Senior Engineer tries Vibe Coding.

Summary
This video is a satirical scripted comedy sketch created and performed by developer Kai Lentit parodying the frustrations of a senior software engineer attempting “vibe coding” with AI assistants like Cursor. The creator portrays an engineer spiraling through escalating micromanagement, massive configuration files, and bizarre prompts over days of simulated time, only to be overwhelmed by unexpected tech choices, breaking updates, and AI hallucinations.

What is shown

• [00:00] Cold open showing the exhausted engineer clutching a towel to his head while despairing over uncooperative AI code.
• [00:20] The engineer boots up his laptop to try out AI coding for the first time, Googling Cursor prompts and asking for a to-do list app.
• [00:54] Rapid montage of escalating prompts and restrictions, including prohibiting PHP/JavaScript, prompting as a NASA veteran, and attempting to enforce HolyC or Lisp.
• [01:21] The engineer reacting in shock to a $400 API usage bill and common coding blunders (e.g., clear: both on flexbox, hallucinated lifetimes).
• [02:17] Frustration boiling over when the AI fails to respect 23 .cursorrules files and hallucinates blockchain integrations and button borders.
• [03:25] The engineer reciting his extensive dogmas (two architecture books, anti-SOLID talks, 6,300 .cursorrules) before screaming when the AI runs npm install.
• [04:50] Total breakdown as the AI deletes the repository and attempts to deploy to Vercel.
• [05:00] The engineer attempts to retreat to manual coding in Vim, only to be met by an AI assistant offering Vim optimization tips.
• [05:22] The engineer collapses upon discovering the model was updated to a new version, rendering his prompt engineering invalid.

Claims & numbers

• The presenter mentions that Cursor costs “$20 for a month” [00:28].
• The presenter reacts to an API bill reaching “$400” [01:21].
• The presenter claims he provided “23 files of .cursorrules” [02:18] and later a “6300 .cursorrules dot file” [03:35].
• The presenter mentions he “just learned 3.7.1” right before the model was replaced [05:24].

Notable quotes

• [00:28] “$20 for a month? That is insane. I could hire a developer for half an hour.”
• [02:18] “I gave you 23 files of .cursorrules. Cursor, don’t lie to me, did you read the documents?”
• [05:22] “They changed the model. I just learned 3.7.1. Everything I know is now invalid.”

Assessment
This is a fictional, comedic parody sketch rather than a real product evaluation, benchmark, or live technical demo. It relies on exaggerated acting, jump cuts, and simulated elapsed timers to lampoon developer culture and the friction between traditional software engineering habits and LLM coding assistants.

Described by gemini-3.8-flash on 2026-10-16 from the video’s audio and frames.