Figma acquires team behind a vibe coding app

In a strategic move to enhance its offerings, Figma has acquired the team behind Bud, an innovative coding and AI agent platform previously known as Orchids. This acquisition signifies Figma's ambition to transform from being solely a design tool into a comprehensive platform that integrates coding and prototyping more seamlessly into its workflow. Kevin Lu, CEO of Bud, expressed his enthusiasm for the acquisition on X, emphasizing Figma's pivotal role in shaping the future of product development. He stated, "Figma is one of, if not the, defining product companies of our time to capitalize on this. It’s where ideas start, iterate, and come to life, making it a natural home for this exciting new era of work." Initially launched as a vibe coding platform, Bud allowed users to create applications for various platforms including mobile, web, and Slack. The startup later evolved into an AI agent capable of performing tasks such as web browsing and code writing for automation. However, with the acquisition, both Bud and its predecessor Orchids are set to be discontinued by July 18, with users required to transfer their projects before this deadline. Earlier this year, reports surfaced highlighting vulnerabilities in applications created on Orchids, raising cybersecurity concerns. While Figma has not disclosed specific plans for the newly acquired team, recent developments suggest a clear intention to equip users with enhanced tools for app development and prototyping, moving beyond mere static designs. Figma has already made strides in this direction with the launch of Figma Make for web app creation and integrations with platforms like Codex and Claude Code.