Tutorial • By John Iseghohi (opens in new tab) • Jan 27, 2026

Vibe Coding 101:
Build Real Apps with Claude, Cursor, and Bolt

The complete beginner's guide to building apps with AI in 2026.

Is This You?

➔ You have an app idea but don't know how to code

➔ You've tried learning to code before, but it took too long to build anything real

➔ You've heard about "vibe coding" but don't know which tools to use or where to start

➔ You want to build a demo this weekend, not learn programming for six months first

This guide is for you. By the end, you'll know exactly which tool to use, how to use it, and how to ship your first app.

The Old Way Is Dead

Two years ago, if you wanted to build an app, you had two options:

Option 1: Spend 6-12 months learning to code. Then another 3-6 months building something.

Option 2: Pay a developer $10,000-$50,000. Wait months. Hope they understood what you wanted.

Both options sucked for weekend builders. Too slow. Too expensive. Too much friction between idea and shipped product.

2026 is different.

A Belgium-based developer named Bernard Lambeau recently created an entire programming language—with a parser, type system, three compilers, a standard library, CLI tool, and documentation website—in roughly 24 hours using Claude Code. Jensen Huang called these AI tools "incredible" and urged companies to adopt them. A senior Google engineer said Claude Code recreated a year's worth of work in an hour.

What Is "Vibe Coding"?

Vibe coding is the new way to build software. Instead of writing code line by line, you describe what you want in plain English. The AI writes the code. You guide the direction.

Think of it like this: traditional coding is driving a car. Vibe coding is being in a self-driving car where you say "take me to the airport" and occasionally say "no, turn left here."

You don't need to know how the engine works. You just need to know where you want to go.

Ready to start building? Pick an idea first.

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The 3 Tools You Need to Know

There are dozens of vibe coding tools. You only need to know three. Each solves a different problem.

Cursor

The AI-first code editor

What it is: A code editor (like VS Code) with AI baked into every feature. You can chat with it, ask it to edit files, and it understands your entire project.

Best for: People who want full control. Multi-file projects. Developers and ambitious beginners who want to learn as they build.

Key features: Tab completion, Cmd+K for targeted edits, Composer for multi-file changes, agent mode for autonomous work. Supports GPT-5, Claude 4.5 Sonnet, and Gemini 2.5 Pro.

Free tier available $20/mo Pro 4.9/5 rating

Claude Code

The terminal-based AI agent

What it is: An AI coding agent that lives in your terminal. It can read your entire codebase, edit files, run commands, debug issues, and ship features. Works on macOS, Linux, and Windows.

Best for: Heavy-duty work. Large codebases (50k+ lines of code). Architecture decisions. Developers who already live in the terminal.

Key features: Full codebase understanding, background agents, seamless transition between terminal and web interface. Uses Opus 4.5, Sonnet 4.5, and Haiku 4.5 models.

~$20/mo (Claude Pro) 1,096 commits in latest update

Bolt.new

The browser-based app builder

What it is: A browser-based app builder powered by AI. Type a description in plain English, and it generates a full-stack app—front end, back end, database, and API endpoints—in one process. No downloads required.

Best for: Complete beginners. Quick prototypes. People who want to go from idea to deployed app without touching a terminal.

Key features: Live preview, Discussion Mode for brainstorming, built-in deployment to Vercel/Netlify. Uses React, Tailwind CSS, Node.js, and PostgreSQL.

10M free tokens/month $20/mo Pro

Which Tool Should You Use?

Use Bolt.new if:

  • You've never coded before
  • You want the fastest path from idea to demo
  • You don't want to install anything

Use Cursor if:

  • You want to learn while you build
  • Your project has multiple files or features
  • You want maximum control over the output

Use Claude Code if:

  • You already have coding experience
  • You're working on a large or complex codebase
  • You want an AI agent that can run commands autonomously

Your First Vibe Coding Session (Step-by-Step)

Let's walk through building a real app. We'll use Bolt.new since it's the easiest starting point.

1

Start with a Clear Description

Point: The quality of your output depends on the quality of your input.

Illustration: Don't write "make me a todo app." Instead write: "Create a simple todo list app. It should have a text input at the top where users can type a task and press Enter to add it. Each task should appear in a list below with a checkbox to mark it complete and a delete button. Use a dark theme with a clean, minimal design."

