For years, I’ve interacted with AI like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini, but nothing truly prepared me for the experience of “vibe coding.” It wasn’t just about giving commands; it was about a collaborative creation, a digital partnership unlike anything I’d encountered.
My first glimpse into this new world came with Google’s Antigravity software. Watching Gemini leap from a simple chat box to actively build on my system was astonishing. It shattered my preconceived notions of AI’s capabilities, revealing a potential far beyond simple conversation.
“Vibe coding” might sound like something reserved for seasoned programmers, a complex undertaking best left to the tech elite. But that’s simply not true. It’s surprisingly accessible, and I’m here to demonstrate just how easily you can begin.
There’s a crucial lesson embedded in this process: AI isn’t about flawless execution on the first try. Expect some frustration as you refine your vision. The more you experiment with these tools, the clearer it becomes – humans and AI are most powerful when working in tandem.
Let’s build something. We’ll create a simple web page, entirely on your computer, accessible through any web browser. No internet connection is needed, and no public sharing is involved – this is a personal project, a playground for exploration.
You’ll need a “vibe coding” tool. Three stand out: Claude Code, Google Antigravity, and OpenAI’s Codex. Claude Code integrates directly into the Claude desktop app, while Antigravity and Codex are standalone applications, easily downloaded for both Mac and PC.
I’ve spent considerable time with each of these tools, and each offers unique strengths. For this example, we’ll focus on OpenAI’s Codex. It’s accessible with a free ChatGPT account, and in my experience, it’s the most user-friendly starting point.
First, install Codex and sign in with your OpenAI account. Then, create a new, empty directory on your computer – a dedicated space for this project. I recommend a simple “Projects” folder within your user directory.
Launch the Codex app and select the newly created directory as your project workspace. You’re now ready to begin, armed with nothing more than a carefully crafted prompt.
I developed this prompt with the help of ChatGPT, but feel free to customize it to your own preferences:
“I want to create a simple personal homepage, but I’d like you to guide me through it step by step. First, ask me a short onboarding quiz (no more than five questions) to understand what I want on my site. Keep the questions quick and easy to answer (multiple choice or short answers). Good topics to cover: My name, the overall vibe (e.g., minimal, playful, professional), a short bio or tagline, a few interests or hobbies, whether I prefer light or dark mode. Ask the questions one at a time and wait for my answers before continuing. Once I’ve answered everything, generate a complete single-file website called index.html. Requirements for the site: Everything should be in one file (HTML + CSS + optional JavaScript), include my name, bio, and interests, make the design clean, modern, and visually appealing, match the vibe and preferences I gave you, add one small interactive element (like a button, hover effect, or toggle). After creating the file: Save it as index.html in this folder, show me the full contents of the file, explain (in simple terms) how I can open it in my browser, suggest 2–3 easy things I could ask you to change or improve next. Keep everything beginner-friendly and avoid technical jargon.”
Copy and paste this prompt into the Codex chat box and submit. Codex will then begin a conversational quiz, gathering information about your desired webpage. Remember, this is all happening locally, on your machine.
Codex completed my webpage in just 56 seconds. Once you’ve answered the quiz, Codex will swiftly generate the code. When finished, it will provide instructions on how to open the “index.html” file in your browser – simply double-click it.
And there it is – your first vibe-coded webpage. (Codex often favors a sleek “card” design with subtle shadows and rounded corners.) It’s a tangible result, a testament to the power of this new collaborative process.
Don’t stop here. This is where the true potential unfolds. Ask Codex to refine the design, adjust the colors, or add new sections. I requested a background image and a local weather widget, pushing the boundaries of what was possible.
Experiment, explore, and don’t be afraid to encounter challenges. Frustration is part of the learning process. Embrace it, and remember – the most exciting discoveries often lie just beyond the initial hurdles.
