Abstract
The first wave of AI coding assistants either produced unreliable code or offered limited functionality as glorified autocomplete tools. Meanwhile, developers faced fragmentation across dozens of tools, each with their own strengths but forcing painful workflow changes. And it seems like recently we’ve been hearing about the opposite: the demise of the software engineer and the rise of the “vibe coder”
This talk examines this evolution through the lens of modern AI coding tools like Kilo Code. We’ll explore how specialized AI modes now support different phases of the engineering process: architectural planning before writing code, understanding complex codebases, and sophisticated debugging of existing systems. Through demonstrations, you’ll see how approval-based workflows maintain developer control while dramatically enhancing productivity.
The most profound insight isn’t about the tools themselves, but how they’re changing what development means. As raw coding ability becomes less critical, other skills rise in importance: system design, problem framing, evaluation, and contextual knowledge. The future belongs not to developers who can be replaced by AI, but to those who master this collaborative dance between human creativity and machine capability.
By the end of this session, you’ll understand how to integrate AI coding tools into your existing workflow to transform your development process without sacrificing control or quality - and why the future belongs not to vibe coding, but to true vibe engineering.
Short Abstract (100 words)
The first wave of AI coding tools gave us unreliable code generators or glorified autocomplete. Now we’re witnessing a fundamental shift from “vibe coding” (blindly accepting AI-generated code) to “vibe engineering” - a true partnership between human creativity and machine capability. This talk explores how tools like Kilo Code are transforming development by supporting architectural planning, codebase understanding, and debugging while keeping developers in control. As coding itself becomes more automated, skills like system design, evaluation, and contextual knowledge become increasingly valuable. The future belongs to those who master this collaborative dance.
Key Takeaways
- Understand the critical distinction between “vibe coding” and “vibe engineering”
- Learn how specialized AI workflows support different phases of software development
- Discover which human skills become more valuable in an AI-assisted development world
- See practical examples of human-AI collaboration that produces better outcomes than either could achieve alone
- Experience how approval-based workflows maintain developer agency while enhancing productivity
Questions to Consider
- How will AI-assisted development change the skills most valued in software engineering?
- Where is the right balance between automation and human oversight in your development workflow?
- What parts of your development process could benefit most from specialized AI assistance?
- How might the rise of AI coding partners change the way we organize development teams?
Alternative Titles:
- Beyond Autocomplete: AI Agents as Engineering Partners
- Engineering with AI: Building a Superset of Developer Assistants
- The Integrated AI Workflow: How AI Coding Tools are Transforming Development