is it possible to build an app while at the gym?
takeaways from vibe coding with Replit agent
Hi friends,
We are trying new things this month. So I decided to start vibe coding.
P.S. I only learned this term this week. Basically, vibe coding is when people build apps by describing and prompting using natural language and letting AI handle the coding.
The possibilities with AI and vibe coding are truly endless.
Instead of becoming overwhelmed by the possibilities, I decided to intentionally get stuck and trust that my problem-solving skills will kick in.
Or at least I will find where the challenges actually lie.
During my gym session, I tried out Replit Agent on my phone.
I wanted to build a social cooking app - essentially a Strava for cooking.
This is because I’ve been working on improving my cooking skills and have been consistently cooking for the last 6 weeks.
I thought it would be cool to keep a log of my cooking sessions and see what my friends are cooking.
The two key functions I wanted to build were:
Allowing users to log a recipe that will show up in the feed.
Enabling users to create an account where the recipe will be stored.
By adding a simple prompt on Replit Agent, I was able to get started and essentially built a working prototype after finishing my gym session.
Here is what I built (follow my journey on IG):
Here are 3 key takeaways from vibe coding using Replit Agent.
Prompt writing is a skill
The credits for using Replit can run out real fast. In order to make the most of the credits, be more intentional with your prompts. Utilise ChatGPT, Deepseek or other models to improve your prompts before using them in Replit. When you encounter any bugs or errors, ask other models first to see they can help you figure out the issue.
It helps you find personal knowledge gaps
Replit is great for prototyping and turning ideas into a working product. But I still don’t feel like I’ve learned enough basic knowledge about building apps to be able to build effectively using AI.
While Replit is great for quickly testing ideas and bringing them to life, I've realised that having a solid grasp of basic app-building concepts is key for maximising the potential of vibe coding.
Through vibe coding, I’ve identified gaps in my understanding and knowledge required for building software. Just from a short 30 minute session, I gained a lot more clarify on how I can accelerate my learning.
Use AI to help you build with AI
It is quite meta but you should always try to leverage AI in helping you build with AI.
Other than helping you debug or learn key concepts, it can also help you think through how to build a better and more valuable product for your users.
I used it to helped me brainstorm what kind of features will be the more important to build first. What the specific pain points could I address to make my app stand out?
The gap between idea and creation has never been smaller.
I believe that we will see a lot more personalised software and apps tailored to specific needs and use cases.
With Replit like dev tools, we all have the opportunity to create unique, customised solutions to address challenges in our personal and professional lives.
What would you build using Replit?
things on the internet that resonated with me
Melo Movie - kdrama
when anyone can build anything - David Hoang
Vibe coding - Niall McNulty
In case you missed it: In my last post, I share why you shouldn’t be afraid of feeling big emotions.
A question for you!
Where are you on your AI adoption journey?
Always open to learning more and hearing from you 😊
Thanks for reading!
Stay inspired,
Viv
That is quite the productive gym session!