So you want to dive into vibe coding? Smart move. But before you start telling AI to build your next unicorn startup, let’s talk about something most beginners overlook: your ethos base.
Think of your ethos base as your programming philosophy – the core principles that guide how you approach AI-assisted development. Without this foundation, you’re just randomly prompting and hoping for the best. And trust me, that’s like trying to build a skyscraper on quicksand.
First things first: understand that in vibe coding, your prompts are your most valuable asset. As the Ten Principles of Vibe Coding state, 「Code is Capability, Intentions and Interfaces are Long-term Assets.」 The code AI generates? That’s disposable. Your carefully crafted prompts and specifications? That’s your intellectual property gold.
I see too many beginners treating prompts like disposable chat messages. They’ll write 「make me a website」 and wonder why the results are garbage. Your ethos should treat prompts like you’d treat source code in traditional programming – with version control, documentation, and iterative refinement.
Here’s my controversial take: stop manually editing AI-generated code. I mean it. The moment you start tweaking that Python script the AI gave you, you’re falling back into old habits. Instead, refine your prompts. Make your intentions clearer. Add more constraints. As the principles remind us, we should 「avoid manually editing code」 and focus our modifications on intentions.
Remember that vibe coding isn’t about avoiding thinking – it’s about thinking at a higher level. You’re not worrying about semicolons and brackets anymore. You’re thinking about system architecture, user experience, and business logic. You’re defining the 「what」 while AI handles the 「how.」
Your ethos should embrace the idea that 「Everyone Programs, Professional Governance.」 This isn’t some futuristic fantasy – it’s happening right now. Business analysts are creating data pipelines. Marketing managers are building dashboards. The barrier to creating software has dropped dramatically, but the need for professional oversight hasn’t disappeared.
Start building your ethos base with small experiments. Don’t try to rebuild your company’s entire infrastructure on day one. Create a simple script. Build a basic web app. Each project teaches you something about how to communicate with AI effectively.
What I’ve found most valuable is maintaining what I call an 「intention library」 – a collection of proven prompts, specifications, and patterns that work. When I need to build something new, I don’t start from scratch. I adapt existing successful patterns. It’s like having a toolbox of building blocks rather than raw materials.
The beauty of vibe coding is that it lets you focus on what matters: solving real problems. You’re not getting bogged down in implementation details. You’re describing the destination while AI figures out the route. But without a solid ethos base, you’ll just be driving in circles.
So here’s my challenge to you: before your next vibe coding session, take five minutes to define your approach. What principles will guide your prompts? How will you measure success? What’s your threshold for when to refine versus when to start over? Your future self will thank you.