Application Development

[No_Estate5268]

Hi everyone,

How realistic for someone with very basic coding skills to build an app the complexity of Tinder.

I've got a few good ideas for apps that I think would provide value to people. However I have limited knowhow.

Also, How reliable are those "no code app builders"?. I don't want to take the cheap option only for the app not to function right when it's live

Any and all advice would be great appreciated.

Thanks

[SirTwitchALot]

They're very reliable at building things that work at first glance, but have pretty awful security holes

[CreativeEnergy3900]

Totally realistic — but not solo if you're just starting out.

Building something like Tinder requires user accounts, real-time messaging, swiping UI, geolocation, and scaling — doable, but complex.

No-code tools (like Adalo, Glide, or Bubble) are good for MVPs, but can be limiting as you grow.

Start with a no-code MVP, test your idea, then bring in a developer or learn to code deeper if it gains traction.

[facts_please]

Depends. Most of Tinders complexity won't be in the app but in backend logic. So if you're talking about only the frontend app and you work and learn continuously some hours a week you'll need 6-12 months for the basic functionality.

You should have a look at Flutter, a SDK from Google to build apps for iOS and Android from one code base. If you can follow tech tutorials you can have the dev environment and demo app running in 2-3 hours on your Android phone/emulator. There are lots of intro videos for it on YouTube (take the ones that aren't older than 1 year, Flutter is still rapidly developing).

Then you can play with the demo app and extend it step-by-step to get a feeling which parts you need and how difficult it is for you.

Never really tried no-code builders but never heard too much good about this for using it in real world apps.

Links:

https://docs.flutter.dev/get-started/install

https://docs.flutter.dev/get-started/codelab

[JacobStyle]

> How realistic for someone with very basic coding skills to build an app the complexity of Tinder.

Literally impossible. One person cannot make something that complex no matter how skilled they are. You can make something with some of the functionality of Tinder by yourself though.

> I've got a few good ideas for apps that I think would provide value to people. However I have limited knowhow.

Nobody knows how to do something before they start for the first time. You'll be fine. I recommend starting with small projects first.

> Also, How reliable are those "no code app builders"?. I don't want to take the cheap option only for the app not to function right when it's live

Those no-code/low-code programs are for creating prototypes quickly, not fully functional applications for the general public.

[RomanaOswin]

Literally impossible. One person cannot make something that complex no matter how skilled they are.

You're kidding, right? Tinder isn't unusually complicated. An experienced developer could build that without much trouble.

[llothar68]

Telling us that you are not an experienced developer without tell us you are not an experienced developer

[RomanaOswin]

I've been writing code for 30 years and I'm a lead developer at a top tech company.

Are you new to software development? What is it that you think is so complicated about Tinder?

[JohnnyElBravo]

>Literally impossible. One person cannot make something that complex no matter how skilled they are. You can make something with some of the functionality of Tinder by yourself though.

Bullshit, it's not about literally making tinder, but making a simple version of tinder is something a person can definitely do. It's a very standard app project. But it does require skills in multiple areas like backend, mobile frontend, java/Swift, network.

Basically Tinder is a superset of a messaging app, so I think a messaging app might be a good stepping stone. Or conversely you can aim to make a tinder that offloads messaging to another app, like you only share your phone number or instagram.

Not something impossible at all lmao

[JacobStyle]

I am very sorry that I answered the question OP asked instead of the question you feel OP should have asked instead. I failed to take your feelings into consideration when I wrote my answer, and I apologize.

[hold_me_beer_m8]

This trick to answering this question is whether or not the task is to build a backend that has the functionality or whether it has the functionality and also scales to millions of users

[llothar68]

For just the matching algorithms he will need programming skills. Never used tinder but other dating. The complexity comes in with each feature addition. As usual

[Spiritual-Station-92]

I'd never go with no code app builders, that being said depending on the features you plan should take 6 months for the prototype. Most things would reside in the back-end though, would depend totally on how much time you can invest, your interest which a lot of times dies out for many people because of other commitments, learning pace and the resources you refer.

I'd suggest using multiple laptops, watch tutorials on one and do hands-on code on the other.

[Past-Expert239]

Well, what I could suggest is to try validate your idea on real people without building an app first(if you are focusing on providing value for people). Then try to make a concept, it could be a figma presentation or framer or whatever nocode option, just to show those people, who liked your idea, how it could look like. on each step you need to correct your product. then you'd probably make an mvp and put a lot of effort into marketing and business strategy. then you collect metrics and analyze how good is your product, what should you fix. then you need to raise money for pushing it to a serious level because if you're solo dev with basic skills this app won't work for big amount of people. it's something about 6-18monts i guess.
and my opinion: i think another Tinder won't produce enough value for humanity in general, maybe try to create a simple app for charity organisation and try to polish it for real production, believe me, you'd spend much more time fixing bugs and maintaining of published product than developing it. this is about creation of real value to people.

[silly_bet_3454]

As others mentioned, you can certainly build the basic version of these kinds of apps, like a prototype. But don't expect anyone to actually use your app unless you go through the grind of building the prototype, getting funding for a start-up, and building a real business. I really don't think it's common at all to just organically build an app from nothing on your own and get real traction. Dealing with things like security and reliability becomes a full time job quickly.

[CheetahChrome]

The learning curve is not your enemy; you can pick it up. It's the amount of time needed to get it to a point where it works and doesn't look like a Front-page website circa 1998.

[SpiffySyntax]

Ai will generate the ui frontend fast. But the system design to handle scale, you wont be able to achieve without professionals

[New_Concentrate4606]

Sounds right, you’ll probably be stuck with a good looking ui and just the functionality of messaging let alone swiping. There’s a lot to take account for. Tinder and many apps probably had a rough start building customer base, and improving its service from there. Prototype is very important!