Vibe Coding vs. Agentic Engineering: What Is the Difference?

[kovarj (Jaroslav Kovar)]

Vibe Coding vs. Agentic Engineering?

I realized recently that it is not clear for all, and I also wanted to sort my thoughts about it, since I’m still quite new to the topic.

Hoping that you will enjoy this summary and feel free to add your thoughts or correct me, if needed.

So.

The terms vibe coding and agentic engineering are often used interchangeably, but they describe two different ways of working with AI.

Both use Large Language Models (LLMs), but the role of AI in the engineering process is fundamentally different.

Vibe Coding

Vibe coding is the interactive use of an AI assistant to generate code.

The workflow is simple:

Engineer
    ↓
Prompt
    ↓
LLM
    ↓
Generated Code

The engineer remains responsible for every subsequent step:

• reviewing the generated code
• building the project
• fixing compiler errors
• running tests
• updating documentation
• deciding what to ask the AI next

The AI generates code, but it does not execute the engineering process.

Typical use cases include:

• prototypes
• proof-of-concepts
• learning new APIs
• helper scripts
• documentation
• small utilities

Vibe coding can also be used for production software, provided that the engineer performs the necessary review and validation.

---

Agentic Engineering

Agentic engineering extends AI beyond code generation.

Instead of answering a single prompt, an AI agent can execute parts of the engineering workflow by combining reasoning with tools and project knowledge.

A simplified workflow looks like this:

Requirement
      ↓
Planning
      ↓
AI Agent
      ↓
Project Context
      ↓
Engineering Tools
      ↓
Build
      ↓
Tests
      ↓
Validation
      ↓
Documentation
      ↓
Engineer Approval

The important point is that the LLM is only one component.

An agent also has access to resources such as:

• project context
• engineering standards
• company coding guidelines
• documentation
• build tools
• test frameworks
• version control
• diagnostics
• external systems (for example through MCP)

Instead of simply generating code, the agent can execute an engineering task from beginning to end.

---

The Technical Difference

The biggest difference is who drives the engineering workflow.

Vibe Coding

The engineer performs every engineering step manually.

Generate code
      ↓
Build
      ↓
Review errors
      ↓
Prompt again
      ↓
Test
      ↓
Document

Agentic Engineering

The agent orchestrates much of the workflow automatically.

Generate code
      ↓
Build project
      ↓
Analyze compiler errors
      ↓
Apply fixes
      ↓
Run tests
      ↓
Generate documentation
      ↓
Request engineer approval

The engineer still makes the final engineering decisions, but repetitive workflow steps can be automated.

---

A PLC Example

Requirement:

Implement a conveyor control Function Block.

Vibe Coding

The AI generates the Function Block.

The engineer then:

• reviews the implementation
• adapts naming conventions
• builds the Automation Studio project
• fixes compiler errors
• performs testing
• updates documentation
• commits the changes

Agentic Engineering

The requirement becomes:

Implement a conveyor control Function Block following our company standards.

The agent can then:

• generate the Function Block
• apply coding standards
• build the Automation Studio project
• analyze compiler diagnostics
• correct detected issues
• execute automated tests
• generate documentation
• prepare a change summary
• request approval from the engineer

The output is no longer just code, it is a validated engineering result.

---

When to Use Each Approach - just idea

Vibe Coding	Agentic Engineering
Prototypes	Production systems
Small tools	Large codebases
Learning	Team development
Documentation	Standardized engineering workflows
Quick experiments	Long-term maintenance
Individual work	Company-wide engineering processes

Neither approach replaces the other.

In practice, vibe coding is often the fastest way to solve isolated engineering tasks, while agentic engineering becomes valuable whenever repeatability, validation, traceability, and automation of the engineering workflow are important.

---

Key Takeaway

The difference between vibe coding and agentic engineering is not the LLM.

The difference is what happens after the code is generated.

Vibe coding helps an engineer write code faster.

Agentic engineering helps execute an engineering workflow by combining AI with project context, engineering standards, tools, validation, and human approval.

For industrial automation, where software must remain maintainable for many years, that distinction becomes increasingly important.

Curious about more details and how can agentic engineering implementation be done with B&R, see recording from our Webinar . WEBINAR: Agentic Engineering for Industrial Automation: From AI Assistants to Autonomous Engineering Workflows (LINK TO RECORDING)