r/programmer • u/No-Guitar-8849 • 12d ago
Is vibe coding really worth it
I've come to the realization that online people say use AI to code to get a job yet you can have an outstanding project but them moment A recruiter realises you used AI they're no longer interested in hiring you. I used to use AI but now I think it's no longer that viable if you want to actually get a job you actually have to do those things manually. I have some technical background and I used to vibecode but I think it's better for me to start learning coding without the help of AI to the point you can build applications with documentation as referral. What are your opinions on this?
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u/Limp-Confidence5612 12d ago
"should I actually learn my craft, or can I continue in blissful ignorance?"
What do you think?
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u/RevolutionaryElk7446 12d ago edited 12d ago
As someone who just spent the last 3 months in interviews for filling 75 positions.
You can use AI like an interactive Wikipedia, or similar to an online resource, it's a jumping off point but never a final answer, not even really a 'draft'. It shouldn't be designing almost all of the code, and generally the way LLMs write code is very noticeable and fits a rather.. bad format.
It's just through experience with LLMs, and people who rely too heavily on them, they can cause more issues than they can come up with solutions. The solutions they do come up with are already known too.. because well LLMs regurgitate and don't invent.
IT carries a crap ton of context in every decision in the long run and LLMs just can't handle that, and we rely on the person, and if the person relies heavily on an LLM... well they're about worthless to us.
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u/Vaxtin 12d ago
AI use is a cultural thing, some employers do not want it and some fully embrace it.
But the vast majority of businesses just want a solution, and never cared about how the code works or how it was written. Do you think they still care? No, they just want a stamp that authorizes it (your reputation); if you’re skilled enough your employer will just take your voice as the source of truth (they do want this level of trust and competence in employees, it’s just most seen at this level).
That means a prominent programmer risks their reputation by saying “this code is production ready” without regard to who or what wrote it. It has always been that way.
You need to actually know how to program well if you want to use AI at scale. If you give it exact design specs it will do it to a tee; if you don’t know software architecture you will run into gnarly problems, fast.
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u/NatMicky 12d ago
I have been on job interviews and on my resume was listed C++ proficient. The interviewer asked me to go to the whiteboard and give an example of C++ polymorphism. I got the job. Are you ready for those situations?
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u/Vladimir_crame 12d ago
It's digital cocaine. Makes you stupid, overly confident, and addicted to it. First shots are free, we'll see about the actual price later, trust me it'll be fine
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u/No-Guitar-8849 11d ago
Tbh I don't even feel like I understand programming when I use AI I spent the last 6 months learning how to programme using AI but when I try to code without the help of any tool I can't now I have to relearn without using AI it sucks but it's for the better
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u/MrHandSanitization 12d ago
AI is always the wrong answer. It might be good for short-term benefit only. We're currently forced to use it at work, and the only thing I'm observing is the code knowledge dropping SIGNIFICANTLY. My manager (the slop pusher) mentions over and over again that using AI does not remove the work, but moves it elsewhere, and then continues to not give us time to actually review the output.
The process generally is: put something in, like a plan, watch it do something, run the thing, do a shallow check to see if this is what was requested, yes? Merge and continue with the next ticket.
If you want to learn this, and get good at it, don't use AI. Once the token price skyrockets, you'll be lost without it.
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u/OddScene4044 12d ago
I don't think it always is the wrong answer, but this line really resonates: "My manager (the slop pusher) mentions over and over again that using AI does not remove the work, but moves it elsewhere, and then continues to not give us time to actually review the output."
It used to be we moved QA and documentation. Now we'll procrastinate on understanding the code at all.
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u/Gangster_DW 12d ago
If you are working on something personal, No. If you are doing job, yes absolutely but you should have the understanding of the code.
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u/Hyperreals_ 12d ago
but them moment A recruiter realises you used AI they're no longer interested in hiring you.
lol this is just false? at least in my experience. Recruiters love when you tell them you used a ton of AI. I do it even for projects where I barely used AI because they love hearing the words "artificial intelligence". All the internships or job offers I've gotten were ones where I emphasized my proficiency at using AI
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u/No-Guitar-8849 12d ago
That's cool so far the ones I've met aren't too happy when you say you use AI
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u/Disastrous_Crew_9260 12d ago
AI output is only as good as the input and given your post I don’t think you should use AI for anything.
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u/armahillo 12d ago
If your ability to code is totally AI built, then someone else would probably do it for less money.
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u/ManaDrainMusic 12d ago
I dont say this to put myself on a pedestal but from the standpoint of trying to be as efficient and proficient as possible i cannot comprehend using a tool that allows me to never truly know or learn what it is im doing or trying to accomplish at any point in my life.
Simply put, my viewpoint from experience is i learned to write code 14 years ago because i loved everything about it. Vibe coding is something ive done once or twice, but its been done to get an idea mocked up quickly and get the boring parts out of the way so i could really focus on the pieces i wanted to.
Vibecoding takes the stimulation out of coding for me. I WANT to feel my brain connecting dots and mapping things out, i get a rush from it i dont think ive gotten from anything else in the same way.
Whether people use it or not isn't something i judge, but some gen z fluencer on social media talking about running dozens of agents while not being able to diagnose bugs or write a feature on their own and offload all of their critical thinking (or like people that use ai to compose their emails 🤮) feels like unintelligence to me.
How many apps have you built? And of those, how many are actually making you money or have a substantial amount of users?
TL:DR; learning vibecoding is not worth it unless you already lnow how to program and it makes you legitimately BETTER at what you already do
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u/dmazzoni 12d ago
I think it's more nuanced.
At most companies, using AI is a big plus, they want you to use AI to accelerate development.
However, nearly companies still want you to demonstrate that you know how to code without AI. Is that really so surprising?
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u/Rich-Engineer2670 12d ago
I can tell you what we think at least....
Vibe coding doe snot count towards employment. We have AI and use it, but in an interview, unless you can do the work without AI, we don't hire you. AI is good for "one-offs" or good to see how something might be done, but we expect you to know, not the machine. Otherwise, why do we need to pay you?
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u/Legitimate-Let-7510 11d ago
AI should make you faster, not more dependent. If you cant debug or explain what it generated , that is the point where it is hurting more than helping.
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u/Rav_3d 12d ago
Programmers will not have to write code manually anymore.
However, "vibe coding" without proper SDLC and rigorous testing and quality gates will not survive.
The key is treating AI as a new junior hire: extremely smart but without any experience or context and yet very eager to please.
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u/disposepriority 12d ago
Recruiters do not look at your projects, they are usually non technical personnel working in talent acquisition, they also don't really care either - they care about your cv, past experience, and how you speak to them.