Practical Vibe Coding for Non-Developers

What Is Vibe Coding?

This chapter introduces vibe coding: what it means, how it differs from traditional programming or simply asking a chatbot for code, and why it lets non-developers build real applications.

• From idea to working app
• Vibe coding vs. traditional development
• What AI coding agents can and cannot be trusted with
• The vibe coder's responsibilities: reviewing, questioning, verifying
• A first look at the application we'll build

Understanding AI Coding Assistants

This module introduces Large Language Models in plain language, explains the difference between what a model "knows" and what it can look up or do, and gives a practical tour of today's AI coding agents. We use Claude Code and GitHub Copilot as our main agents throughout the week.

• Large Language Models
• Static knowledge vs. dynamic context
• Claude Code vs. GitHub Copilot
• What tools an AI agent can use
• Staying in control of usage
• LAB: Installing and configuring your AI coding agent

Software Architecture Fundamentals

This module introduces the vocabulary and concepts behind most modern applications - frontend, backend, APIs and the cloud - so you can follow what your AI agent is building, ask informed questions, and recognize when a proposed design doesn't fit your needs.

• Client and server
• Frontend, backend and APIs explained
• Where your application and its data actually live
• Websites, web apps and mobile apps
• Cloud Basics
• Reading and questioning an AI-proposed architecture
• LAB: Reviewing and adjusting an architecture proposed by your AI agent

Prompting and Steering Your AI Agent

This module teaches you how to write prompts that get you useful, predictable output, how to keep an AI agent focused on the right task, and how to have a conversation with it rather than a single one-shot request.

• Anatomy of an effective prompt
• Giving context: showing the agent your project
• Iterating: refining, correcting and redirecting the agent
• Plan mode: letting the agent propose before it builds
• Spotting hallucinations and overconfident answers
• LAB: Prompting your AI agent to build a small first feature

Version Control Essentials with Git

Git lets you and your AI agent experiment freely, because every version of your work is saved and nothing is ever truly lost. This module teaches the Git concepts and everyday workflow every vibe coder needs.

• Why version control matters
• Git and GitHub: core concepts
• Committing changes
• Reviewing what changed with diffs
• Branches: trying things without breaking what works
• Undoing mistakes
• LAB: Setting up a repository and tracking your AI agent's changes

From Idea to Requirements

This module shows how to turn a fuzzy idea into a clear, written specification an AI agent can build from, and how to let the agent itself interview you to surface requirements you hadn't thought of yet.

• Why "just build me an app" doesn't work
• Describing users, goals and success criteria
• Letting the AI agent ask clarifying questions
• Turning a conversation into a written specification
• LAB: Specifying the application you'll build this week

Database Design Fundamentals

This module teaches the core ideas behind relational databases - tables, relationships and structure - so you can design a sensible data model.

• What a database is
• Tables, rows, columns and keys
• Modeling relationships between things (one-to-many, many-to-many)
• LAB: Designing your application's data model together with your AI agent

Turning the Design into a Plan

This module turns your design into a concrete build plan: a sequence of features an AI agent can implement one at a time.

• Breaking a design into steps
• Sequencing features: what to build first, and why
• Writing a build plan
• LAB: Building a step-by-step plan for your application with your AI agent

Building Your Application with AI

This module focuses on working feature by feature, keeping the agent on track, and recognizing good progress versus a session that's going off the rails.

• Scaffolding a new application with your AI agent
• Implementing one feature at a time
• Keeping long sessions on track
• LAB: Building the core features of your application

Working with Databases in Practice

With features taking shape, this module looks at how your application actually talks to its database.

• Connecting your application to its database
• Reading and writing data
• Changing a data model safely: migrations
• Sample data, seeding and keeping environments consistent
• LAB: Extending your application's data model and verifying the result

Testing AI-Generated Code

"It looks like it works" is not the same as "it works". This module explains why testing matters more, not less, when AI is writing the code, and shows how to have your AI agent write and run tests that give you real evidence your application behaves correctly.

• Why AI-generated code needs testing
• Manual testing
• Having your AI agent write automated tests
• A gentle introduction to test-driven development
• LAB: Testing your application with the help of your AI agent

Reviewing and Improving AI-Generated Code

This module gives you a practical framework for reviewing AI-generated changes without being able to read every line of code yourself, using the AI agent's own explanations, diffs and automated checks as your evidence.

• What to look for in a set of AI-generated changes, without reading code
• Asking your AI agent to explain and justify its own changes
• Using diffs
• Automated code quality checks
• Using a review-focused AI agent
• LAB: Reviewing and improving a set of AI-generated changes

Security Fundamentals for Vibe Coders

This module introduces the security basics every vibe coder needs to know.

• Why AI-generated applications need a security mindset
• The most common vulnerabilities, in plain language
• Authentication and authorization basics
• Handling secrets, passwords and API keys safely
• Validating input
• Using AI to scan for and explain security issues
• LAB: Running a security review of your application with your AI agent

Deployment and Cloud Basics

This module demystifies deployment: how an application moves from your machine to somewhere real users can reach it, what environments and configuration are, and how to have your AI agent guide you through publishing your application to the cloud.

• From "works on my machine" to a live application
• Environments: development, staging and production
• Configuration and environment variables
• Choosing a hosting platform for your application
• Domains, HTTPS and the basics of going live
• LAB: Deploying your application with your AI agent