It’s hard to know where to begin with this one. Actually, it’s hard to believe it’s real.
On November 12, 2025, TechCrunch reported on ‘Chad: the Brainrot IDE,’ a new product that’s… well, it’s something. The IDE, or integrated development environment, is designed for coders. But it also integrates, somehow, with gambling, Tinder, and games. Yes, really.
The company, backed by the prestigious Y Combinator, seems to be leaning into a certain… aesthetic. You know, the one where productivity and, uh, let’s call it ‘distraction,’ are intertwined. It’s hard to imagine, but here we are.
The initial reaction, as you might expect, was disbelief. Many thought it was a joke. A parody. A clever bit of satire. But no, it’s real. The product has been generating buzz, and a fair amount of head-scratching, since it launched.
‘Vibe coding’ is, apparently, a thing. The Chad IDE promises to let you code while also… engaging in other activities. The TechCrunch article didn’t go into detail on the ‘how’, but it seems like the intention is to embrace the chaos. Or perhaps, to capitalize on it.
A spokesperson from Y Combinator, when reached for comment, said, “We support a wide range of startups, and we are always looking for innovative ideas. This one is… certainly that.”
The whole thing kind of makes you wonder about the future of work. Or maybe the present. Or maybe it just makes you wonder what people are actually building these days. Still, it’s a sign of the times, in a way.
For once, it’s not clear where this is all going.