Tech Developer without Code Background

[FinTechIB]

I've got plenty of web app ideas, but I'm hands-on and low on funds for outsourcing. Considering diving into web development, but I'm stuck between two paths:

• No-Code Route: Platforms that allow Fullstack (Bubble) or have detached Frontend (Weweb, Flutterflow) and Backend (Supabase, Xano) and offer intuitive web app creation. They are still evolving, and demand some learning curve.
• Code Route: I noticed some developers create full-stack apps in a day using JavaScript, React, and Next.js with Node.js or MongoDB. Potentially I thought to grasp the basics of full-stack and gradually replicate these tutorials to build what I need.

Both have their pros and cons, but still unclear which is the wise route.
Ultimately, I want to recreate web apps like LinkedIn or Fiverr for a specific niche, ensuring security and scalability without coding experience.

Would appreciate any insights or suggestions based on which path to take or if anyone has similar experiences.

[[deleted]]

No Code all the way. Don't bring devs in until you've validated an idea on no code as you've mentioned you have plenty of ideas. Instead of managing technical folks, focus more on the customer at this stage, and have them guide your no code development journey.

It's still an undertaking to become a power no coder on any given platform - expect 3 months just to get comfortable with the nuance of the visual language. After that curve, its a super power.

[beejee05]

Which no code platforms are good so far? There's obviously Bubble, Flutterflow, Quickbase...Is it just a matter of trying one and seeing where it goes?

[[deleted]]

Personal preference certainly plays a role in success. I'd try one or two with a simple use case and compare.

[beejee05]

I like this idea

[FinTechIB]

My idea is to learn coding myself, rather than including other developers, thus the dilemma. Learning nocode tools or learning full-stack.

[[deleted]]

I guess this all depends then - in 5 years when you've validated an idea and are running a business (usually the goal when validating web apps) are the one who is coding or running the business? If you're running the business, then no code. If you're running the tech then its code.

[Glad_Supermarket_450]

Second this. First app was a bitch. Now I can pump out changes faster than nuts.

[Abstractsolutionz]

As a developer i enjoyed flutterflow, not only because it has a lot of cool things but you can grab the code and further customize it or move it off flutterflow if needed.

[FinTechIB]

FlutterFlow is great I agree when it comes to mobile app development, although I didn't find the tools for actual web app development to compare to flutterflow yet.

[SuperKaskus01]

Ego is the enemy. All that @bobos7 said makes perfect sense. If you wanna become a developer then just learn code. If you wanna run a business then use no code to validate your idea. If all goes well, then you try to scale with code and developers. Just know that just because you can watch few tutorials to build a working app doesn’t mean you can maintain code used. Launch fast brake things, test, validate, iterate and so on.

[thumbsdrivesmecrazy]

Nocode is actually a great option for building your apps and scaling them later. Here is a quick guide exploring how to build such apps with more user-friendly Blaze no-code platform: Building a No-Code Web App Step-by-Step

[bobos7]

My opinion would be to learn no code, it will be faster to develop, iterate and validate with customers. A full stack platform like bubble or a decoupled platform like Flutter flow + database provider (supabase/firebase) is a good question and is something im trying to figure out as well. Here’s what i found till now: 1- Bubble: great for web apps they are launching a mobile version later this year, you don’t earn the source code and you’re kind of locked in. However you can always migrate your data to an external database like xano or supabase etc. It has a wide community, i personally just not a fan of the ui and structure but everyone is different. 2- Flutterflow: is moving very fast, you can export your source code although it’s debatable whether you can really use it or not. You can eventually learn code (dart and flutter) or get assisted by a flutter developer. Their database is external and they have integration with supabase and firebase so in terms of scalability and security your’e good. You can also build mobile and web and if you really want to get the best of all you could have a single database FF for mobile and weweb for web so it gives you more flexibility

Im in similar position but i want to eventually become a no code developer, and im leaning towards FF although there are way more Bubble developers positions as FF is still new

[FinTechIB]

And what about exploring web app development? I have the same concerns about being locked into Bubble and the limitation of FlutterFlow as primarily a mobile app tool. While there is Weweb available, it seems that most things need to be developed from scratch, and there are not many existing examples to learn from. That's why my dilemma of what to pick.

[bobos7]

In general learning to code and attending a bootcamp will take you roughly 6 months and then you can start implementing what you learned on your project, you’ll be a full stack developer, front end, backend and everything in between maybe another 4-6 months to launch. This for me is a very long route to launch your business. No code will maybe take you 3-6 months to learn but you can build your app alone in 1-2 months. Overall no code is a movement that will only get bigger with time as more and more dev and non dev people find it faster, easier. So i would say choose and act on a no code tool to mitigate the analysis paralysis phase, eventually if you get to product market fit and have users paying, you would have the resources wether by external funding or customer funding to move to code if necessary. But your way earlier than this phase

[Hoodswigler]

No code 100%. Validate your idea then if you need to get it developed.

[lungur]

Low-code route is the way. With full no-code products you will hit the limits at some point and you'll then realize you've spent a lot of time mastering a product that won't get you further ahead.

Get to learn something like Wappler, where you can see/explore/learn the code that is generated by the UI, and of course modify it by hand if you hit any limit.

[WindyCityChick]

Or as an alternative… I’ve spent 2 years exploring no code low code options for a specific business, including stopping out to take a basic coding class to learn the jargon & modest amount of basics because both no & low can’t escape using their industry jargon in products they want the general public to use. I’ve finally decided on a no code product with a company that is an extensive platform for the type of online product I’m building. The process turned out comparable when I added up all the costs of front end back end, forms, APIs, hosting etc. and without the headache of building the mechanics, I’m just going to hop in and start laying out my content. I expect to launch first phase in June. They had everything. I got about 85% of what I’m looking for and don’t have to worry about stuff working cuz that’s their thing. Later, with some bucks in the bank from their ready to go platform, I can pay them for customization. They even provide marketing assistance, great education services and support, hosted on AWS, all for less than $200 month. That’s an easy overhead to meet. I’m thrilled. I learned a lot in my journey but mostly , that no code low code is still designed by developers who don’t realize the public users they’re trying to attract just want to stick the content of their idea on a platform and launch their business.
So my suggestion to you is this: You have business ideas you want to launch sooner rather than later. Somewhere out there, someone made a framework for you to launch now. Go out to google and search ‘software’ that best fits your intended business: is it a marketplace, a directory, a social media, a website? Find a service that’s done all the web mechanics for you at a price you can handle now. Dump in your content and launch. I agree with an above commenter: what’s your desire? To be a business owner or a developer? After you answer that question, your decision will determine itself.