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GO FORWARD THOUGHT OF THE WEEK ➡️
When I first wrote about vibe coding, some people praised it, others dunked on it. That’s how I knew it was worth paying attention to.
Now, with Anthropic teaming up with Rick Rubin on The Way of Code, the vibe coding conversation just leveled up. Remember, this all started as a meme! Rubin with his headphones on and eyes closed… but it has morphed into a manifesto. And honestly? It's a perfect example of a brand hitting the cultural zeitgeist to create an instant viral hit and drive more users to their product.
Rick Rubin isn’t known for twisting knobs or playing instruments. He’s known for his taste. For his clarity. For knowing what something could become and helping the artist get there. That’s what vibe coding is.
Pay attention, because a lot of people are missing the point here. Vibe anything is not just AI-assisted software development. It’s the art of instructing with vision. It’s seeing a future product in your mind and co-creating it with AI. It’s building with clarity and conviction, not just code.
This is what separates vibe coders from prompt monkeys.
But vibe coders don’t build movements on their own.
In a past newsletter, I laid out the AI Triforce: three archetypes that shape how real innovation happens in this new AI-native world:
- The Vibe Coder uses tools like Claude code, Cursor, Replit, or Windsurf to bring ideas to life fast. They prompt with precision, iterate with instinct.
- The Tastemaker sets the direction. They define the “why,” tune the “how,” and have the vision to know what’s good even before it’s built.
- The Yapper gets the word out. They translate invention into traction. Not just launching products, but stories that people talk about.
The Anthropic x Rubin collaboration nails this perfectly.
In this scenario, Rubin is the Tastemaker. He sets the tone, brings the vision, and shows the power of clarity without ever touching the tools.
Anthropic puts you in the driver’s seat as the Vibe Coder, handing you Claude and asking a simple but curious question: What could you build with just a conversation?
The manifesto and the media ripple around it? That’s pure Yapper energy—igniting curiosity, sparking discourse, and pushing the culture forward.
This is what happens when the triforce aligns. It’s not just smart, it’s culturally fluent. Technically brilliant. And creatively magnetic.
Does Your Code… Sing?
Vibe coding isn’t just about building things faster. It’s about building things with more soul.
I’ve seen this firsthand. I built DaddyTime—a local events app for parents—in 30 minutes, start to finish, using AI. It pulled in weather data, synced with my calendar, and gave me curated weekend plans with my kid. It worked. But more importantly, it felt right. It felt like mine.
That only happens when you bring taste and intent to the table.
Anyone can say “build me an app.” But not everyone can vibe with the tools in a way that actually creates something meaningful.
Why This Moment Matters
We’re at a tipping point.
Execution is no longer the bottleneck.
Distribution is.
Taste is.
Direction is.
Jensen Huang said it best:
“It is our job to create computing technology such that nobody has to program and the programming language is human.”
That sounds liberating, but it also raises the bar. Because when everyone can build, the only things that stand out are the ones built with clarity, craft, and care.
So ask yourself:
- Do I have a vision worth building?
- Can I guide AI with clarity or am I still guessing?
- Am I vibing, or just prompting?
Because the future isn’t just faster, it’s more competitive. The ones who win will master all three parts of the triforce, or at least be the CEO who can bring together a team that can. They’ll see what others can’t. Build faster than most. And share it in a way that makes people stop scrolling.
That’s the code of the future. And it shouldn’t just run. It should sing.
If you want to learn how to generate, prototype, and make your own ideas come to life, hit me up. I offer one-on-one coaching and workshops. I can even do all the work and help you go from zero to one… fast.
Always vibing,
Pete
Further Reading
Cracking the code of vibe coding
Anthropic X Rick Rubin: The Way of Code
Anthropic X Rick Rubin: Official Press Release
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