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Vibe coding is programming by gut feel. You have an idea for a tool, a website, or a repetitive task you want to automate… but instead of enrolling in a coding boot camp or slogging through YouTube tutorials, you fire up an AI chatbot and have it write the code for you. This AI-driven approach to creative coding has exploded in popularity over the past year or two—chiefly because it works. People are building genuinely useful stuff without even knowing what a variable is. I’ve been vibe coding my own apps with AI and I’m absolutely loving it, despite being a relative newbie to coding. But most advice about AI-assisted programming still assumes you want to become a “real” programmer eventually. Because of that, the advice tends to steer you towards professional tools that are overkill for simple projects. You need a different—easier—approach. PROMOTIONLaunch in minutes by vibe coding Turn your ideas into reality with Hostinger Horizons. Build web apps, websites, and custom tools by chatting with the AI – no coding required. Get everything you need to launch and grow including web hosting, domain management and email. Start now Here’s what you really need to start vibe coding your own stuff right now, without any of the BS that only complicates matters. Use an AI chatbot, not an AI-assisted IDE Your first instinct might be to use an AI-assisted integrated development environment (IDE), one that you’ve heard is good for vibe coding, like Windsurf, Cursor, or even Claude Code (which technically isn’t an IDE, but that’s besides the point). All of these tools are built for AI coding, so they’re the best place to start, right? Well… no. These tools are designed to make highly productive programmers even more productive, and that means they assume a level of knowledge that amateur coders—like you and me—lack. Diving into these programs straight away is likely to leave you confused and discouraged. An AI-driven code editor can be powerful, but it’s overkill for an amateur vibe coder. This one starts at $15 per month after a two-week trial.Windsurf Not to mention that AI-powered IDEs are pretty darn expensive, too. While most offer a bit of free use, it’s easy for even uber-casual vibe coders to find themselves in need of a paid plan. Many such IDEs charge based on usage instead of a flat monthly rate, too. As an amateur vibe coder, you’re better off using an AI chatbot. The downside here is that you’ll need to copy-paste code back and forth between the chatbot and your code editor. It’s a bit of a nuisance, but it’s not too bad if your project is small. Choose your AI chatbot carefully When it comes to AI chatbots with programming proficiency, there are several you can choose from. All of the popular ones are good enough to get started, but even so, I have a couple recommendations. Don’t want to spend a dime? Try Google’s AI Studio. This chronically under-appreciated AI tool provides free and effectively unlimited access to Google’s latest Gemini Pro models, which many consider the best in the business without paying a cent. Google AI Studio does have a few downsides. Google will train on your data (most paid services promise they don’t), the interface isn’t the best, and there’s no desktop or mobile version. None of these are serious obstacles for amateur vibe coding, though. A screenshot of a quick data visualization tool I created using Claude.Matt Smith / Foundry But if you’re willing to pay a bit and want an attractive interface with desktop and mobile apps, I recommend Anthropic’s Claude Opus. I like Claude’s Artifacts feature, which breaks code out in a separate interface pane. It can even execute some code (like HTML or JavaScript) to provide a preview in Claude itself, and you can download code to your PC from this pane. Competitors have emulated it with similar features, but I think Anthropic’s implementation remains the best. Stick to popular programming languages Choosing a programming language is a major obstacle for both amateur and experienced programmers. There are hundreds to choose from, dozens of them are mature, and promoters of each tend to have strong opinions, so it’s easy to fall into analysis paralysis. When it comes to vibe coding, though, I recommend that you stick with languages that are both popular and forgiving. That means the usual suspects of JavaScript/TypeScript, Python, HTML, and perhaps C# if you’re feeling saucy. AI does best with these languages because AI models are trained on data from across the web. The more popular the language, the more examples there are to train on—and the more source data to work with, the better the generative results. As for how forgiving a particular language is, it’s an important aspect to consider because you’ll be quicker to get a program up and running even when it has bugs. Some languages, like Rust and C++, have strict syntax and architectural demands that can be a nightmare to debug. Veteran coders are likely to recoil at the idea of willingly accepting bugs in a program, but for beginners, it’s better to have a buggy-yet-functional program than a program that was abandoned because it never worked. Alternatively, you could let the AI choose your language for you. Describe the program you want to create and ask the chatbot to make it in whatever language seems most appropriate. Choose a simple code editor Once you have a chatbot and coding language picked, you’ll need to choose the software you use to edit code. You may feel pushed towards a full-blown programming IDE like Visual Studio, which is admittedly powerful