Vibe Coding

Coding has always fascinated me. Throughout the years, I have seen many languages come into the spotlight, from JavaScript to C++ and Python. Python has always caught my eye because many of its users praise it for being such a flexible language. Now, I am nowhere near a proper coding expert by any means; however, I do want to understand how the language works so I can create some cool stuff with my growing knowledge of PCBs and circuit boards. So far, Python works great with my Arduino builds and makes it very easy to make adjustments with few crashes.

You might be asking, if you don't know how to code, how are you making interactive projects? Well, vibe coding. Codex by ChatGPT has been my go-to. I speak to the terminal and ask for very specific tweaks. Codex has access to my computer and makes changes to files as we communicate. Kind of creepy, but also pretty cool. Yesterday, I worked on a murder mystery game. The results were impressive. In the span of minutes, I had a working prototype that was only accessible through Windows PowerShell, but it was immersive. I will be going more in depth on how this works so I can add games to this website for you guys to try out, but so far it has been pretty cool.

My process for vibe coding so far is having two terminals open: one with PowerShell and one with Codex open. To start, you need to create a folder and title it so the chat knows what to look for. Next, create a strong foundation for your idea. This might take a few tries, because you need to clearly explain the premise of your build. Once you have a strong foundation, save it as V1. Then, when you start making new changes, make them on a separate file and title it V2, or whatever mechanic you want to test. Finally, once I feel like my builds are ready to be merged, I ask it to combine both versions into another file, like V3. I think you get the point.

This process has been very fun. It reminds me of old Java games on PCs when I was a kid. I am not looking to make something super innovative, but rather projects that excite me and help me learn along the way.

Moreover, a book I picked up at the library titled Learn Python the Hard Way: 5th Edition by Zed A. Shaw has helped me along the way. It gives me a better understanding of how to speak to Codex and how to add minor comments to better understand the structure of the code. I understand that code and language will evolve over time, so at least having a strong foundation in the basics will guide me toward making working projects with fewer serious mistakes.

Science has been a major part of my life, next to my faith. Let’s keep making cool stuff and stay grateful for the opportunities to come.