The paper "Vibe Coding Kills Open Source" examines the impact of generative AI on software development, with a specific focus on a concept termed "vibe coding." In this paradigm, AI agents construct software by assembling existing open-source components, often bypassing direct human interaction with documentation or maintainers.

The research models the equilibrium effects of vibe coding on the open-source software (OSS) ecosystem. It posits that while vibe coding enhances productivity by simplifying the use and integration of code, it simultaneously diminishes the user engagement that is crucial for OSS maintainers to derive returns.

The paper suggests that if OSS monetization relies solely on direct user engagement, the increased adoption of vibe coding could lead to reduced entry and sharing within the OSS community. This, in turn, may result in a decrease in the availability and quality of OSS, ultimately lowering overall welfare despite productivity gains. The authors conclude that sustaining the current scale of OSS under widespread vibe coding necessitates significant changes in how maintainers are compensated.

👉 Read the full article on arXiv