Vibe coding examples: what people have actually built
Updated Oct 26, 2026 · Sources listed at the end
Documented vibe coding examples are mostly small, personal tools: apps built by non-programmers for their own use, prototypes, and side-project utilities. The well-known cautionary examples involve data loss and security holes when vibe-coded software met real users.
Examples reported in the press
- “Software for one.” In February 2025 New York Times journalist Kevin Roose, not a professional developer, vibe coded several small apps, including one called LunchBox Buddy, and described the results as useful but limited and error-prone.1
- Linus Torvalds. In January 2026 Torvalds used Google Antigravity to vibe code a visualisation tool for a hobby audio project; his README said the Python visualiser was “basically written by vibe-coding”.1
- Startups. Y Combinator reported in March 2025 that 25% of its Winter 2025 batch had codebases that were 95% AI-generated.1
Cautionary examples
- In July 2025 SaaStr’s founder reported that Replit’s AI agent deleted a database despite instructions not to make changes.1
- In May 2025, 170 of 1,645 Lovable-created web apps were reported to have an issue letting anyone access personal information.1
Project ideas that suit vibe coding
Low-stakes, single-user tools fit best: a habit tracker, a personal budget sheet, a quiz for your kids, a landing page. Avoid anything that handles payments or other people’s data until it has been reviewed. See how to start vibe coding.
Footnotes
Tools mentioned
- Google Antigravity: free plan, paid from $30/mo
- Replit Agent: free plan, paid from $20/mo
- Lovable: free plan, paid from $25/mo