AI & Three.js: The Best Editors and Tools for Vibe Coding 3D Web Applications

The term "vibe coding" was coined by Andrej Karpathy in 2025 and quickly became Collins Dictionary's Word of the Year. The concept is simple: describe what you want in natural language, let AI generate the code. For Three.js developers, this represents a fundamental shift in how we build 3D web applications.

This guide explores the AI-powered editors and tools that are transforming Three.js development—from code editors that understand your entire codebase to platforms that generate complete applications from a single prompt.

What is Vibe Coding?

Vibe coding means "fully giving in to the vibes, embracing exponentials, and forgetting that the code even exists." Instead of manually writing every line, you communicate your intent to AI assistants that understand context and generate production-ready code.

For Three.js development, this looks like:

Describing a 3D scene in natural language and getting working code

Asking AI to add WebXR support to an existing project

Debugging shader issues by explaining the visual problem

Generating entire interactive experiences from concept descriptions

The key tools enabling this fall into two categories: AI-powered code editors (for developers who want control) and AI app builders (for rapid prototyping and MVPs).

AI Code Editors for Three.js Development

1. Cursor — The Current King

Best for: Professional developers working on complex Three.js projects

Cursor is a VS Code fork that has become the go-to editor for vibe coding. Its killer feature, Composer, lets you describe changes affecting multiple files—and Cursor figures out dependencies, applies edits, and even fixes lint errors it creates.

Why it works for Three.js:

Multi-file awareness understands the relationship between your scene setup, shaders, and components

Tab completion predicts not just your next line, but your next logical edit

Supports Claude 3.5 Sonnet and GPT-4o under the hood

Privacy mode available for sensitive projects

Example workflow:

"Add orbit controls to this scene with damping, limit the polar angle to prevent going below the ground plane, and add a smooth zoom animation when the user first loads the page."

Cursor generates the imports, adds OrbitControls, configures limits, and creates the entrance animation across the relevant files.

Pricing: $20/month (Pro), generous free tier available

Limitations: Can lag on large codebases; learning curve for effective prompting

2. Windsurf — The Smooth Alternative

Best for: Developers who prefer a cleaner UI and more autonomous assistance

Created by Codeium, Windsurf introduced Cascade—a context-aware system that feels like it's reading your mind. Where Cursor feels like a power tool, Windsurf feels like a co-pilot.

Why it works for Three.js:

"Deep Context" finds relevant files you didn't know were connected

Live context understanding—if you're manually editing and pause to ask for help, Cascade picks up exactly where you left off

Agentic by default: indexes codebase, pulls relevant code, runs commands automatically

Cleaner, less cluttered interface than Cursor

Example workflow: Start editing a Three.js material, pause, type "continue"—Windsurf understands you're building a physically-based material and completes the shader configuration with proper lighting parameters.

Pricing: $15/month (starting), free tier available

Limitations: UI feels more like a chat than an editor to some developers

3. Claude Code — Terminal-First Power

Best for: Developers comfortable with CLI who want maximum flexibility

Claude Code operates entirely in your terminal, which seems like a step backward until you realize it solves different problems. It excels at complex, multi-step tasks across files and can be embedded directly into build workflows.

Why it works for Three.js:

200K token context window handles massive codebases

Runs integration tests, applies fixes, explains changes—all from the command line

Works across environments: local development, remote servers, CI pipelines

Superior instruction following for complex refactoring

Example workflow:

bash

claude -p "Refactor this Three.js project to use React Three Fiber, maintain all existing functionality, and add TypeScript types"

Pricing: Pay-per-use (can add up quickly for complex tasks)

Limitations: Terminal-only; no visual editor; requires comfort with CLI

4. GitHub Copilot — The Enterprise Standard

Best for: Teams already embedded in the GitHub ecosystem

Copilot has evolved significantly. The line between it and specialized tools like Cursor has blurred—for many developers, Copilot now handles most tasks that previously required dedicated AI editors.

Why it works for Three.js:

Zero friction setup—install extension, connect GitHub, done

Works in VS Code without changing your workflow

Reasonable pricing, easy team management

Increasingly capable with code completion and chat

Pricing: $10/month (Individual), $19/user/month (Business)

Limitations: Inline completion still behind Cursor and Windsurf

AI App Builders for Rapid Three.js Prototyping

When you need to go from idea to working demo in minutes rather than hours, these platforms generate complete applications from natural language descriptions.

5. Bolt.new — Full-Stack from a Single Prompt

Best for: Rapid prototyping of complete Three.js applications

Bolt by StackBlitz creates full web applications directly in your browser. Describe what you want, and it generates frontend, backend, installs packages, and deploys—all without leaving the browser.

Why it works for Three.js:

Generates complete Three.js scenes with proper setup

Handles package installation (three, @react-three/fiber, etc.)

Live preview as you iterate

Browser-based—no local setup required

Example prompt:

"Create a 3D product showcase for sneakers. Let users rotate the shoe, change colors, and zoom. Use Three.js with orbit controls and HDRI lighting."

Bolt generates a complete, deployable application.

