Let’s be honest: writing syntax is
so 2023.
If you are still memorizing regex patterns or fighting with webpack configurations manually, you are playing the game on Hard Mode. The industry has shifted. We have moved from "Coding" (writing logic for machines) to "Vibe Coding" (managing AI that writes logic for machines).
In late 2025, the barrier to entry for building software has collapsed. It’s not about knowing Python; it’s about knowing how to direct the symphony of AI agents.
In this guide, I’m going to break down the exact Vibe Coding Workflow I use to build Micro-SaaS apps in hours, not weeks.
What is Vibe Coding?
Coined loosely around the community (and popularized by tech visionaries like Andrej Karpathy), Vibe Coding is the practice of using natural language to guide Large Language Models (LLMs) to write code.
You aren't the typist anymore; you're the architect. You "vibe" with the code—reading it, understanding the flow, and nudging the AI when it drifts off course—rather than writing every semicolon.
The 2026 "Vibe Stack"
To execute this workflow, you need the right tools. Forget Notepad++. Here is the "Holy Trinity" of vibe coding right now:
- The Brain: DeepSeek R1 (or OpenAI o1). You need a model with high reasoning capabilities to plan architecture.
- The Hands: Cursor. This is the IDE that implements the code. Its "Composer" feature is the heart of vibe coding.
- The Stage: Vercel/Replit. For instant deployment.
Read my detailed comparison of Cursor vs Replit vs Lovable to see which tool suits your specific style.
Step-by-Step Vibe Coding Workflow
Here is the exact process to go from "Idea" to "Deployed App" in one session.
Phase 1: The Context Dump (Markdown)
Don't just open the editor and say "Make a game." You need a PRD (Product Requirements Document).
I use DeepSeek R1 for this. I tell it:
"I want to build a Micro-SaaS that tracks competitor pricing. Write a technical spec for a Next.js app using Tailwind and Supabase."
DeepSeek R1’s reasoning capabilities are superior here because it "thinks" through the database schema before generating code.
(See more on DeepSeek R1 vs OpenAI o1 for reasoning tasks).
Phase 2: The "Composer" Session
Open Cursor. Hit Cmd+I (Composer).
Paste your PRD from Phase 1. This is where the magic happens. Instead of writing files one by one, you tell Cursor:
"Scaffold this entire project structure based on the PRD. Create the components, the database hooks, and the API routes."
Cursor will create multiple files simultaneously. Your job is to watch the diffs. Does it look right? Does the structure match the plan?
Phase 3: The "Vibe Check" (Iteration)
You will encounter bugs. This is normal. In Vibe Coding, you don't Google the error. You paste the error into the chat and say:
"You broke the auth flow. Fix it while keeping the UI style consistent."
Pro Tip: Use proper vibe coding prompts to keep the AI focused. For example, explicitly telling the AI "Don't delete existing comments" or "Use arrow functions" saves headaches.
If you are strictly looking for speed, here is how the top platforms stack up today:
| Feature | Cursor | Replit Agent | Lovable |
|---|
| Best For | Pro Developers & Control | Complete Beginners | UI/Frontend Speed |
| Model | Claude 3.5 / DeepSeek | Custom Agent | GPT-4o / Claude |
| Deployment | Manual (Vercel/Netlify) | One-Click | One-Click |
| Cost | $20/mo | Pro Tier | Credit Based |
For complex Micro-SaaS building, I prefer Cursor because I own the code locally. For quick prototypes, Replit is unbeatable.
Common Vibe Coding Mistakes
- Blind Trust: Never accept code you haven't glanced at. AI will hallucinate imports that don't exist.
- Context Overload: If the chat gets too long, the AI gets stupid. Start a new chat window for new features.
- Ignoring Security: AI loves to hardcode API keys. Always double-check your
.env files.
FAQ
Q: Do I need to know how to code to Vibe Code? A: You need to know how to read code, not necessarily write it from scratch. You need to understand logic to spot when the AI is lying to you.
Q: Can I use this for mobile apps? A: Yes! You can apply this workflow to React Native or Swift. Check out my guide on Prompt Patterns for Mobile Apps.
Q: Is DeepSeek free? A: DeepSeek offers very generous API tiers and is often cheaper than OpenAI.
Conclusion
The era of the "10x Engineer" is over. We are entering the era of the 100x Vibe Coder.
By mastering this workflow—Planning with DeepSeek, Building with Cursor, and iterating with natural language—you can out-ship entire development teams. The technology is here; the only limit is your ability to describe what you want.
Ready to automate even more? Look into building autonomous AI agents to handle the marketing for your new app.
Now, go build something cool.
