#50 | Vibe Coding Tutorial – Build your first app in 30 minutes

TL;DR: Your complete vibe coding tutorial—build working apps in 30 minutes using plain English and free AI tools.

👋 Hello coders,

You’ve heard about vibe coding.

Maybe you saw it trending on Twitter. Or someone mentioned it in a Slack channel. Perhaps it showed up in your feed with promises of “build apps without coding.”

Then you thought: Sounds complicated. Probably requires setup I don’t have time for. Maybe later.

Here’s what actually happens when you try it: You describe what you want. AI writes the code. You see it running in your browser. Total time? About 30 minutes.

No installs. No developer environment. No “configure your PATH variable” nonsense.

I’ve been watching vibe coding evolve for months now. The tools improved steadily. Results became more reliable. And that barrier everyone worried about? It’s essentially gone.

So ​here’s your complete tutorial​ with real steps, real challenges, and real solutions for when things don’t work perfectly the first time.

Let’s build something.

Understanding vibe coding

Vibe coding is AI-assisted app building through conversation.

You describe what you want in plain English. AI generates the code. You test it in your browser. You describe changes. AI adjusts the code. You repeat this process until everything works the way you want.

The workflow looks like this: Idea → AI writes code → You test → You request changes → AI refines → Done.

No syntax to memorize. No debugging tutorials at midnight. No “why doesn’t this semicolon work” frustration that traditionally drives beginners away from coding.

What makes it perfect for:

• Quick prototypes you can actually use daily
• Testing ideas before investing serious resources
• Building simple tools that solve personal problems

What it absolutely isn’t:

• A replacement for learning to code properly
• Safe for handling sensitive data or payments
• Magic that works without clear thinking on your part

Here’s the reality: You’ll build functional apps that work. Understanding the underlying code mechanics? That’s a different skill entirely. And that’s fine for what we’re doing here.

Just know where vibe coding fits in the bigger picture.

Use it for prototyping, not production systems. Build personal tools, not business-critical applications. Learn what’s possible with AI, not necessarily how to become a software engineer.

That’s still incredibly valuable for most people.

The tools you’ll need for vibe coding (free options)

The vibe coding landscape exploded recently, so let me break down what actually matters for beginners.

For planning your app:

Start here before touching any code. Planning prevents that frustrating “wait, I forgot a crucial feature” moment that hits at the 25-minute mark.

• ​ChatGPT​: Best for brainstorming features and user flows. Use it when you’re figuring out what features make sense together.
• ​Claude​: Superior for breaking complex ideas into logical steps. Great when you need structured thinking.
• ​Gemini​: Most accurate for technical feasibility questions. Ask, “Can this actually be built simply?”
• ​Perplexity​: Research what already exists before you build. See what you’re competing against or improving upon.

For building your app:

These platforms actually generate and run your code in the browser:

• ​Replit​ (1M free tokens/month): Best beginner experience overall. Everything runs in the browser with zero setup required.
• ​Lovable​ (free tier available): Produces beautiful interfaces when design quality matters.
• ​Bolt.new​ (free tier): Fastest start possible. No account needed for basic testing.
• ​Cursor​ ($20/month): Professional-grade option with more control over code structure.
• ​v0 by Vercel​ (free tier): Specialized for React components and modern UI elements.
• ​Windsurf​ ($15/month): Best value if you’re considering paid features later.

My recommendation? Start with Lovable, Replit, or Bolt.

Replit has better AI assistance and built-in tutorials. Bolt.new is faster if Replit feels sluggish, which sometimes happens on free tiers during peak hours.

Both platforms offer genuinely generous free options. You can build multiple complete projects before hitting any usage limits.

Building your first app: the 30-minute reality

Theory ends here. Let’s build something real that you might actually keep using.

We’re creating a Daily Habit Puzzle—like Wordle for tracking habits.

Simple interface with game-like feedback that makes completing daily routines feel rewarding.

Why this specific project?

Complex enough to feel like a real application. Simple enough to complete in 30 minutes without getting overwhelmed. Teaches you how vibe coding handles inputs, storage, visual feedback, and responsive design all at once.

Plus, you might keep using it after today, which makes the learning stick better.

Planning your app with AI (5 minutes)

Don’t skip this planning phase. Spending five minutes thinking prevents twenty minutes of rebuilding later when you realize the structure doesn’t work.

Open ChatGPT and paste this prompt:

“Help me plan a habit tracker app that feels like a daily puzzle game. Users should track habits with game-like progress, visual streaks, completion animations. Keep it simple but engaging—something I’ll actually use after this tutorial.”

Read the response carefully. ChatGPT will break down the core features, suggest a user flow, and flag potential issues you haven’t considered yet.

