Vibe coding & AI prototyping tools: the new wave of software development in Kazakhstan

Coding is changing. You no longer need to be a professional software engineer to build an app. Thanks to tools powered by AI, almost anyone can start creating functional software with just a few simple prompts. This trend is called vibe coding — and it is growing fast.

While it started with hobbyists and indie developers, now even large companies are getting on board. Why? Because AI makes building software much faster and easier. In Kazakhstan, where the startup scene is booming and digital transformation is a national goal, this trend is a potential game-changer.

Askar Aituov, Almaty city, developer relations program management, Linkedin

What exactly is vibe coding

Vibe coding is when you use plain language — like simple English sentences — and an AI tool helps turn your descriptions into real code, user interfaces, or even full applications. Instead of spending hours writing everything line by line, you describe the «vibe» or function you want, and the AI builds the foundation for you.

Big Tech players are already deep into this. Companies like Google and Microsoft report that a significant portion of their new code is now suggested by AI assistants. Tools like GPT-4, Claude, Cursor, and Google’s own AI-integrated platforms are helping developers and now non-developers go from an idea to a working app in record time.

For example, Vanguard, a global investment firm, reported that development tasks which used to take two weeks now take just 20 minutes by combining their design, product, and engineering workflows with AI tools.

AI as your creative partner

Some tech leaders describe these tools as «creative partners». They do not just automate boring tasks — they suggest new ideas, speed up feedback loops, and help teams stay aligned. However, humans are still essential to guide the AI, check for errors, and ensure the final product is secure and aligns with the brand.

At companies like Choice Hotels, engineers are actively being trained on how to use these tools effectively. Their goal is to integrate AI directly into real production pipelines. This means building AI into the company’s backend, ensuring it works securely with real customer data, and complies with internal company rules.

Not all tools are created equal

One of the biggest shifts is that non-technical staff in departments like HR or marketing can now build their own apps using simple drag-and-drop AI tools. While this sounds great for innovation, it can create problems — like security risks or data leaks — if done without IT supervision. This is often called «shadow IT».

To avoid this, companies are setting clear rules for AI use. Some are even making AI governance a board-level discussion — especially in heavily regulated industries like finance and government, which are highly relevant in Kazakhstan.

A comparison of AI prototyping tools

For those in Kazakhstan who want to start building AI apps or MVPs, here is a quick comparison of popular tools. Whether you are a solo indie hacker or part of a startup, this table shows where each tool shines.

AI prototyping tools for Kazakhstan’s gen Z & millennial creators

Tool	What it is	Strengths	Limitations	Vibe check
Firebase.studio	A web-based workspace for full-stack app development.	Built-in Gemini AI assistant. Templates for popular frameworks. Direct Firebase integration for backend.	Can feel like a full IDE, which might be complex for absolute beginners.	The most powerful option. Like having Google’s entire dev ecosystem as your co-pilot.
Replit	An in-browser IDE with an AI coding assistant.	AI co-pilot. Instant deployment for sharing. Perfect for learning & quick hacks.	Limited backend capabilities. Not ideal for complex, production-grade products.	Fast and fun. Feels like a collaborative developer playground.
Lovable.dev	A low-code AI builder for creating web app frontends.	Visual drag-and-drop builder powered by GPT. Good for creating demos and user interfaces quickly.	Lacks a true backend. Not built for scaling into a full business.	Looks great and is super fast for mockups, but it is mostly for the frontend.
LangChain	A developer framework to connect and chain AI models.	Very powerful for complex chatbots and agents. Flexible integrations with many AI models. The industry standard for developers.	Requires Python coding. No visual builder. Has a steep learning curve.	Powerful but geeky. Essential for serious AI developers, not for visual prototyping.

Google for developers ecosystem is preparing a Firebase.studio championship for the Central Asia region. Stay tuned for updates on the-tech.kz!