We’ve talked about what vibe coding feels like. We’ve traced it back to our freestyle-dev roots, and we’ve seen how it exploded into a full-blown movement with the help of AI. Now it’s time to talk about the players fueling this fire: the companies building the tools that make vibe coding not just possible, but powerful.
In the new era of development, language models are at the center of the vibe.
What Makes These Tools So Powerful?
Language models like GPT, Claude, and others have enabled:
- Code writing and editing from natural language
- End-to-end software creation with just a prompt
- Flow-state programming, letting devs ride momentum instead of friction
- Rapid prototyping and ultra-fast MVPs
These tools:
- Lower the barrier for entry (hello, non-coders)
- Accelerate experienced devs 10x
- Fundamentally change how humans interact with code
Adoption is staggering:
- 80% of developers use AI coding tools
- They’re now core to the software development workflow
- Enterprises use them to shorten dev cycles, cut costs, and increase quality
Let’s meet the big names shaping this revolution.
Anthropic: Claude, Claude Code, and Artifacts
Anthropic is a major force in AI coding, with the Claude model at its core.
- Claude Code helps devs write, edit, and review code.
- Claude Artifacts enables interactive code previews.
Their tools prioritize alignment and usability, making them ideal for developers who value clear, structured AI guidance.
Anysphere: The Cursor Revolution
Anysphere, creators of Cursor (a code editor with native AI), has become a unicorn to watch:
- Valued at $9.9 billion in June 2025
- $100M+ annual revenue
- Built entirely around enhancing the developer experience
Cursor combines deep AI support with the fluidity developers need — a true vibe-coding companion.
Salesforce AI Research – CodeGen Conversational Dev
Salesforce AI Research created CodeGen, a powerful open-source LLM for program synthesis that converts natural-language instructions into executable code.
- CodeGen supports multi-turn interactions, letting developers refine logic progressively.
- It has evolved through versions like CodeGen 2.5, optimized for low latency and broad language support .
Its mission: to democratize coding by making it accessible, expressive, and conversational.
Microsoft: GitHub Copilot Goes Mainstream
With 20 million users and adoption in 90% of Fortune 100 companies, Microsoft’s GitHub Copilot is the poster child for AI-assisted development.
- Powered by OpenAI models
- Embedded in VS Code, JetBrains, and more
- Helps with code completion, suggestions, and error fixes
GitHub Copilot has helped normalize vibe coding at scale.
Baidu: The Xiaoming Ecosystem
In China, Baidu leads with its Xiaoming LLM and Xiaoming Code tools:
- Supports writing and editing code with a focus on the Chinese dev ecosystem
- Localized for regional needs
Xiaoming has contributed to China’s strong momentum in AI-powered software development.
Lovable: AI Website Creation for Everyone
Lovable is a European platform enabling:
- Website building with natural language prompts
- 100K+ projects per day
- Over $100M in annual revenue
It’s a great example of AI pushing vibe coding into non-dev use cases, like web design, where flow-state creativity meets clean, usable output.
OpenAI: The Foundation Beneath Many Others
We can’t ignore OpenAI, whose GPT models power tools like:
- ChatGPT for coding support
- GitHub Copilot’s backend
- Plugins, custom GPTs, and chat-based workflows
OpenAI helped shape how natural language interfaces connect with development tools — making “vibing” with a machine feel natural.
Others Worth Mentioning
Replit: Offers in-browser AI coding environments and the Ghostwriter tool for real-time pair programming.
Amazon CodeWhisperer: AWS’s assistant that integrates seamlessly into cloud-based dev environments.
Hugging Face: Hosts open-source models like CodeBERT and StarCoder for devs building with open AI tools.
Final Thought: Vibe Coding Is Now Infrastructure
Vibe coding isn’t a dev quirk anymore — it’s productized, monetized, and industrialized. The tools above have shaped an era where:
- Prompting is programming
- Flow beats rigidity
- Curiosity builds apps
The future of development isn’t just faster — it’s vibier than ever.
And if you’re still wondering if it’s real coding?
Ask the 80% of developers and the billions in valuation behind these tools. They’ll tell you: this is where the code flows now.
