This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by aileen vl
From Industrial Engineer to Coder
I started out as an industrial engineer, but I quickly realized manufacturing wasn’t for me. I didn’t feel inspired by the work, and deep down I knew I was searching for something else. When I discovered coding, it felt like an entirely new world had opened up in front of me.
The beauty of programming is that you can build almost anything: an ecommerce store, a finance app, a game, or just a simple website. That variety was intoxicating. Every project was a doorway into a different domain, and every bug I solved taught me how things worked behind the curtain and loved the small wins.
Falling in Love with JavaScript
Back then, I was preparing for my first software job by practicing Java. But at the same time, modern JavaScript frameworks like Angular, Knockout, and Backbone were emerging. Suddenly companies were hungry for people who could use them.
My employer prepared an academy with CodeSchool courses for new graduates and trained them to work with clients. I was lucky enough to be part of one of those early cohorts.
That’s where I fell in love with JavaScript. It wasn’t just another language. With JavaScript I didn’t need heavy configuration, complex environments, or endless setup. I could simply open a browser, write some code, and see the results instantly. Tools like Grunt, Gulp, and Yeoman were the building blocks of that era, and they gave me a foundation I still carry today.
Learning Without a CS Degree
I didn’t have a computer science degree, and I often felt underqualified compared to my peers. But what I did have was curiosity and persistence. I poured effort into learning every day, always picking up new tools, patterns, and frameworks.
Luckily, that was also the era when coding initiatives were exploding. Platforms like code.org, freeCodeCamp, and dozens of bootcamps emerged, all fueled by the statistic that by the 2020s we would face a huge shortage of developers.
Developers were in demand, and the community was buzzing. Meetups became a way to learn directly from incredibly talented people. Entrepreneurship was booming. Everyone seemed to want their own startup. It was a thrilling time to be in tech, even if I sometimes felt like I was running to keep up.
Discovering AI Through JavaScript
A few years later, I began to notice AI creeping into the mainstream. Self-driving cars caught my attention first. They felt like science fiction come to life, and I was completely captivated by the potential of AI.
I wanted to dive in, but it seemed like the world of AI belonged primarily to Python. My whole career had been built in JavaScript, and starting over in another language would have meant sacrificing years of experience and beginning again as a junior.
Then I discovered something that reignited my excitement: AI in JavaScript. Libraries like TensorFlow.js and brain.js, along with the efforts of countless people in the community, showed that AI could also live on the web. Once again, JavaScript proved to be the gateway for accessibility. Just like when I first discovered the browser, I felt that same surge of possibility.
That excitement pushed me to start speaking at events. I wanted others to feel the same spark I had felt — that AI wasn’t locked away, but something we could all experiment with.
The Crazy Thought That Became Reality
Two years ago, I was serving on the advisory board of a large tech company at a time when AI was booming. ChatGPT had been released, and the energy in the room was electric.
I remember sharing an idea that felt wild at the time: programming languages are how we tell machines what to do, but what if we could just use human language instead?
It sounded like a thought experiment, not a near-future reality. Yet here we are. Today, with vibecoding and tools like Replit Lovable V0 Bolt vibesDYI firebase studio, you really can turn an idea into an app with plain English. The “crazy thought” has arrived, and it’s transforming who gets to build software.
Why Vibecoding Matters
Of course, vibecoding comes with concerns. People worry about security, about what happens when creators don’t fully understand the code behind their app. These concerns are valid, but I believe curiosity will push people to learn more just as it did for me years ago.
And beyond curiosity, there’s a practical reality: there simply aren’t enough developers in the world to meet the demand for solutions. Opening up creation to everyone means more businesses, more experiments, and more problems solved that developers might never see. Vibecoding is not about replacing engineers. It is about expanding the circle of creation.
The Role of Developers in the Future
Developers will always be essential. There will always be a need for engineers to design infrastructure, ensure security, and push technical boundaries. The apps people create with vibecoding will still need innovation, scalability, and reliability all of which require strong engineering.
But vibecoding gives anyone the power to start. It hands the keys to people who have ideas but no technical background. Some of those ideas will be silly, some will be experimental, and some will be revolutionary. Just like the early days of the web, that mix is what creates progress.
Looking Ahead
For me, vibecoding feels like coming full circle. I remember being that non-CS graduate, feeling underqualified, wondering how I would ever get started. Today, I can see how much easier that first step could be for someone starting now.
AI is not just another tool; it is a source of endless possibilities. The future of innovation depends on bringing more people in, not keeping them out. Vibecoding is the open door.
And I am more excited than ever to see what happens when anyone, anywhere, can turn an idea into something real.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by aileen vl
aileen vl | Sciencx (2025-08-18T23:03:21+00:00) I Don’t Fear Vibecoding, Because It Reminds Me of How I Got Here. Retrieved from https://www.scien.cx/2025/08/18/i-dont-fear-vibecoding-because-it-reminds-me-of-how-i-got-here-2/
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