No-code newsletter #1

Foreword from Tom

Welcome to Tom Noble’s no-code newsletter (I hope it will be weekly but there is a lot going on right now) and a big thank you for subscribing, it means a lot. The aim of this newsletter is to dive into a few topics around no-code, no-code news, then something around 1. A Product feature 2. How I would create something on no-code (please send in some ideas and I will publish how I would make it with no-code). Anyway. Lets go.

Opinion piece

What is no code?

The best place to start is from the beginning, so let’s get into it.

So you've heard of no-code and you want to know a little more? You think that it could be an absolute game changer in the industry and want to know how to use it? Well you've come to the right place.

No code is literally what it says on the tin. It is the ability to create something that previously would have needed code to built it.

No-code is an approach to designing and using applications that doesn't require any coding or knowledge of programming languages. It allows folks who would not otherwise be empowered to be product creators themselves to see their product vision become a reality.

In summary… It allows people to accomplish more in less time and less money.

Why should you care?

The world of tech was previously locked away from the normal folk. You had to learn how to code, have a serious amount cash or wear a turtle neck and have round glasses in order to be accepted in this fraternity. No-code means that individuals without the above are able to enter the scene.

What can you build on no code.

One of the most common questions I get is, can "X" be built on no code. 90% of the time I say ‘Yes it can’ and they are shocked. No-code still relies on underlying code, however on the surface you only see the visual aspects. This means that you can still to 90% of the things that code can, it just looks a little different.

You can make websites, web apps, mobile apps, automations the lot.

There are a lot of benefits to no code.

Very low barriers to entry (anyone can build), low start up costs, real time iteration, quick build time, autonomy and flexibility.

There are some cons

It takes time to learn (months rather than years), full customization isn’t possible, vendor lock ins, you may need code in some instances, platforms do not deal with large volumes of data well, scalability and security (you aren’t fully in control).

So what is it ideal for?

• Start ups on a budget

• Consultants and freelancers

• Creatives that want to build

• Coders that want to test and prototype

• Individuals and organisations that want to validate ideas

No code news

Webflow logic - This could be a gamechanger. Webflow is well known to be the place to go for web design and when it brings on the ability to add logic to it's sites it will rival bubble as the go to web app creation tool. No-code web apps typically need 3 things: 1. Interface design, 2. Logic flows 3. Databse. Bubble has all three of these built in howver webflow only has design and a database. With the addition of logic the two will become very similar.

Appypie makes a tv ad. This is really cool, a no-code platform having a TV ad means that it is starting to become mainstream.

Make launches an academy.

Platform spotlight

In my opinion Bubble is the number 1 platform in the no-code space right now. Founded 11 years ago, bubble currently has $100m in funding, 250+ employees and surpassed it's 1 millionth user in mid 2021. Not only is it one of the pioneers of the no-code movement but it is genuinely one of the best.

Put simply, bubble is ideal for anything that is viewed on a web browser, this includes websites, webapps, chrome extensions and more. Whilst it can build a lot, it is ideal for building database enabled webapps such as SaaS platforms, marketplaces, social medias and CRMs. A database enabled web app is one that stores and displays information often unique to each user, the best way to think about this is any website that has a log in the inputs go beyond a contact form.

The point and click editor within the platform takes time to learn (3 months for me) however once you understand it, it is a very powerful tool. The recent responsive design feature completely changed the game (you can build the interface to change size with the size of the screen) and makes mobile view much simpler.

This isn't a weakness, but one of the drawbacks of the platform is that it is not possible to build mobile apps, however it understands that it is not able to do everything so doesn't try to. We'll look at Flutterflow next week that is ideal for mobile.

Bubble will definitely be around for a while, it is the major player in the game and through brand alone it has become the no-code platform of choice. I look forward to seeing what they do in the next few years.

Project spotlight

A no-code platform that i've seen recently that looks awesome is Getaiway.

This is a web platform that has been built on bubble and it instantly creates a personalised travel plan using AI. I know that this platform is built on bubble as it can be seen in the page's source code, however I can only guess how the rest of the application was made. I think that it's safe to assume that this was built with chatGPT given the timing and I may have even seen the founder say that it was built with the chat tool on linkedin a few weeks ago.

Anyway, the way that it most likely functions is you input a location into the a 'start planning' box . This will create a custom query which will then be input into chatGPT via the API. For example: Create a travel plan for "insert input_numberofdays" amount of days in "insert input_location" with a full itineray and breakdown of the trip. I'm sure it's more complex than that however what I have written would give a basic plan.

Check it out!

What tools to use

For web apps – Bubble

For mobile apps – Flutterflow

For automations – Make

For quick launches – Softr

For websites – Webflow

For ecommerce - Shopify

Who am I?

My name's Tom Noble and I run 4degrees, a zero to one agency that specializes in no-code tools to help clients validate and launch tech products for a fraction of the cost and time.