This blueprint guides everything that follows. You’re not designing perfection here—you’re defining “good enough to start building.”

Building with Replit (15-20 minutes)

This phase is where vibe coding becomes tangible. And where beginners typically hit friction points, so I’ll walk you through what actually happens versus what you might expect.

Setting up your account:

1. Go to replit.com
2. Sign up using email (verification required—check spam folder)
3. Wait for the confirmation email
4. Log in to your new account

The actual building process:

1. Click the “Create Repl” button or similar
2. Select “HTML, CSS, JS” from the template options
3. Find the AI assistant (usually a sparkle icon or “AI” button in the editor)
4. Paste this complete prompt:

“Create a habit tracker web app with puzzle-game elements. Users can add habits, mark them complete daily, see visual progress. Include:

– Add/remove habits functionality
– Daily check-off system
– Streak counters for each habit
– Satisfying visual feedback on completion
– Clean, modern design with energizing colors
– Local storage to save progress
– Mobile-friendly responsive design

Make it feel like Wordle but for daily habits—simple, engaging, rewarding.”

Wait for the AI to generate code

Here’s what might actually happen:

• Best-case scenario: Code generates in 5-10 minutes. Click the “Run” button. Everything works immediately. Amazing feeling.
• Typical scenario: Takes 15-20 minutes to generate. Or Replit is busy. Or the AI times out partway through.
• Frustrating scenario: The code generates but displays errors or doesn’t run correctly initially.

If Replit feels slow or unresponsive:

Try Bolt.new or Lovable instead, using the same prompt. Often faster on free tiers. No account needed for quick tests.

If code generates but doesn’t work:

Don’t panic—this is normal in vibe coding. Try these responses in the same chat: “The app isn’t loading correctly. Can you fix the errors?” or “Regenerate the code with better error handling.”

AI assistants fix mistakes pretty effectively when you point them out clearly.

Understanding “local storage”:

Your habit data is saved in your browser only, not in any cloud system. If you clear browser data or switch devices, your streaks disappear.

That’s fine for learning projects. Real applications require proper databases, which fall beyond the scope of today’s tutorial.

When it finally works, you’ll see a fully functional interface with clickable buttons and responsive features. That moment when your idea becomes something tangible? That’s what makes vibe coding compelling despite its limitations.

Refining your app (10 minutes)

Now comes the genuinely fun part where vibe coding shows its real strength. Refinement happens through natural conversation rather than code editing.

Try these refinement prompts in the same chat window:

• “Make the completion animation more celebratory.”
• “Add a weekly challenge mode”
• “Change colors to a sunset theme”
• “Add encouraging messages when I complete all habits.”

Each request typically takes 2-4 minutes to implement. Play with different ideas and see what sticks. This iterative design process teaches you what makes apps feel right to use.

Key insight here: You’re not debugging broken code like traditional programming. You’re having a design conversation that automatically updates the application.

Testing on your phone:

Replit provides a URL for your app. Open it on mobile to see how it actually performs. Buttons too small? Text hard to read? Do colors appear differently on a smaller screen?

Tell the AI directly: “Make buttons bigger for mobile devices.” It adjusts automatically based on your feedback.

Security reality: what never to build

It’s time for some uncomfortable honesty about the limitations of vibe coding.

Never use vibe coding for:

• Apps handling money or payment processing
• Anything that stores sensitive personal data
• Multi-user systems requiring login authentication
• Business-critical applications your company depends on

Why such a strict boundary? Research shows that 45% of AI-generated code contains exploitable security vulnerabilities. Not minor issues—actual security flaws that could be exploited.

Your habit tracker? Perfectly safe. Personal tool with local storage and no sensitive data whatsoever.

Banking app? Absolutely dangerous and irresponsible.

Safe vibe coding projects:

• Personal productivity tools
• Creative projects and simple games
• Learning experiments
• Simple portfolio websites

If you’re uncertain whether something’s safe to build with vibe coding, that uncertainty itself signals a problem. The hesitation suggests that you should consult a professional developer.

This limitation isn’t temporary or something that future AI versions will easily fix. AI currently generates functional code faster than humans. But it can’t yet reason about security implications the way experienced developers can after years of training.

Stay firmly in the safe zone. Build tools for yourself. Share with friends if you want. Just don’t put anything on the public internet that touches other people’s data without a proper security review.

Your next vibe coding projects

One completed project shows what’s possible. Regular practice builds actual proficiency with these tools.

Your following vibe coding projects (ordered by increasing difficulty):

1. Mood tracker with visual patterns – Same complexity level, different data visualization approach
2. Daily word game creator – More interactive elements, introduces basic game logic
3. Reading challenge tracker – Multiple data points with progress calculations
4. Mini expense logger – Slightly complex mathematics with category management

Each project teaches something new while building on what you learned from previous attempts.

