#Issue 003
How to grow to be a
no-code developer
Hi 👋🏾
Who knew you might develop software program with out coding?
Not me, however now you and I do know. In this text, we break down this complete no-code developer enterprise. You additionally get to see Foluso Ayodele attempt to persuade us that the no-code developer profession has a low barrier to entry: “Anyone with a will to learn is good enough for code.”
If that is your cup of tea, you’re in for a deal with. If it’s not, don’t you need to see how one can make $30 money an hour from constructing digital merchandise with out code? If you don’t look after that both, don’t fear. As standard, we deliver you a tremendous record of tech recommendation, coaching and job alternatives.
If you are taking one factor away from this text, let or not it’s Foluso’s recommendation: “Don’t fall into the tutorial trap […] do not just watch videos and online courses. Build!”
by Immaculata Abba, Caleb Nnamani and Timi Odueso.
Tech trivia questions
Some trivia earlier than we start. Answers are on the backside of this text.
- Who was the primary particular person to construct a programming language?
- What was the primary no-code software to be constructed?
Who is a no-code developer?
Have you all the time wished to construct apps and merchandise however you’re afraid coding isn’t for you?
Well, fortunate you, this version of Entering Tech could make that attainable.
💡 Here’s a fast background on coding. Software engineers or builders are the spine of the tech world. All your favorite apps and video games are constructed by builders who’ve to write down code to construct what they need. Now consider code as completely different languages that assist computer systems converse to one another. You, as a particular person, can solely management the pc’s dialog for those who perceive their language.
So why don’t folks simply be taught the pc’s language A.Okay.A code? Well, as a result of there are about 9,000 completely different languages, every with its personal perform and benefits. Furthermore, there are completely different sorts of software program builders/engineers: frontend builders create the visible points like pages, menus, buttons, hyperlinks, and graphics you can see and click on, whereas backend builders use code to attach servers, purposes, and databases that ship data to customers.
Frontend engineers decide how issues look, and backend builders decide how issues work. Learn extra about these engineering roles on TechCabal.
Both roles use completely different languages. Frontenders use languages like HTML or JavaScript, whereas backenders have actually cool-sounding languages like Ruby on Rails, Python, or C++.
Most are related however mastering every takes years of fixed apply. Only a few like HTML and CSS—that are markup languages for frontend builders—will be mastered inside months.
So, if you wish to construct an app or grow to be a software program developer, you need to be taught a number of coding languages.
However, no-code builders bypass these language necessities with instruments that assist them construct apps and merchandise with out them having to write down a single line of code.
How it really works
You know the way subtitles enable you watch anime or Squid Game with out understanding Japanese or Korean?
It’s nearly like that. You can perceive what Naruto or Sae-byok are saying with out understanding their languages as a result of a software has helped you translate it.
No-code builders do the identical factor. They can converse to computer systems and construct apps, web sites and even firms utilizing no-code instruments that assist them translate code into motion.
💡 Think of it this manner. Canva is a software that helps anybody grow to be a designer. In the olden days—or early 2010s—for those who wished to be a graphic or product designer, you needed to discover ways to use Corel Draw, Adobe Illustrator or Figma. On these apps, you had to attract the circles your self, draw the automobiles, objects or something you wished to create. On Canva, a few of these issues are pre-built, so you possibly can merely add a pre-drawn circle and alter its dimension and color.
No-code instruments assist builders as Canva helps designers.
What are the instruments of a no-code developer?
You’ve most likely already used some. If you’ve ever constructed a submission type on Airtable, created a shopfront on Shopify, made a zap on Zapier, or constructed a web site on WordPress, then excellent news, you’re a no-code developer—jk, jk, you’re not. But it does imply you’ve used no code instruments earlier than.
The no-code instruments like WordPress are fairly fundamental although, and as our visitor at this time says, “They are limiting and they don’t allow you do much.”
