Claude Code creator Boris Cherny says “vibe coding” is starting to feel glib, and is exploring new wording for AI-assisted software work.
“Vibe coding” is catchy, but for Claude Code creator Boris Cherny, it’s starting to wear out its welcome.
Cherny. a leading evangelist for AI tools that write and refine code. says he has begun looking for alternatives to the phrase that has come to define the category.. In an interview shared by Misryoum. he framed the concern simply: the expression is meant to describe a real shift in how software is built. yet he finds the slangy tone no longer fits.
The term gained momentum after being introduced by an OpenAI co-founder earlier this year. and it quickly spread as a catch-all for a broad range of AI-assisted coding workflows. including tools marketed as “agents.” Even with popular dictionary recognition. Cherny’s position is that the industry is moving into a phase where the language should become more precise. not more playful.
Misryoum notes that Cherny asked Anthropic’s Claude chatbot for replacement ideas. The assistant suggested “agentic engineering,” but the proposed wording has not fully replaced the momentum of “vibe coding,” in part because it does not resonate as widely.
Meanwhile, the companies involved are using their own terminology to describe closely related concepts.. Anthropic’s materials for Claude Code refer to it as an “AI-powered coding assistant” and “agentic coding tool. ” while OpenAI uses “coding agent” language for its Codex alternative.. The differing labels highlight how fast the space is evolving. and how marketing. product framing. and engineering culture are all shaping what people end up calling these tools.
This matters because naming influences adoption: a term that feels dismissive can undercut credibility with teams that need reliability, while clearer language can help organizations see AI coding as a practical workflow rather than a novelty.
Cherny is not just steering the conversation from behind the scenes. Misryoum reports that he invited feedback from the public, encouraging readers to submit ideas for what should replace “vibe coding.” If the suggestions are strong, he said he would consider using them.
At the same time, Anthropic’s push to expand the capabilities behind its coding-focused offerings continues. During an event tied to its “Code with Claude” conference, the company indicated it was adding new compute capacity through a deal involving SpaceX.
In the near term, the industry may keep debating terminology even as products mature.. Misryoum’s broader takeaway is that the battle over phrases like “vibe coding” is really a proxy for a bigger question: how the market wants to describe AI-driven development once it stops sounding experimental and starts looking like infrastructure.