Explanation: Specific descriptions get specific results. Include: what the app does, how users interact with it, and what it should look like.

2

Let It Generate, Then Refine

Point: Don't try to get it perfect on the first prompt.

Illustration: After the first generation, you might say: "Move the add button to the right of the input field instead of below it." Or: "Make completed tasks have strikethrough text and a faded appearance."

Explanation: Vibe coding is iterative. Get a working version first. Then refine. Each iteration takes seconds, not hours.

3

Use Discussion Mode for Complex Decisions

Point: When you're not sure what to build next, pause and brainstorm.

Illustration: In Bolt.new, use Discussion Mode to ask: "I want to add user authentication. What's the simplest way to do this? Should I use email/password or social login?"

Explanation: The AI has seen thousands of apps. It can suggest approaches you wouldn't have thought of. Ask before you build.

4

Deploy and Share

Point: A demo in someone's hands beats a perfect app on your laptop.

Illustration: In Bolt.new, click Deploy to Vercel. In Cursor, push to GitHub and connect to Vercel. Either way, you'll have a live URL you can share.

Explanation: The goal isn't to build forever. The goal is to ship something, share it, and get feedback. Then iterate based on real users, not assumptions.

Know what to build?

Browse research-backed startup ideas with AI build prompts included.

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Real Example: Building a Meeting Notes Cleaner

Let's say you pick the "AI Meeting Notes Cleaner" idea from our library. Here's how you'd build it with Bolt.new:

Initial Prompt

"Build a meeting notes cleaner app. Users should paste messy meeting transcripts into a large text area. When they click 'Clean Notes', the app sends the text to an AI that extracts: 1) A 3-sentence summary, 2) Key decisions made, 3) Action items with who's responsible. Display the cleaned output below the input. Dark theme, minimal design."

Refinement 1

"Add a copy button next to each section so users can copy the summary, decisions, or action items separately."

Refinement 2

"Show a loading spinner while the AI is processing. Also add a character count under the input so users know how much text they've pasted."

Total time: Under an hour. Result: A working app you can share and test with real users.

What to Do When You Get Stuck

Problem: The AI isn't doing what you want

Fix: Be more specific. Instead of "make it better," say exactly what you want changed: "Move the button to the top-right corner and change the color from blue to orange."

Problem: The app has a bug you can't figure out

Fix: Describe the bug to the AI: "When I click the submit button twice quickly, it creates duplicate entries. How do I prevent this?" The AI can debug its own code.

Problem: You're burning through tokens too fast

Fix: Batch your requests. Instead of making 10 small changes, write one prompt with all 10 changes listed. Also: use Discussion Mode to plan before you build.

Problem: The project is getting too complex

Fix: Stop. Ship what you have. Get feedback. Complexity is the enemy of shipping. A simple app that works beats a complex app that doesn't.

FAQ

Do I need to know any programming to vibe code?

No. Bolt.new is designed for complete beginners. That said, knowing basic concepts (like what a "button" or "form" is) helps you communicate better with the AI.

Can I build a real business with vibe coding?

Yes, but with caveats. These tools are excellent for MVPs and prototypes. For production-grade apps with complex logic, you'll likely need a developer to take it from 70% to 100%.

Which tool is best for complete beginners?

Bolt.new. It runs in your browser, requires no setup, and has a generous free tier (10M tokens/month).

How much does it cost?

All three tools have free tiers. Pro plans are around $20/month. You can build several MVPs on the free tier alone.

Should I learn to code or just vibe code?

Start by vibe coding. Ship something. If you enjoy it and want more control, learn the basics. But don't wait to learn before you build. Build first.

TL;DR

  • Vibe coding = describe what you want, AI writes the code
  • Bolt.new for beginners (browser-based, free tier)
  • Cursor for control freaks (full IDE, multi-file projects)
  • Claude Code for power users (terminal-based, large codebases)
  • Be specific in your prompts. Iterate fast. Ship early.

Stop reading tutorials.
Start building.

Pick an idea. Open Bolt.new. Ship something this weekend.

Browse Startup Ideas