What tools do professional developers actually use?
Quick Answer
VS Code or Cursor for editing, GitHub for version control, and the same databases and services you'd use with vibe coding. The difference is in depth of knowledge, not fundamentally different tools.
Full Explanation
Understanding what professionals use helps you understand where vibe coding fits in the broader landscape:
Code editors:
- VS Code: The dominant code editor, free, highly extensible
- Cursor: VS Code fork with AI built in (professionals are adopting this)
- JetBrains IDEs: Popular for specific languages (PyCharm, WebStorm)
Version control:
- Git + GitHub: Universal standard. If you're using Lovable with GitHub, you're using professional tools.
Databases:
- PostgreSQL: What Supabase runs on-professional-grade
- MongoDB: Popular for document-based data
- Redis: For caching and fast data access
Deployment:
- Vercel, Netlify: Same as vibe coding tools use
- AWS, Google Cloud, Azure: For larger scale or specific requirements
- Docker, Kubernetes: For complex deployment needs
AI assistance:
- GitHub Copilot: AI pair programming in VS Code
- Cursor: Increasingly adopted by professional developers
- ChatGPT/Claude: For explaining concepts and debugging
The key insight: Professional developers increasingly use AI tools too. The difference is in depth of understanding-they know why the code works, can modify it confidently, and understand implications of different approaches.
Vibe coding tools often use the same underlying technologies (React, PostgreSQL, Vercel) that professionals use. You're learning a real stack, just with more AI assistance.
Related Questions
What skills transfer from vibe coding to real coding?
You'll learn software architecture, debugging, working with databases, and understanding codebases. The conceptual knowledge transfers directly; only the typing-code-yourself part is different.
What's the difference between Cursor and Lovable?
Lovable builds complete apps from descriptions (no coding required). Cursor is an AI-enhanced code editor that helps developers write code faster. Different tools for different skill levels.
Is the code AI generates actually good?
It's usually decent-following modern patterns and best practices for straightforward features. But it lacks the judgement of experienced developers for complex decisions and edge cases.
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