Chapter 1 Quiz: The Vibe Coding Revolution

Test your understanding of Chapter 1 with these 25 questions. Try to answer each question before revealing the answer. A score of 80% or higher indicates solid comprehension of the material.

Question 1

What is the best one-sentence definition of vibe coding?

Show Answer Vibe coding is the practice of building software by describing your intentions to an AI coding assistant in natural language, rather than writing code yourself. The human focuses on *what* the software should do, and the AI handles *how* to implement it through an iterative conversational process.

Question 2

Who coined the term "vibe coding," and in what year?

Show Answer Andrej Karpathy coined the term "vibe coding" in February 2025, in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

Question 3

Which of the following is NOT one of the three core pillars of vibe coding?

a) Natural language intent b) Memorizing programming syntax c) AI code generation d) Iterative conversation

Show Answer **b) Memorizing programming syntax.** The three pillars are natural language intent, AI code generation, and iterative conversation. Vibe coding specifically reduces the need to memorize syntax.

Question 4

In the original post that coined the term, Karpathy described his process as: "I just _ things, things, __ things, and _____ things, and it mostly works." Fill in the blanks.

Show Answer "I just **see** things, **say** things, **run** things, and **copy-paste** things, and it mostly works."

Question 5

What level on the AI-assisted development spectrum does vibe coding correspond to?

a) Level 1 b) Level 2 c) Level 3 d) Level 4 e) Level 5

Show Answer **d) Level 4 — Conversational Code Generation.** This is the level where the developer describes what they want in natural language through a chat-like interface, and the AI generates complete files or applications.

Question 6

What is the key difference between Level 3 (AI Code Generation from Comments) and Level 4 (Vibe Coding)?

Show Answer At Level 3, the developer still works within a code editor and thinks in terms of code structure, writing comments that the AI expands into functions. At Level 4 (vibe coding), the developer describes what they want through a conversational interface in plain natural language, and the AI generates complete files, modules, or entire applications. The shift is from code-centric prompting to natural language conversation.

Question 7

Which of the following projects would be classified as "Requires Professional Oversight" for vibe coding?

a) A personal to-do list app b) A CSV-to-chart data visualization script c) A healthcare records management system d) A personal blog website

Show Answer **c) A healthcare records management system.** Applications that handle sensitive data such as healthcare records require professional oversight for security, compliance, and reliability, even when built with AI assistance.

Question 8

List the seven steps of the vibe coding workflow in correct order.

Show Answer 1. Define your goal 2. Describe your vision to the AI 3. Review the generated code 4. Run and test 5. Iterate and refine 6. Validate and polish 7. Deploy and maintain

Question 9

True or False: Vibe coding means you never need to read or look at any code.

Show Answer **False.** While you do not need to *write* code, reviewing the AI's output — even at a basic level — is an important part of vibe coding. Having some understanding of code significantly improves results and helps you catch potential issues.

Question 10

What does the chapter identify as the human's role shift in vibe coding?

a) From tester to developer b) From author to director c) From manager to programmer d) From designer to coder

Show Answer **b) From author to director.** In traditional coding, the human is the author of the code. In vibe coding, the human's role shifts to directing the AI's code creation — much like a film director guides actors rather than performing the scenes themselves.

Question 11

Name three of the four converging factors that the chapter identifies as making vibe coding possible in the mid-2020s.

Show Answer Any three of the following four: 1. Large language models crossed a critical capability threshold for code generation 2. AI-powered development tools matured (Copilot, Cursor, Claude Code, etc.) 3. The cost of AI inference dropped dramatically 4. A growing community of non-traditional builders began using AI for software creation

Question 12

Which of the following is a common misconception about vibe coding?

a) Vibe coding can produce high-quality code when guided well b) AI-generated code should be tested before use c) Vibe coding will completely replace all programmers d) Professional developers can benefit from vibe coding

Show Answer **c) Vibe coding will completely replace all programmers.** This is identified as Misconception 1 in the chapter. The reality is that vibe coding changes the nature of programming work but does not eliminate the need for programmers, especially for complex systems, security-critical code, and novel algorithmic challenges.

Question 13

In the Step 1 (Define Your Goal) section, what four questions should you answer before starting a vibe coding session?

Show Answer 1. **What** should the software do? (features and functionality) 2. **Who** will use it? (yourself, team, public) 3. **What problem** does it solve? (the pain point or need) 4. **What does success look like?** (how you will know it is working)

Question 14

A beginning vibe coder tests their AI-generated app and everything looks great on the first try. According to the chapter, what should they do next?

a) Deploy immediately b) Test edge cases and unexpected inputs c) Rewrite the code by hand to make sure it is correct d) Delete it and start over to verify reproducibility

Show Answer **b) Test edge cases and unexpected inputs.** The chapter specifically warns against skipping thorough testing just because the first impression looks good. You should enter unexpected inputs, try features in unusual orders, and check that error handling works properly.

