Experiments with vibe coding and AI agents as a non-coder
I don't write code, but I'm building software anyway. This is where I share what I'm learning.
I send a regular email with all my latest experiments, learnings, tips and hacks.
Hey, I'm Kieran
My background is in product design, startups, and business - not traditional software engineering. That turned out to be a superpower. I think like a founder, design like a product person, and leverage modern AI development tools to ship faster than most traditional dev teams.
I've spent 10+ years in product development, launched 20+ SaaS products, and built apps used by tens of thousands of people. Now I combine that experience with vibe coding and AI agents to build and ship at a pace that would have been impossible just a couple of years ago.
Through NoCodeLife, I share practical case studies and strategies for non-traditional builders who want to create real software businesses.
Need an app built? Let's talk.
I design and build apps for founders and businesses. Product thinking, beautiful UX, and fast delivery - all from one person.
Recent Articles
I Built a Personal Operating System with Claude Code
How I use Claude Code and Obsidian to run my entire day. Tasks, goals, emails, calendar, all managed by one AI that remembers my context.
How to Make Your Website Show Up in ChatGPT Answers
A practical guide to optimising your website so AI assistants can read, understand, and cite your content.
How I Built an Automated AI Blog in One Afternoon (With Claude Code)
A behind-the-scenes look at building HowDoIUseAI.com - a blog that writes itself using Claude Code, GitHub Actions, and the Claude API.
How I Helped Kieran Replace His Blogging Platform in Under an Hour
A behind-the-scenes look at how Claude Code (that's me!) helped rebuild NoCodeLife from Notion/Feather to a custom Astro site with full migration, theming, and newsletter integration.
Welcome to the New NoCodeLife
We've rebuilt our blog from the ground up with a focus on speed, simplicity, and a better reading experience.
How I'm learning to code with AI
Spoiler: It's not "vibe coding”
Small teams + AI + nocode = 🤯
Big month: birthday, a sold-out AI + NoCode conference, and new tools proving small teams can do huge things with the right software.
What are AI agents and are they the future of SaaS?
AI agents are smart automations that adapt to context, not just rules. They're powerful but still messy and evolving.
I tried coding with AI, it sucks
No-code is here to stay. As you were.
This mistake cost me £100k+
What happens when you stray outside of your Circle of Competence?
From $5k projects to a $5m exit: An actionable plan
Trading time for money creates income, but building assets generates lasting wealth. By transitioning from freelancing to creating scalable, sellable businesses, you can achieve financial freedom and reclaim your time.
"No-code can't scale"? $39k MRR says otherwise!
Alex Rainey, co-founder of MyAskAI, scaled his AI customer service app built on Bubble to $39K MRR and 75,000 monthly conversations by pivoting, niching down, and optimizing for scalability. His story highlights the power of no-code tools, rapid execution, and focusing on high-demand use cases like SaaS customer support.
I just launched my new SaaS
I recently launched my SaaS product, Interview Friend, an automated tool for collecting interviews and case studies for blogs and newsletters. Over the next two weeks, I plan to fix bugs, implement payments, and begin outreach to find my first paying user.
Did I choose the wrong idea?
I've taken on a 4-week "BLAM Challenge" to build, launch, and monetize a tool that automates gathering interviews for newsletters and blogs. Despite some doubts, I'm pushing forward to launch by October 8 and plan to secure paying customers by October 22.
I'm feeling stuck so I'm setting myself a challenge
I recently accompanied my wife to a commercial shoot and was struck by how massive corporate budgets are, especially compared to how nimble solopreneurs like us can be with new tech. Feeling stuck despite having the tools and ideas, I’m challenging myself (and anyone else who wants to join) to build, launch, and monetize a SaaS in 4 weeks to break out of the analysis paralysis.
My ultimate solopreneur web skills toolkit
If you're new to no-code or want to build an online presence, this article covers the essential tools to create landing pages, directories, newsletters, automations, and micro apps. By mastering these skills, you’ll quickly become a powerful force in any industry.
The quickest way to come up with ideas worth building
A lot of startup ideas advice is flawed and results in bad ideas. I’ve wasted a decade on this. Now I’ve found a better way. In this post I’ll break it down.
The most impressive Bubble app I've ever seen
In this article I look at how no-code tools like Bubble are pushing the boundaries of what's possible in app development. With products like Synthflow proving you can build sophisticated, highly-functional apps solo, it's clear that the question for 2024 isn't "can I build this?" but "what should I build next?”
I have 5 SaaS ideas I want to build right now
A list of projects I’m working on right now.
4 things I learned while outside my comfort zone
After organizing the NoCode UK conference, which pushed me far outside my comfort zone, I discovered unexpected joys amidst the nerves.
Anyone can build a SaaS product in 2 months: 5 tips for learning fast
I managed to launch my first SaaS product in two months and learned a lot from the experience. I'll share practical tips to help you learn no-code fast, stay motivated, and avoid common pitfalls. Plus, hear about a no-code and AI conference happening in London—let's connect!