So what are the instruments no-code builders use? Well, it is dependent upon the kind of no-developer you need to be. There are broadly three completely different paths to no-code improvement.
🌐 Web no-code builders who use no-code instruments to construct web sites and internet purposes. Their instruments are:
Bubble.io || Softr.io || WeWeb.io || Adalo Web Builder
📱 Mobile no-code builders who use no-code instruments to construct cellular purposes. Their instruments are:
Adalo Mobile Builder || FlutterFlow || GlideApps
🔗 Automation no-code builders who use no-code instruments to construct automations. Their instruments are:
Quabbly || Zapier || MakeHQ
Hear it from a no-code developer
For this week’s version, we’ve introduced a 19-year-old no-code developer who took the soar final 12 months from full stack engineering to no-code.
Foluso Ayodele is a no-code (bubble.io) developer who works with WeLoveNoCode, a no-code company based mostly in San Francisco. He has skilled expertise in product administration, full stack improvement, and can be expert in technical writing.
Started studying full-stack engineering
2015
Worked on a number of private and group initiatives inlcuding Anonima, an anyonymous messaging app
2015–2020
Switched to studying product administration
November 2020
Landed PM internship at Sankore investments
October 2021
Discovered and switched to studying no-code improvement
August 2021
Landed first job as a no-code developer
April 2022
Q. What had been you doing earlier than you grew to become a no-code dev?
I used to be interning as a product supervisor for an funding agency. Before that, I used to be really a full-stack developer.
Q. How was the transition, and what was your studying path?
So whereas writing code as a full-stack engineer, I stored attempting to construct merchandise however they by no means panned out.
So after a number of trials with completely different merchandise, I wished to attempt one thing new and I discovered product administration. While I used to be interning, I learnt about prototyping and it was in studying extra about prototyping that I discovered my first no-code software, Softr.io.
It was a bit stunning, to be trustworthy. Without any tutorial or directive, I might determine it out. I used to be even in a position to construct a product on Softr inside 24 hours.
So I began studying extra about no-code instruments and that’s after I found the Bubble Community on Twitter. They had been advocates of Bubble.io and so they pushed me into attempting my arms at it. Bubble was tougher than Softr although, and there was a little bit of a studying curve earlier than I might do something on it. It took me about a 12 months earlier than I might transition to Bubble full-time and get gigs from firms overseas.
Q. What ought to individuals who need to be no-code builders know?
Don’t fall into the tutorial entice! There are so many sources and supplies on the market and it’s best to interact them, however don’t simply watch movies and take on-line programs. Build!
Practice and constructing are what makes a nice no-code developer, not programs and certifications, though they assist.
Also, don’t be a platform prostitute for too lengthy. At the beginning of your studying journey, it’s tremendous to check out completely different platforms and see which you favor. But after a whereas, quiet down, grow to be a one-platform developer and grasp one platform earlier than leaping to a different.
Q. What expertise do no-code devs want?
There are not any hard-skill necessities for no-code improvement. That’s the purpose; you don’t need to be a former engineer or know coding languages.
It’s a low-barrier-to-entry profession into tech. Anyone will a will to be taught is nice sufficient for code.
For delicate expertise, nonetheless, you want the identical fundamental transferable expertise anybody in every other company position wants. Self-management expertise as a result of the position will be complicated at first. Communications and stakeholder administration as a result of purchasers can usually be troublesome and unreasonable with their wants. You have to discover ways to talk targets and goals clearly.
Q. What are the misconceptions folks have about your position?
That no-code = no work. Or that as a result of there’s no coding concerned, all we do is simply prototyping.
Those are the largest misconceptions. Yes, we don’t write code however that doesn’t imply there’s no arduous work concerned.
Q. How do you suppose no-code will have an effect on the continent inside the subsequent couple of years?
There aren’t a lot of alternatives for no-code builders on the continent proper now. In truth, I haven’t seen that many alternatives, and I’ve solely labored with one Nigerian firm up to now.
