Have you heard of vibe coding? Instead of writing code, you describe what you want – plainly, conversationally – and AI builds it. At least, that's the promise. Struggle loops not withstanding, I've seen some pretty great tools and software built by citizen developers using apps like Loveable, Base 44, and Zite (by Fillout).
For folks in the print and promo industry, that idea hits close to home. We’ve been vibing solutions for years without calling it that. Every time you spin up a web form form, connect it to Zapier, and make a process run automatically, you’re already building an app – just one piece at a time.
What Is Vibe Coding?
Vibe coding tools let you build entire apps simply by describing them. You don't have to open a code editor or worry about syntax. You start with an idea ("I need a tool that tracks sample requests") and refine it in conversation with the AI until it works.
Many of the apps we use in the print and promo scene begin the same way: a form. Whether it's collecting apparel sizes, capturing shipping info, or feeding orders to your decorator, it all starts with data entry. Then comes logic (approval, automation, or transformation), and finally a result. That's the anatomy of an app.
Why Zite Fits Naturally
That's why Zite – from the makers of Fillout – feels like such a logical evolution. Fillout already gave us beautifully designed, logic-rich forms that integrate with everything. Zite takes those same building blocks – forms, databases, and pages – and gives them a home inside a full web app environment.
You can literally chat your way to a working tool. Want to build:
- A t-shirt size quantity calculator that suggests how many smalls, mediums, and larges to order based on a total quantity?
- A SKU permutation generator that takes color and size options and instantly outputs all the variant SKUs for your product spreadsheet?
- A product data converter that ingests a supplier's spreadsheet and outputs three ready-to-upload CSVs for your e-commerce platform?
Those are all small, useful examples that you could build today using Zite's form inputs, database logic, and download actions. And once you've built one, you start to see the pattern – each tool is just another remix of the same foundation.
BTW, Fillout is such a capable form tool that we put together the Redemption Tool Kit to help you launch smooth, professional redemption programs — without starting from scratch. You'll save loads of money on order fees, too!
Building Without Waiting
The magic of vibe coding is speed and approachability. You don't need to wait on developers or settle for software that almost fits your workflow. If you can describe your process – how orders come in, what needs to happen next, who needs to see it – you can turn that into a lightweight app in a single sitting.
And the best part is: it's familiar. You're not learning a new ecosystem; you're expanding on the one you already know from Fillout and Zapier.
Getting Started
Like with automation, I recommend starting with smaller, simple tools like the ones mentioned above. While Zite and tools like it are certainly capable of more – I think you'll be less frustrated if you are able to get a quick win under your belt before embarking on a more complicated project.
Also, a word of caution – Please be careful with sensitive data or personally identifiable information like customer names, emails, and addresses. Even though you are not coding, you are building software and that comes with risk.
Finally, I find it helps to think about what data will be involved in your project and how you would format those if you were working in spreadsheets. As early as possible when talking to your AI vibe coding tool, describe how the data should be formatted, what columns are important, and how the data relates to each other.
The Bottom Line
For distributors, suppliers, and anyone running a busy promo business, vibe coding is the next logical step in DIY automation. It's the moment when the forms and automations we've been stitching together start feeling like full-fledged apps.
And Zite, with its foundation in forms and its accessible AI-driven builder, just happens to make that step feel natural.
So if you've ever built a clever spreadsheet or Zap to make your job easier – congratulations, you’re already a vibe coder. Zite just helps you take that energy further.