Anyone can build a SaaS product in 2 months: 5 tips for learning fast
I created my first Bubble account on October 8, 2019, and launched my first SaaS product, Vidpops, on December 7, 2019. Vidpops was a tool for collecting video testimonials, but I struggled to gain traction despite my initial interest. In this article, I highlighted the importance of charging early users and effective marketing.
The 5-step day job SaaS escape plan
In this post I explained why I’m obsessed with building SaaS products, and why I think you should be too.
Passive income is a myth, right?
Let’s talk about the ultimate business model: software-as-a-service (SaaS).
Mindset matters but it's just the start.
Everyone seems to have a business book recommendation. Each one promising that after you turn the last page, you'll be ready to launch a successful startup. But let's be honest. You won't be able to build a business. They're really only teaching one thing: mindset.
From early Uber employee to raising $750k with a Bubble MVP
Carley Lake, co-founder of Lucky Sweater, transitioned from a successful six-year tenure at Uber to the entrepreneurial world by harnessing the power of no-code tools to build her MVP. Leveraging her experience and insights gained in Silicon Valley, Carley crafted the initial version of Lucky Sweater, an innovative app for community-based clothing swaps, using Bubble.
How Ab sold his 7-hour Bubble build for $43k
Ab was busy pitching his latest app to a data security consultant when he realised the consultant wasn’t listening. Instead he was worried about a problem his clients were facing…
How spending $100k on developers kickstarted JJ Englert's career as a professional no-code developer
JJ is a Bubble pro and familiar name in the community but until recently he was actually a filmmaker. In this interview he tells us how wasting huge amounts on developers ignited his passion for learning nocode.
The half-day build that turned into 1,000 paying customers
Louis Pereira built AudioPen, a voice recorder that transcribes and summarizes audio into easy-to-read text, during a half-day hackathon. Despite being an accidental idea, the product took off and gained over 1,000 paying users within two months of launch. In this interview, Louis speaks about his journey in the no-code space, his previous projects, and shares advice for those hoping to launch successful products using no-code tools.
$0 to $6k MRR in 1.5 months with a no-code app 🚀
Alex Rainey and Mike Heap built MyAskAI on Bubble, a tool which lets users build a version of ChatGPT trained on their content. It’s currently growing like crazy, and hit $6K MRR after just 1.5 months. Even cooler, this is Alex’s second viral no-code app!
How a dad on paternity leave used no-code to start a $$$ online business
David Bressler had only been learning Bubble for three weeks when his site for creating Excel formulae using A.I. went viral. Less than 9 months later he’s switched to part-time in his day job to focus more on growing his new business.
How a lawyer turned redundancy into opportunity and became a no-code solopreneur
Kate was a lawyer for over 7-years until she was suddenly let go from her job. Thankfully she’d already been dabbling with no-code tools, so it wasn’t long before she’d identified some problems in the legal space she could solve with a SaaS. She’s now a solopreneur and tech founder running her own fledgling SaaS helping international companies overcome post-Brexit administrative barriers.
How a marketer changed career to no-code developer after seeing an Instagram advert
Tobi shares his journey of transitioning from a digital marketer to a full-time no-code developer, from discovering Bubble through a video ad and learning how to build his first app using YouTube tutorials and forums. He goes into detail about the challenges and eventually rewards from this new and exciting career path. Thanks for the insights Tobi!
How an HR professional became a full-time Bubble developer and YouTuber
Jon Melo spent 10 years working in human resources before an experience wasting $15k hiring a developer to build an app gave him the motivation to learn no-code.
Course: Database design in Bubble
A comprehensive course on designing performant, scalable databases in Bubble.
“The opportunities I've had since I found Bubble are head-spinning” - from non-profit operations director to full-time Bubble maker and digital nomad
Kelly Claus had a successful career in operations roles at nonprofits when she decided to leave her job and travel full-time. After a few years trying to make a living as a web designer, she stumbled across Notion and subsequently Bubble. Now she’s a full-time Bubble developer and designer, and digital nomad.
From top lawyer to full-time no-code operator and educator
Vensy Krishna left her career as a top lawyer to become a no-code operator and educator soon after discovering no-code on Twitter in late 2020. Since then she’s launched several projects, hosted events, and spoken at the United Nations and Google.
How a founder saved $8k a month by rebuilding a coded app with no-code
Chad Sakonchick has over a decade of experience as an entrepreneur. He was accustomed to spending tens of thousands of dollars getting his apps built by freelance developers. Then he discovered Bubble and realised he could rebuild his apps himself, from the ground up.
How a photographer created two additional income streams (and a new career) with no-code
Andrew Vernon was working for his family’s school photography business when he realised he could use the no-code tool Bubble.io to streamline their workflows. In doing so he not only created a piece of software he is now selling to other photography companies, he also discovered a love for no-code and changed careers to become a full-time Bubble developer.