I feel we’re nonetheless rising our technical coding expertise on the continent, we don’t have that many software program engineers but so it’s comprehensible that the main target could be on coding. I don’t suppose we’ll see that a lot progress in a couple of years however off the continent, there are sprawling alternatives for anybody who places within the work. My firm is all the time searching for referrals.
You will be a no-code developer too
If you’re thinking about attempting your hand at no-code improvement, listed below are a record of sources.
- Price: Free (for one week)
- Duration: 8.5 hours
- Tools Needed: Internet + laptop computer
- Level: Beginner and intermediate
Get Course
- Price: Free (for one week)
- Duration: 5 hours
- Tools Needed: Internet + cellphone or laptop computer
- Level: Internet + cellphone or laptop computer
Get Course
- Price: Free
- Duration: 1hr, 47 minutes
- Tools Needed: Internet + cellphone or laptop computer
- Level: Beginner (Zapier 101) and Advanced (Zapier 102)
Get Course
- Price: $50
- Duration: 9.5 hours
- Tools Needed: Internet + cellphone or laptop computer
- Level: Beginner
Get Course
- Price: $50
- Duration: 10 hours
- Tools Needed: Internet + cellphone or laptop computer
- Level: Beginner
Get Course
Ask a techie
Q. I’m a physics tutor, a dean of research at a technical faculty and staff lead for logistics with a presence in 3 international locations together with Nigeria. I need to transfer into tech—challenge administration. How ought to I proceed, with my background are they different code or no-code areas I ought to be taking a look at?
If you’re seeking to proceed with challenge administration, then it’s best to take Google’s Project Management course to complement your expertise.
You appear to have already got expertise with challenge administration given your listed profession path, however the course can assist you chart the subsequent section of your profession. It’s a 6-month course for those who take it 10 hour/week however you possibly can full it earlier, and also you’ll be licensed by Google.
If you’re searching for different no-code careers to discover, then take a look at product administration which is kind of much like challenge administration. The distinction is that you simply’re managing the imaginative and prescient and improvement strategy of a product.
You may take a look at information evaluation, which is the place you’ll discover ways to inform tales utilizing information by processing, analysing and presenting it. It additionally has a google course, be taught extra right here.
Q. Are there any tech group for UX writers in Nigeria?
There are not any communities we all know of which are particularly for UX writers however there are communities for UI/UX techies.
More Techies, for instance, is a various group for Africans in non-tech fields who want to take part within the tech ecosystem regardless of their backgrounds. There’s additionally the Non-Tech in Tech group, dwelling to over 3,000 entrepreneurs, content material managers, writers, and expertise managers throughout 15 international locations who want to transition to tech or to develop their careers in tech.
It is likely to be arduous to search out one particularly for UX writing however you’ll undoubtedly discover related minds in both of the 2 above.
That’s all we will take this week. Have any questions on working in tech? Ask away and we’ll discover solutions for you.👇🏾
Ask a query
Tech trivia solutions
- It was Ada Lovelace! In 1883, Lovelace was serving to Charles Babbage construct the very first mechanical laptop, the Analytical Engine, and she or he constructed the primary language Ada to stipulate an algorithm for the Analytical Engine.
- It’s Lotus’ 1-2-3. Launched in 1983, it’s a spreadsheet programme that helped customers manipulate and current information! Microsoft’s Excel was launched two years later in 1985.
Opportunities
- The Fall 2022 Educative Technical Writing Workshop is open to Nigerians who need to be taught technical writing. Earn a technical writing certificates with this 1-month course. Apply now.
- Big Cabal Media – Head of Events – Lagos, Nigeria
- Big Cabal Media – Reporter, Citizen – Lagos, Nigeria
- Big Cabal Media – Newsletter Editor, Citizen – Lagos, Nigeria
- Big Cabal Media – Multimedia Content Creator, Citizen – Lagos, Nigeria
- Big Cabal Media – Newsletter, Editor, Zikoko – Lagos, Nigeria
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