entered the AI era. Open ChatGPT or Gemini and ask it: "I'm on Mac/Windows, please guide me step by step on how to install CodeX CLI." If you need a human to guide you through even this step, you might not be ready to start Vibe Coding.