but, again, designed for people who have some knowledge of programming. For casual vibe coding, I recommend a simpler code editor like Notepad++, Sublime Text, or UltraEdit. (My bias is towards Notepad++.) A screenshot of my vibe coded personal website in Notepad++.Matt Smith / Foundry Code editors lack the comprehensive terminal, debugging, and remote development features found in many IDEs. However, code editors still provide a fast, functional, and approachable interface that looks more like the barebones text editors you’ve likely used (e.g., Notepad), and they still provide handy features like code auto-completion. Think small (and reinvent the wheel) Scope creep is a common problem that all programmers face, and it can stop you cold. Big projects are more difficult than small projects, and vibe coding grows more difficult as the size of a project increases. So while it might be tempting to try vibe coding your way to a full-blown 3D game or world-class accounting software, you might want to hold your horses and start small. Very small.  A screenshot of me asking Claude about some enhancements to my tabletop game web app, which is relatively simple and small in scope.Matt Smith / Foundry Here are some great entry-level project examples for vibe coding: Python scripts that automate specific tasks, like scraping web pages for data or filtering documents by various criteria. A single-page personal website or app in HTML and JavaScript. A single-feature app programmed in Python or C#. My first vibe-coded project was a dice-rolling tool with text-to-speech capability for the tabletop strategy game Battletech. It can roll dice and announce the results of a roll, speeding up play. I also vibe-coded my own personal website, a single page of HTML with some JavaScript. Use AI to troubleshoot issues, answer questions, and generate documentation You might be surprised by how quickly AI can help you vibe code basic tools and programs. It’s so easy to pop out a quick Python script, you may find yourself doing it several times a day at one point. However, heavy reliance on vibe-coded projects can lead to another problem: losing track of how each script and program works, and becoming confused by dependencies. For example, Python programs typically don’t work right out of the box. You’ll need to install Python as well as the various libraries that are used to accomplish different things in a script. Not only do you have to figure that out, but if you ever move to another computer, you’ll also have to set up Python and those dependencies on that computer as well. Fortunately, AI is great at solving this problem. Just ask and it’ll provide you with instructions on how to install a new programming language and any related libraries on your computer. This will typically involve a handful of command-line prompts. I also recommend ending every vibe coding session by asking the AI to create documentation that teaches new users how to use the generated program. And when you use AI to modify existing scripts or programs, it’s a good idea to ask for a changelog of everything it does. Documentation will help you remember how your program works and help you get it working when you switch computers. Pick up Arduino and/or Raspberry Pi Python scripts and web pages can be useful, but they lack pizzazz… and that can be discouraging for any new vibe coder. If you want to try programming something that feels more tangible and exciting, then I recommend picking up an Arduino and/or Raspberry Pi. Going this route is likely to increase your starting costs and will make your vibe coding journey more complicated. You’ll need to buy some hardware and most likely a soldering iron. You’re also going to need to pick up some skills that AI can’t help with, like soldering. A Raspberry Pi Pico 2 W hooked up and ready to tinker with.Raspberry Pi While you can use AI to suggest Arduino and/or Raspberry Pi projects, I recommend picking a tutorial that already exists, like this Raspberry Pi Pico W weather station by ExplainingComputers. The tutorial explains the basics, of course, but the AI chatbot can further explain concepts that you don’t quite understand and handle edge cases. For example, I had a different temperature sensor than the one in the tutorial, so I had to wire it differently than how it was shown and make changes to the code to identify my sensor. With the help of AI, I was able to make the required changes in just 15 minutes. Further reading: Practical Raspberry Pi projects anyone can do PROMOTIONLaunch in minutes by vibe coding Turn your ideas into reality with Hostinger Horizons. Build web apps, websites, and custom tools by chatting with the AI – no coding required. 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Planning a trip takes time and often its more of a hassle than you’d like. If you don’t feel like spending hours researching, you can simply outsource the first draft of your holiday plans to ChatGPT. The chatbot suggests travel destinations, creates daily plans, compares means of transport, reminds you of charging devices, and even virtually packs your suitcase. But how reliable are these suggestions? And can it actually save you money? We’ll show you what ChatGPT excels at in vacation planning — and warn you of pitfalls where it stumbles. Let’s dig in. Further reading: 9 menial tasks ChatGPT can handle in seconds, saving you hours Find travel ideas If you don’t have any concrete plans yet, ChatGPT is an excellent starting point for finding ideas. Start with a few wishes or questions such as: I would like to travel with two friends for 5 days in