Prerequisites

This textbook is designed to be accessible to a wide audience, but having certain foundations in place will help you get the most out of the material. This section outlines what you need before you begin, organized by what is required versus what is helpful.

Required Prerequisites

Basic Computer Literacy

You should be comfortable with: - Installing software on your computer - Creating, moving, and organizing files and folders - Using a web browser - Copying and pasting text - Basic keyboard proficiency

If you use a computer daily for work or personal tasks, you have this covered.

A Computer with Internet Access

Vibe coding requires communicating with AI services, which operate over the internet. You need: - A computer running Windows 10+, macOS 12+, or a modern Linux distribution - A stable internet connection - At least 8 GB of RAM (16 GB recommended) - At least 10 GB of free disk space

Willingness to Experiment

Vibe coding is a hands-on activity. You will learn by doing—by typing prompts, reading AI responses, running code, encountering errors, and iterating. Approach the material with curiosity and patience.

Access to an AI Coding Assistant

You need access to at least one AI coding tool. Options include: - Claude (free tier available at claude.ai; Claude Code requires a Pro or API subscription) - GitHub Copilot (free tier available; paid plans for full features) - Cursor (free tier available; Pro plan for advanced features) - ChatGPT (free tier available; Plus for GPT-4 access)

Chapter 3 provides a detailed comparison, and Chapter 4 walks through setup.

Helpful but Not Required

Some Programming Experience

Having written even a small amount of code in any language will accelerate your learning. However, this is explicitly not required: - Chapter 5 provides a comprehensive Python refresher - Part I assumes no prior programming knowledge - The book progressively builds your coding fluency

If you have written a "Hello, World" program, used a spreadsheet formula, or configured a website template, you have enough background to start.

Familiarity with the Terminal/Command Line

Several chapters involve running commands in a terminal. If you have never used a terminal: - Chapter 4 includes terminal basics - Most operations are simple one-line commands - AI assistants can help you understand terminal commands

Basic Understanding of How the Web Works

For the web development chapters (Part III), a general understanding of websites, URLs, and client-server communication is helpful. You do not need to know HTML, CSS, or JavaScript before starting—these are introduced in Chapter 16.

A Code Editor

Visual Studio Code (VS Code) is recommended throughout the book and is free to download. Chapter 4 covers installation and setup. If you already use a different editor, most material translates directly.

What You Do NOT Need

To be clear, you do not need any of the following to start this book:

• A computer science degree
• Experience with Python (covered in Chapter 5)
• Understanding of machine learning or AI (covered in Chapter 2)
• Previous experience with AI tools (covered in Chapters 3 and 4)
• Advanced mathematics (this book emphasizes intuition over formulas)
• Experience with web development, databases, or DevOps (all covered in Parts III–IV)

Technical Setup Checklist

Before starting Chapter 1, it is helpful (but not required) to have:

• [ ] Python 3.10+ installed (python.org)
• [ ] VS Code installed (code.visualstudio.com)
• [ ] A terminal/command prompt you can open
• [ ] An account with at least one AI coding service
• [ ] Git installed (git-scm.com)

If you don't have these yet, don't worry—Chapter 4 provides step-by-step installation instructions for everything.

Recommended Study Approach

For the best learning experience:

1. Read actively. Don't just read the text—type the code examples, run them, and modify them.
2. Use AI while learning. Practice vibe coding as you learn about it. Ask your AI assistant to explain concepts you find confusing.
3. Do the exercises. Start with Tier 1 and Tier 2 for each chapter, advancing to higher tiers as your confidence grows.
4. Build projects. The capstone projects in Chapter 41 integrate skills from across the book. Consider starting them after completing Part III.
5. Join the community. Learning alongside others accelerates growth. Look for vibe coding communities, study groups, and forums.

Time Expectations

Reading times vary based on your background and goals:

These estimates include reading time only. Add 50–100% for exercises and projects.

Ready to Begin

If you can read this page, you have the most important prerequisite: the motivation to learn. Everything else can be acquired along the way. Turn to Chapter 1 and let's start the journey.