I’m a Normie. Can Normies Really Vibe Code?
By Chris Colin
The New Reality of DIY Coding
Today’s AI tools claim that anyone—no matter how inexperienced—can create their own software. Chris Colin set out to test this with Claude, an AI assistant, embarking on his first software project: building a communal database to track the countless, minor frustrations that clutter our daily lives.
The Problem: Life’s Administrative "Sludge"
After his mom was injured in a freak dog encounter, Colin found himself sucked into a maze of minor, time-consuming administrative tasks—insurance calls, account management, subscriptions, and more. These repetitive hassles inspired him to design an app where people could log their grievances, rate how much time and energy they wasted, and receive a bit of encouragement (and a cute pet photo) in return.
Testing the Vibe Coding Hype
With no background in programming, Colin described his vision and let the AI do the heavy lifting. Surprisingly, Claude rapidly delivered a functional interface. Progress was a mix of following AI-guided instructions and learning on the fly—akin to assembling complex Legos. Some steps required asking clarifying questions or fixing errors, but AI support made the process manageable.
The Blurred Lines Between Builders and Users
Colin joined the growing ranks of newcomers empowered to build useful tools—a phenomenon made possible by large language models and code automation. He discovered that, with AI guidance, the only prerequisites are a problem to solve and an afternoon to spare.
Challenges, Pitfalls, and the Bigger Picture
The project wasn’t seamless—Colin encountered security issues, integration headaches, and the realization that new tools can sometimes just add to the "sludge." Yet, with patience and AI troubleshooting, he launched a communal space for logging life's indignities, transforming private annoyances into shared data and advocacy.
What It All Means
This hands-on experiment shows that "vibe coding"—building apps by describing your needs to AI—lets ordinary people reshape the digital world. While not a perfect solution, it represents a shift: users are no longer just consumers, but creators. If you’ve ever wished someone would build the perfect app for your micro-complaints, now you can try it yourself.
To read the original article and explore more on this topic, visit WIRED: I’m a Normie. Can Normies Really Vibe Code?.