September, budget maximum 300 dollars per person, like nature and hiking, but also a small city to stroll around. Which three European cities are cheap, family-friendly and under 400 dollars in autumn? I’m planning a 7-day round trip from Munich through South Tyrol, the Dolomites and Lake Garda with activities and accommodation. ChatGPT responds with a list of suitable destinations as well as information on travelling, accommodation costs, local activities and much more – depending on the initial question or prompt (command). When making hotel suggestions or flight connections, remember that the AI does not process real-time data. You have to check for yourself whether the specified bus connection still exists, a cheap flight is actually available, or the accommodation is out of budget in high season. In this aspect, the time saved by using ChatGPT is less than hoped for (at least if you want to accept the suggestions unfiltered). The AI can also provide you with links to the official hotel websites, but you have to make the bookings yourself. Personalized daily plans Once the destination is clear, ChatGPT helps with fine-tuning: sights, restaurant tips, or travel routes can be packed into a personalized day plan if desired. For example, if you write: “Plan 3 days in Porto with food, culture and a relaxed atmosphere”, you will receive an itinerary with breakfast places, tours, museums and sunset points. The more details you enter – such as type of traveller, preferences, restrictions or weather – the better the results. ChatGPT creates detailed day tours on request, taking into account personal preferences and priorities. Sam Singleton Another example prompt: “I am a woman travelling alone, want to spend 5 days in Lisbon, travel safely, eat vegetarian food, and visit local bookshops. Plan for me a relaxed itinerary with addresses.”. Even Plan B suggestions for bad weather or child-friendly variants are possible – just ask the AI. Road trips, stopovers, and routes To plan your route, enter the starting point, destination, duration and interests. ChatGPT generates suggestions for stages, places of interest, and possible activities based on this information. Example: “I would like to do a 7-day round trip by car in July, starting in Munich, through Austria and northern Italy, focusing on nature, thermal baths and small towns. Please include distances and recommendations for accommodation or campsites.” Information on tolls, border crossings, traffic and weather is also available, even if it’s not updated daily. You will still have to transfer the route manually to Google Maps or a sat nav app though. A little etiquette in language and culture Asking ChatGPT “How do you say ‘Hello” in Icelandic?” And “Do you tip in Portugal?” clarifies such questions in a matter of seconds. A quick AI crash course in language and etiquette is particularly useful for short trips. You can also check public holidays, festivals and school holidays so that you are optimally prepared. Example prompts: What public holidays and major festivals are there in Croatia in June? And what should I bear in mind when visiting restaurants? What should I know about eating habits and courtesies in Portugal? What traditional festivals take place in Andalusia in July? How do you greet someone in Icelandic? And how do you say thank you? How much is it customary to tip in Greek restaurants? A little tip: Ask specifically about taboos or faux pas typical of the country. In many countries, there are unwritten rules of behavior that tourists should be aware of before they unknowingly cause offence. Packing list including special tips Last but not least, ChatGPT also helps you pack your suitcase, at least virtually. With information on your destination, duration of the trip and planned activities, the AI creates packing lists including practical tips on power adapters, clothing, first-aid kit and weatherproof equipment. Example: “I’m flying to Thailand for 10 days, I’m mostly travelling outside and need a packing list for my rucksack including technology, clothing, and pharmacy.” ChatGPT also creates checklists for packing suitcases, tailored to the destination, duration and activities. Sam Singleton The result is impressive, but you have to add personal essentials yourself. ChatGPT doesn’t know that you can’t sleep at night without a sleep mask—not yet, at least. Advantages and disadvantages of ChatGPT for vacation planning A real added value of ChatGPT lies in the organization of individual travel ideas. The AI provides quick and flexible ideas that traditional booking sites often don’t offer. Especially those who are not planning a run-of-the-mill trip, but want to pay attention to personal preferences, travel type, or specific needs, will benefit from the variety of suggestions. ChatGPT is not suitable for flight connections nor current prices and availability. If you think you can save yourself the trouble of doing all the research, the opposite is often the case: you should always check prices, opening times or timetables separately, which takes additional time. Therefore, it’s best to use ChatGPT for inspiration, structure, and individualization. For anything that changes quickly, however, you still need to use a search engine or app. If you keep this in mind, you will save yourself frustration and still get plenty of original travel ideas. Related content: 5 ways I actually used ChatGPT this year to improve my life 9 menial tasks ChatGPT can handle in seconds, saving you hours 23 travel gadgets you need for your next trip Read...

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