When to consider upgrading:

Free tools work great for learning and personal projects. Eventually, you might want more capabilities:

• Lovable ($25/month): Professional design quality with better AI responses
• Cursor ($20/month): More control over code structure for complex projects
• Real developer: When you need user accounts, payment systems, or anything requiring security expertise

The realistic progression path:

Vibe coding → No-code platforms → Learning actual programming → Hiring developers

You’re not skipping any essential steps here. You’re starting at precisely the right level for where you are right now.

Some people stay at vibe coding forever, happily building personal tools. Others get curious about the underlying code and start learning programming properly. Both paths work fine depending on your goals.

The important thing is to start somewhere and build something tangible. Seeing what’s actually possible with current AI tools.

Join the vibe coding challenge.

Here’s your mission if you choose to accept:

1. Build the 30-minute habit tracker following this tutorial
2. Screenshot your finished working app
3. Reply with your screenshot and biggest surprise
4. I’ll feature the best submissions next week

Bonus recognition for:

• Adding genuinely weird habits (“compliment stranger,” “victory dance”)
• Creative visual themes that actually work well
• Unexpected discoveries you made during the process

Quick reference guide

Mega prompt template for future vibe coding projects:

“Create a [TYPE] app that [MAIN FUNCTION]. Users should be able to [KEY ACTIONS]. Include [SPECIFIC FEATURES]. Make it [DESIRED FEEL].”

Your quick start checklist:

☐ Pick AI planning tool (ChatGPT recommended)
☐ Choose platform (Replit or Bolt.new for beginners)
☐ Plan app idea (5 minutes maximum)
☐ Copy habit tracker prompt or customize it
☐ Wait for AI to build (perfect coffee break)
☐ Make 2-3 refinement tweaks ☐ Share your result

Common questions answered:

Q: Is this real programming?
A: No. It’s AI-assisted prototyping—a distinct skill with a purpose entirely different from its own.

Q: Will I actually learn to code this way?
A: Not really in the traditional sense. However, you’ll understand how apps work conceptually, which is essential for many purposes.

Q: Is my data safe in these apps?
A: For simple apps using local storage, yes. Anything involving user data or payments requires a professional security review.

Q: Can I sell what I build?
A: Simple personal tools, maybe after proper vetting. Complex apps absolutely need a developer security review before any commercial use.

Q: What if something doesn’t work?
A: Tell the AI specifically what’s wrong. “The button doesn’t respond,” or “Nothing displays when I click.” It usually fixes itself through conversation.

Q: What if Replit runs slowly?
A: Try Bolt.new instead of using the same prompt. Often faster on free tiers.

Start your timer

The most remarkable moment in vibe coding isn’t when AI generates technically perfect code.

It’s that split second when you see your rough idea become something you can click, use, and show others. Something that exists in the world because you described it clearly.

It feels slightly like cheating—until you realize this is just what’s possible now with current tools. The technological barriers dropped significantly. Access is democratized.

The only remaining question is whether you’ll actually try it.

You don’t need anyone’s permission. You don’t need a computer science degree or any prior coding experience.

You need 30 minutes and genuine curiosity about what you might build when the tools finally match your ideas.

Start your timer now.

Mark
The AI Learning Guy
👋⚡😎

Interesting Sources

1. ​Vibe Coding 101 with Replit​ – DeepLearning.AI Free course by Andrew Ng’s team teaching you how to design, build, and deploy apps using Replit’s AI agent.

2. ​Vibe coding 101​ – Replit Official Docs Step-by-step tutorial walking through the complete process from concept to published application.

3. ​Intro to Vibe Coding​ – Codecademy Hands-on course covering vibe coding basics, different tools in the ecosystem, and building your own applications.

4. ​Complete Vibe Coding Tutorial​ – Creator Economy Comprehensive tutorial with Matt Palmer (Head of DevRel at Replit) showing how to build a complete app with frontend, API, database, and authentication.

5. ​12 Rules to Vibe Code Without Frustration​ – Creator Economy Practical guide based on 50+ hours of vibe coding experience.

Note: No single website has all the answers. This list serves as a starting point for those who want to explore or satisfy their curiosity about AI. Links: Links with * are affiliate links. See disclosure below.

Disclosure: Some of the links on this site are affiliate links, which means AI Learning Guy may earn a commission if you make a purchase through them, at no extra cost to you. Your support through these links helps me maintain and improve the site, so I can keep sharing high-quality, helpful content with readers like you. All reviews, opinions, and comparisons are written independently and reflect my honest perspective.