Pricing: Token-based, starting around $20/month

Limitations: Less control than code editors; stability issues on large projects

6. Lovable — Fastest Idea-to-MVP

Best for: Non-technical founders and rapid validation

Lovable achieved the fastest growth in European startup history by delivering full-stack applications in record time. Users confirm building complete interfaces in 20 minutes.

Why it works for Three.js:

Generates working prototypes from plain English descriptions

Handles UI, some backend logic, and deployment

Visual editing mode for non-developers

Supabase integration for data persistence

Example use case: A startup founder describes a 3D configurator concept; Lovable generates a working prototype they can show to investors that afternoon.

Pricing: $25/month (Pro), free tier with limited messages

Limitations: Less control over code structure; designed more for UI than complex 3D

7. v0 by Vercel — Production-Grade React Components

Best for: Frontend developers needing polished UI components for Three.js projects

v0 specializes in generating production-grade React components using Tailwind CSS and shadcn/ui. It focuses on doing one thing perfectly: beautiful, accessible UI components from descriptions or image uploads.

Why it works for Three.js:

Generate UI controls, panels, and interfaces for your 3D applications

Image-to-code: upload a design mockup, get working React code

Seamless integration with Next.js and Vercel deployment

Clean, maintainable component output

Example workflow: Upload a screenshot of a 3D model viewer interface you like; v0 generates the React components for the control panel, loading states, and UI chrome. You integrate it with your Three.js canvas.

Pricing: $20/month (Pro), free tier with credits

Limitations: Frontend only—no backend, no 3D generation

8. Rosebud AI — Three.js-Specific Generation

Best for: Creating 3D web experiences without writing code

Rosebud is specifically designed for Three.js. Describe your vision, and it generates initial Three.js code that you can iteratively refine through conversation.

Why it works for Three.js:

Purpose-built for 3D web development

Generates complete Three.js scenes, not just components

Supports WebGL and WebXR

Educational: explains what the code does

Example prompt:

"Create a luxury fashion showcase with a 3D interactive gallery featuring floating product images and cyberpunk aesthetics."

Rosebud generates the complete Three.js scene with animations and interactions.

Pricing: Free tier available, Pro plans for commercial use

AI + Three.js: Beyond Code Generation

AI integration with Three.js extends beyond just writing code. Here's what's emerging:

AI-Powered 3D Asset Generation

Tools like NVIDIA's GANverse3D and MeshCNN generate 3D models from 2D images or sketches. Combined with Three.js, you can:

Generate custom 3D environments from user input

Create product visualizations without manual modeling

Build dynamic virtual showrooms that adapt to content

Intelligent Animation

AI can predict physics-based interactions and generate lifelike animations without keyframe animation. This enables:

More natural motion in VR experiences

Procedural animation that responds to context

Real-time character animation from motion descriptions

Performance Optimization

AI-based denoising, upscaling, and level-of-detail optimizations improve Three.js performance without sacrificing quality:

Real-time ray tracing optimizations

Automatic LOD generation

Intelligent asset loading based on device capability

Choosing the Right Tool

Here's a decision framework:

Are you a professional developer working on a large codebase? → Use Cursor or Windsurf

Do you prefer terminal-based workflows and maximum flexibility? → Use Claude Code

Are you already in the GitHub ecosystem and want minimal friction? → Use GitHub Copilot

Do you need a working prototype in the next hour? → Use Bolt.new or Lovable

Are you building production React UI for a Three.js application? → Use v0 for components + your preferred code editor for Three.js logic

Do you want to experiment with Three.js without coding? → Use Rosebud AI

Combining Tools

Many developers use multiple platforms:

v0 for UI components + Cursor for Three.js logic

Bolt.new for quick demos + Claude Code for production refinement

Lovable for MVP validation + Windsurf for building the real product

The tools complement rather than compete.

Best Practices for Vibe Coding Three.js

1. Be Specific About 3D Requirements

Bad prompt:

"Add a 3D cube"

Good prompt:

"Add a rotating cube with physically-based material, metalness 0.5, roughness 0.3, using HDRI environment lighting, casting shadows onto a ground plane"

2. Reference Three.js Concepts

AI models understand Three.js terminology. Use it:

Mention specific classes: OrbitControls, RayCaster, InstancedMesh

Reference concepts: "frustum culling", "draw call optimization", "batched geometry"

Specify versions: "Use Three.js r160 syntax"

3. Iterate in Steps

Instead of one massive prompt, build incrementally:

Set up basic scene with camera and lighting

Add geometry and materials

Implement controls and interactions

Add WebXR support

Optimize performance

Each step lets you verify the AI understood your intent.

4. Provide Context

Point AI to relevant documentation, examples, or existing code:

"Based on the Three.js VRButton example, add WebXR support with hand tracking"

Conclusion

The vibe coding revolution has arrived for Three.js development. Whether you're a professional developer using Cursor to accelerate complex projects, or a founder using Bolt.new to validate an idea in an afternoon, AI tools are transforming how we build 3D web applications.

The key insight: these tools work best when you understand Three.js concepts well enough to prompt effectively and evaluate output critically. AI accelerates implementation, but domain knowledge remains essential.

Start with one tool that fits your current workflow. Master it. Then expand your toolkit as needs evolve.