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Front Matter

Overview and links for this section of the guide.

Welcome to Vibe Coding

This section covers the administrative and introductory essentials you need before diving into the code. "Vibe coding" isn't just about smashing keys and hoping for the best—it's a structured approach to leveraging AI assistance effectively.

Here in the Front Matter, we set the stage. We define terms, set expectations, and make sure your toolkit is ready. Whether you are a complete beginner or a seasoned engineer looking to accelerate your workflow, these initial chapters provide the context that prevents confusion later on.

Don't skip the setup

While it's tempting to jump straight to prompting, reading the "Mental Models" and "Tool Setup" sections first will save you hours of debugging hallucinations later.

What is included here

This section includes:

  • Definitions: What we actually mean by "vibe coding" (and what we don't).
  • Audience tracks: How to navigate this guide based on your experience level.
  • Tooling: The required software stack (AI Studio, VS Code, Git) and why we chose it.
  • Conventions: How we structure projects, checkpoints, and "ship points."

Getting Started

If you are new to AI-assisted development, start with 0.1 What “vibe coding” means. If you just want to get your environment ready, jump to 0.4 Required vs optional tools.

Where to go next