# How to Vibecode in 2026 — The Honest Vibe Coding Guide

> Vibe coding: building real software by directing an AI coding agent instead of typing every line.

1. **Pick your AI coding tool** — Claude Code (autonomous terminal agent), Cursor (hands-on editor), Codex, or Gemini CLI. ~$20/mo to start.
2. **Scope down to one core loop** — clone the single feature that delivers the value, cut the rest from v1.
3. **Write the spec before the prompt** — a markdown file with data model, screens, and acceptance criteria.
4. **Prompt in build-sized steps** — scaffold → data → screens → auth → deploy, verifying each.
5. **Ship it cheap** — SQLite (Turso) + better-auth + Cloudflare/Vercel is $0/mo for personal use; Railway/Fly.io (~$5) when you need a real server.
6. **Expect the unglamorous 20%** — OAuth callbacks, email deliverability, uploads, timezones.

Per-product build guides with paste-ready prompts: https://vibeityourself.com/apps.md
AI coding tools compared: https://vibeityourself.com/tools.md