Tell HN: I use AI to help me code, but I don't want to be called a "vibe coder"

3 owendarko 1 5/11/2025, 3:29:53 PM
I've been a software developer for over 8 years and recently started using AI to help me code.

The OSS project I'm currently working on (Kilo Code [1]) basically also attracts the same type of people: People with software dev. experience who like to use AI to help them do things they already know, just faster.

They also don't want to be called "vibe coders". A few days ago, I created a question on a subreddit called "ChatGPTCoding" (which you'd expect to be filled with "vibe coders")[2], asking people if they do "vibe coding" or "AI assisted coding".

Surprisingly, almost NOBODY replies that they do "vibe coding". One guy described vibe coding as "using AI while not having a clue what you're doing."

Am I the only one who wants to be using AI to help me code/design/etc., but I don't want to put under the umbrella of a "vibe coder"?

If yes, is there a better phrase to distinguish ourselves from the "vibe" folks out there?

[1] https://github.com/Kilo-Org/kilocode

[2] https://www.reddit.com/r/ChatGPTCoding/comments/1k7j2hk/vibe_coding_vs_aiassisted_coding/

Comments (1)

p_ing · 20h ago
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vibe_coding

Does what you do fit the Definition outlined there? Or do you come up with some actual code on your own (things that maybe aren't boilerplate) and ask ChatGPT to rewrite/enhance/verify correctness?

If you simply say "create me a DNS server in C", sure that's vibe coding. If you provide it code to correct some issue you can't figure out, that's using AI to your advantage.