Bend 2 and the Vibe-Coding Trap (blog.liampwll.com)

Bend 2 is introduced as a novel programming language designed for the AI coding era that allows developers to write "laws," with AI generating implementations and proofs, which are then validated by a compiler. While this concept appears groundbreaking, the article highlights a critical oversight: Bend has seemingly embraced a "vibe-coding" approach, where substantial solutions are constructed without sufficient awareness of existing methodologies in formal verification—essentially missing a foundational principle in software correctness which could streamline development and improve outcomes. The implications are significant for the AI/ML community, as Bend's method of proof generation results in overly verbose specifications—58 lines to state simple game rules and an additional 442 lines to prove them—demonstrating inefficiency compared to established formal verification languages like SPARK. By illustrating how a well-informed approach could reduce complexity and enhance correctness, the article warns against the pitfalls of vibe-coding, where developers might create advanced systems without leveraging existing knowledge, potentially perpetuating outdated practices in AI programming.