Day 57 | The Problem with Vibe Coding: Why Students Should Still Learn to Code 
There’s a growing narrative that students shouldn’t bother learning to code because AI can do it for them. This idea, often disguised as “vibe coding” (where people rely on AI-generated code without understanding how it works), is dangerous. The reasoning? Just as calculators perform math, kids don’t need to learn arithmetic, right? Wrong.
Learning to Code is Not About Typing Code
People misunderstand the purpose of coding education. It’s not about memorizing syntax—it’s about problem-solving, logic, and breaking down complex tasks. Great developers aren’t just code generators; they are problem solvers who understand system design, efficiency, and optimization.
Just because an AI can generate code snippets doesn’t mean it can build maintainable, scalable, and secure software on its own. If students rely on AI without understanding the underlying logic, they become copy-paste engineers, not actual software engineers.
The Future of Software Engineering is Changing—But Not in the Way You Think
Yes, AI is evolving. Yes, AI-assisted coding (GitHub Copilot, ChatGPT, etc.) is making development faster. But rather than replacing programmers, AI is augmenting them.
AI is great at: 
Generating boilerplate code Suggesting fixes for common errors Speeding up development workflows
But it’s terrible at: 
Understanding the business logic behind software Debugging complex, system-wide issues Writing code that is reliable and secure without human oversight
Andrew Ng, one of the most respected AI researchers and professors, shares this viewpoint: AI isn’t replacing programmers—it’s making them 10x more effective. But to take advantage of this, developers need strong fundamentals.
Telling Students “Don’t Learn to Code” is Bad Advice
Imagine telling an aspiring writer not to learn grammar because spellcheck exists. Or telling a surgeon they don’t need anatomy because robotic assistants exist. It’s the same logic when people argue students shouldn’t learn to code.
Yes, AI-generated code is impressive. But without foundational knowledge, how do you know if that code is efficient, secure, and actually works?
The best engineers of the future won’t just know how to code. They’ll know how to think in code—leveraging AI as a tool, not a crutch.
The bottom line? Students should absolutely keep learning to code. But they should also learn how to code with AI, not instead of AI.
What’s your take on AI-assisted coding? Is it making people better engineers or just making them dependent on AI? Let’s discuss! 