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Image this: You could have an concept for a velocity studying app. As an alternative of spending hours researching which Python modules and libraries to make use of, coding the completely different parts, and debugging syntax errors, you merely describe what you need in plain English. Inside minutes, you are tweaking font sizes and discussing person expertise enhancements along with your AI coding associate.
That is “vibe coding” — a collaborative strategy the place pure language directions assist get to purposeful purposes by iterative dialog. It is not about changing conventional coding abilities, however about accelerating the journey from idea to working prototype.
As we speak, I am going to stroll you thru how I constructed a completely purposeful RSVP (Speedy Serial Visible Presentation) velocity studying app in simply quarter-hour utilizing Python.
🔗 Hyperlink to the speed-reading app on GitHub
Going From Concept to Implementation
Say you may have an concept, and wish to vibe-code it. If you happen to already use ChatGPT, Claude, or Gemini, you’ll be able to proceed to make use of the identical. I like to recommend you check out these prompts (or higher variations of the identical) to see what you’re in a position to construct.
Step 1: Describe What You Wish to Construct
You’ll be able to open with a easy request:
“I would prefer to create a command-line velocity studying utility utilizing Python that implements RSVP (Speedy Serial Visible Presentation) approach. The app ought to run on Ubuntu, show phrases sequentially at adjustable speeds, and embrace fundamental controls primarily based on keyboard inputs. May you present a clear, well-structured implementation with correct error dealing with?”
No technical specs. No detailed necessities. Only a clear intent. That is the place vibe coding is tremendous cool — you begin with the what, not the how.
This offers us start line. From that preliminary immediate, you must get a purposeful terminal-based velocity studying utility:
class RSVPReader:
def __init__(self, textual content, wpm=250, chunk_size=1):
self.textual content = textual content
self.wpm = wpm
self.phrases = self._prepare_text()
self.current_index = 0
self.is_paused = False
self.delay = 60.0 / (wpm * chunk_size)
The preliminary implementation contains:
- Textual content processing: Splitting content material into readable chunks
- Pace management: Configurable words-per-minute
- Interactive controls: Pause, resume, navigate, velocity adjustment
- Progress monitoring: Visible suggestions with progress bars
- File assist: Learn from textual content information or direct enter
For the whole implementation of the category, you’ll be able to test the rsvp_reader.py file.
Step 2: Improve Person Expertise
When requesting enhancements, we used descriptive, goal-oriented language:
“I would like to reinforce the visible presentation by centering the textual content show within the terminal window and rising the font emphasis for higher readability. May you modify the code to make the most of the terminal’s middle space extra successfully whereas sustaining clear, skilled output?”
This prompted terminal manipulation:
def _get_terminal_size(self):
"""Get terminal dimensions for responsive structure"""
attempt:
import shutil
cols, rows = shutil.get_terminal_size()
return cols, rows
besides OSError:
return 80, 24 # Smart fallbacks
Now the speed-reading app nonetheless works. Nevertheless, we will add some closing enhancements.
Step 3: Refine Person Interface Necessities As Wanted
Our closing iteration request specifies the necessities clearly:
“I would prefer to refine the interface design with these particular necessities: 1) Show textual content within the middle 40% of the terminal display, 2) Cut back default studying velocity for higher comprehension, 3) Create a static management interface that does not refresh, with solely the studying textual content updating dynamically, 4) Keep clear borders across the energetic show space. May you implement these adjustments whereas preserving all current performance?”
This resulted within the following terminal management:
def _get_display_area(self):
"""Get the 40% middle rectangle dimensions"""
cols, rows = self._get_terminal_size()
display_width = int(cols * 0.4)
display_height = int(rows * 0.4)
start_col = (cols - display_width) // 2
start_row = (rows - display_height) // 2
return start_col, start_row, display_width, display_height
def _draw_static_interface(self):
"""Draw the static interface"""
# Controls keep fastened, solely phrases change
An Overview of the Technical Specifics
We’ve the next within the RSVP velocity studying app we’ve constructed.
Threading for Responsive Controls
This technique captures keyboard enter in real-time with out pausing the primary program by switching the terminal to uncooked mode and utilizing non-blocking I/O polling:
def _get_keyboard_input(self):
"""Non-blocking keyboard enter handler"""
old_settings = termios.tcgetattr(sys.stdin)
attempt:
tty.setraw(sys.stdin.fileno())
whereas self.is_running:
if choose.choose([sys.stdin], [], [], 0.1)[0]:
# Deal with real-time enter with out blocking
Sensible Terminal Positioning
This technique positions textual content at actual coordinates on the terminal display utilizing ANSI escape sequences, the place the code strikes the cursor to a selected row and column earlier than printing the phrase:
def _display_word(self, phrase):
# Use ANSI escape codes for exact positioning
print(f' 33[{word_row};{word_start_col}H{large_word}')
Adaptive Pace Management
This dynamically adjusts studying velocity primarily based on phrase size, giving customers 20% extra time for lengthy phrases (8+ characters) and 20% much less time for brief phrases (beneath 4 characters) to optimize comprehension:
# Longer phrases get extra show time
word_delay = self.delay
if len(current_word) > 8:
word_delay *= 1.2
elif len(current_word) < 4:
word_delay *= 0.8
So yeah, you’ll be able to run the app, and see for your self the way it works.
First, you may make it executable like so. Ensure you can add the shebang line on the high of the script:
$ chmod +x rsvp_reader.py
You’ll be able to run it like so:
$ ./rsvp_reader.py pattern.txt
You could find extra particulars on the README file.
Conclusion
Our vibe coding session produced:
- A completely purposeful terminal-based velocity studying app in Python
- Assist for variable studying speeds (50-1000+ WPM)
- Actual-time controls for pause, navigation, and velocity adjustment
- Adaptive show that works on any terminal dimension
- Clear, distraction-free interface centered on the 40% middle space
- Sensible phrase timing primarily based on size and complexity
In quarter-hour, we went from a easy concept to a purposeful utility that somebody can truly use.
Able to attempt vibe coding your self? Begin with a easy concept, describe it in plain English, and see the place the dialog takes you. The code will comply with.
Bala Priya C is a developer and technical author from India. She likes working on the intersection of math, programming, information science, and content material creation. Her areas of curiosity and experience embrace DevOps, information science, and pure language processing. She enjoys studying, writing, coding, and low! At present, she’s engaged on studying and sharing her information with the developer neighborhood by authoring tutorials, how-to guides, opinion items, and extra. Bala additionally creates participating useful resource overviews and coding tutorials.
