The Vibe Shift in Software Engineering: Evaluating AI-Led Conversational Programming for Performance, Cognition, and Responsible Adoption
Updated 2 h ago · first seen 11 Sept 2026
paper_01M294GMAX7571FR56QW64GB4F
- Published
- 11 Sept 2026
- T1 · 2 h ago
- arXiv
- 2609.09560
- T1 · 2 h ago
- Category
- cs.SE
- T1 · 2 h ago
Abstract
This study evaluates Vibe Coding, an emerging AI-led conversational programming paradigm that enables developers to generate software through natural-language interaction with large language models. Using a mixed-methods design, the study assessed performance efficiency, cognitive implications, and responsible adoption in comparison with traditional and AI-assisted coding environments. Thirty participants, including professional developers and advanced computing students, completed equivalent programming tasks under three experimental conditions. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and repeated-measures ANOVA, while qualitative data were examined through thematic analysis. Results show that vibe coding significantly improved development efficiency, reducing task completion time by 27% compared with traditional coding and 12% compared with AI-assisted coding. However, these gains were accompanied by lower maintainability indices and higher security vulnerabilities, indicating trade-offs in software quality. Usability results yielded a good rating (SUS = 71.4), while cognitive workload remained moderate (NASA-TLX = 55.5), reflecting reduced syntactic effort but increased linguistic reasoning. Thematic analysis identified trust calibration, loss of control, cognitive adaptation, and prompt-engineering strategy as key constructs. Notably, perceived loss of control was associated with increased security risks due to reduced transparency and validation of AI-generated outputs. Based on these findings, the study proposes a three-pillar framework for responsible adoption: hybrid integration of human and AI capabilities, human oversight and transparent accountability, and context-aware deployment. Overall, vibe coding enhances productivity but requires critical oversight, reinforcing its role as a transformative yet transitional paradigm in software development.
Authors 2
Sales G. Aribe Jr., Louie Jay S. Labastida
Specification
- Official page
Source:arXiv (Atom API + RSS)T1observed 2 h agohigh
- Arxiv announce type
- cross
Source:arXiv (Atom API + RSS)T1observed 2 h agohigh
- arXiv id
- 2609.09560
Source:arXiv (Atom API + RSS)T1observed 2 h agohigh
- Categories
- cs.SE, cs.AI, cs.ET
Source:arXiv (Atom API + RSS)T1observed 2 h agohigh
- DOI
- 10.18517/ijaseit.16.4.21812
Source:arXiv (Atom API + RSS)T1observed 2 h agohigh
Source:arXiv (Atom API + RSS)T1observed 2 h agohigh
- Primary category
- cs.SE
Source:arXiv (Atom API + RSS)T1observed 2 h agohigh
- Published
- 11 Sept 2026
Source:arXiv (Atom API + RSS)T1observed 2 h agohigh
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T110
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New paper: The Vibe Shift in Software Engineering: Evaluating AI-Led Conversational Programming for Performance, Cognition, and Responsible Adoption
arxiv
| Source | Document | Type | Tier | Last observed | Snapshots |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| arXiv (Atom API + RSS) | rss.arxiv.org/rss/cs.AI | feed | T1· Official | 2 h ago | 1 |
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