Question 15

Which analogy does the chapter use to describe Level 2 (AI Code Completion) on the spectrum?

a) Like predictive text on your phone b) Like a coworker looking over your shoulder and finishing your sentences c) Like working with an architect d) Like hiring a general contractor

Show Answer **b) Like a coworker looking over your shoulder and finishing your sentences — sometimes helpfully, sometimes not.** Level 1 (AI Autocomplete) is compared to predictive text on your phone, Level 4 (Vibe Coding) to working with an architect, and Level 5 (Autonomous) to hiring a general contractor.

Question 16

What is the chapter's recommended approach to trusting AI-generated code?

Show Answer "Trust but verify." The chapter advises adopting healthy skepticism toward AI-generated code. The AI is your collaborator, not your authority. Every piece of generated code should be tested, and anything involving security, user data, or financial transactions should be reviewed by someone with relevant expertise.

Question 17

True or False: According to the chapter, learning to code is now pointless because AI can write all the code for you.

Show Answer **False.** The chapter explicitly addresses this as Misconception 7 and states that learning to code remains valuable — arguably more valuable than ever. Programming knowledge makes you a more effective vibe coder, helps you evaluate AI output, and enables you to handle situations the AI struggles with.

Question 18

How many chapters does this textbook contain in total?

a) 12 b) 24 c) 36 d) 42

Show Answer **d) 42 chapters.** The book spans seven parts, from Foundations (Part I) through a Capstone project (Part VII).

Question 19

Which of the following feedback types would be part of Step 5 (Iterate and Refine) in the vibe coding workflow?

a) Bug reports only b) Feature requests only c) Design changes only d) Bug reports, feature requests, design changes, and behavior adjustments

Show Answer **d) All of the above.** Step 5 encompasses bug reports ("the app crashes when..."), feature requests ("can you add a search bar..."), design changes ("make the font bigger..."), and behavior adjustments ("when I click this, it should also...").

Question 20

What professional role did Andrej Karpathy hold that is specifically mentioned in the chapter?

a) CEO of OpenAI b) Senior Director of AI at Tesla c) Chief Scientist at Google d) Head of Research at Meta

Show Answer **b) Senior Director of AI at Tesla**, where he led the Autopilot vision team. The chapter also mentions he was a founding member of OpenAI.

Question 21

The chapter describes the vibe coding workflow as being like a particular shape. What shape is it compared to?

a) A straight line b) A circle c) A spiral d) A tree

Show Answer **c) A spiral.** The chapter states: "The vibe coding workflow is not a strict linear process. It is more like a spiral. You go through the steps, learn more about what you want along the way, circle back with refined requirements, and gradually converge on a solution."

Question 22

According to the chapter, what is the primary skill required for vibe coding?

a) Writing correct syntax in a programming language b) Understanding advanced algorithms and data structures c) Crafting effective descriptions and prompts d) Memorizing API documentation

Show Answer **c) Crafting effective descriptions and prompts.** The comparison table in Section 1.3 identifies the primary skill for vibe coding as "crafting effective descriptions and prompts," in contrast to traditional coding's primary skill of "writing correct code."

Question 23

A GitHub study cited in the chapter found that developers using AI coding tools completed tasks up to what percentage faster?

a) 25% b) 35% c) 55% d) 75%

Show Answer **c) 55%.** A 2024 study by GitHub found that developers using AI coding tools completed tasks up to 55% faster than those coding without AI assistance.

Question 24

In the quick example at the end of Section 1.9, the user asks the AI to build a script that reads a CSV of sales data. How many rounds of iteration does the example show before the user is satisfied?

a) 1 b) 2 c) 3 d) 4

Show Answer **c) 3 rounds of iteration.** After the initial generation, the user asks for (1) visual improvements like gridlines and rotated labels, (2) a monthly target line on the chart, and (3) saving the chart as PNG and printing a summary table. That is three rounds of refinement after the initial prompt.

Question 25

Short answer: Explain why the chapter states that vibe coding is "not about replacing one approach with another" but about "expanding who can build software." Use at least two specific examples from the chapter to support your answer.

Show Answer The chapter frames vibe coding as an expansion of software development capability rather than a replacement of existing methods. First, it points out that experienced developers use vibe coding *alongside* traditional coding — for example, using AI to rapidly prototype ideas while still writing critical code by hand. Second, it describes how domain experts such as small business owners, scientists, and teachers can now build custom software tailored to their specific needs without hiring developers. The bakery owner example illustrates this: they can describe their order form requirements and get a working prototype, something that was previously impossible without programming skills or a developer budget. The chapter also notes that the best vibe coders move fluidly between levels on the AI-assisted development spectrum, sometimes using Level 4 conversational generation, sometimes dropping to Level 2 code completion, and sometimes writing code manually. This flexibility demonstrates that vibe coding adds a new tool to the toolkit rather than discarding existing ones.

Scoring Guide

  • 20-25 correct: Excellent comprehension. You have a strong grasp of Chapter 1's core concepts.
  • 15-19 correct: Good understanding. Review the sections related to any questions you missed.
  • 10-14 correct: Fair. Consider re-reading the chapter, focusing on Sections 1.1, 1.5, and 1.9.
  • Below 10: The chapter covers a lot of ground. Re-read it carefully and try the quiz again. Focus especially on the callout boxes and the comparison table in Section 1.3.