Vibe Coding Tutorial: Build Your First App With AI (Step-by-Step)

Enough theory. Let's build something. This tutorial walks through building a real web application using vibe coding - from blank directory to deployed product.

What We're Building

A simple bookmark manager: save links with tags, search through them, and share collections. Simple enough to finish in one session. Complex enough to learn real patterns.

Step 1: Write the Spec (10 minutes)

Before touching any tool, write down what you want:

Bookmark Manager App
- Save URLs with title, description, and tags
- Search bookmarks by title or tag
- Organize into collections
- Public sharing for collections
- Tech: Next.js, TypeScript, Tailwind, SQLite

This spec becomes your CLAUDE.md file - the instruction manual for AI.

Step 2: Set Up (5 minutes)

mkdir bookmark-manager && cd bookmark-manager
claude

First prompt to Claude Code: "Set up a Next.js project with TypeScript and Tailwind. Create a CLAUDE.md with the spec I'll provide."

Step 3: Scaffold (30 minutes)

Tell Claude Code: "Create the database schema for bookmarks with tags and collections. Then create the API routes for CRUD operations."

Claude enters plan mode, proposes the schema, you review and approve. It generates the database setup, API routes, and types.

Step 4: Build the UI (1 hour)

"Create a dashboard page that lists all bookmarks with search and tag filtering. Include a form to add new bookmarks."

Review each component. Check that it follows your patterns. Redirect when needed.

Step 5: Add Features (1 hour)

One at a time:

• "Add collection management - create, rename, delete collections"
• "Add public sharing - generate a shareable URL for each collection"
• "Add tag autocomplete to the bookmark form"

Step 6: Polish and Deploy (30 minutes)

"Fix responsive design for mobile. Add loading states. Handle error cases."

Then deploy: "Set up for Vercel deployment. Create the vercel.json config."

Key Lessons

1. Spec first. Clear specs produce clear code.
2. One feature at a time. Don't batch.
3. Review everything. Check architecture, not every line.
4. Test as you go. Verify each feature before building the next.

For the complete vibe coding methodology, see the Vibe Coding Complete Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does this tutorial take?

What if Claude Code makes mistakes?

Can I use a different stack?