An approach to programming that could enhance digital skills development across the country
I’m a big fan of Cursor for coding with AI, and this movement now has a name – “vibe coding” – which allows people to create programmes by describing what they want in natural language and letting AI handle much of the actual coding. As South Africa grapples with developing digital skills and implementing new coding curricula in schools, vibe coding represents a potentially transformative approach that could democratise software development across the country.
The timing couldn’t be better. With the Department of Basic Education rolling out coding and robotics as part of the new curriculum framework, and the country’s ongoing push to develop digital literacy, vibe coding offers a bridge between traditional programming education and practical software creation. Rather than spending months learning syntax and programming languages, South Africans can now focus on problem-solving and creative thinking while AI handles the technical heavy lifting.
