The Death and Rebirth of No-Code
Programming with Natural Language
The promise of no-code is clear: It empowers anyone to build software without having to learn a programming language. AI-powered tools like Cursor and Replit are the next evolution of building software with the highest level of abstraction possible: the common natural languages we use in everyday life.
No-code platforms made it easier for non-developers to create applications, complex automation, and other systems. While this was a step forward, there was a fundamental limitation: no-code tools only allowed users to operate within the constraints of proprietary user interfaces.
That has changed drastically.
Natural language is now the most accessible programming language.
One of the best “no-code” platforms on earth right now is Replit. The beauty of it is that you can put on your programmer hat whenever you want.
But here’s the thing. Rather than abstracting code away from the end user, Cursor and Replit bring you closer to the code in a way that no-code platforms never could. AI generates it in real time, right in front of you, and the process is open-ended. It’s a conversation, not a drag-and-drop interface.
You can iterate to a solution while learning how everything works under the hood along the way. It’s the tutor I wish I had ten years ago when I started learning to code. It can help you understand Python, JavaScript, or any other programming language. It gives you the power of code and design.
The interface is a chatbot which is the perfect tool for asking questions.
Asking clarifying questions makes it easier to learn and understand what you’re looking at. AI allows anyone to build software with the same open-source tools that engineers use every day. This makes programming an even more valuable skill.
But the definition of programming is changing.
Should you still learn how to code?
Here’s another question.
LLMs can produce prose in seconds so should you still learn how to write?
Well, yes.
If you believe writing is thinking then programming is thinking.
You just don’t need to write code manually line by line as much as you used to.
It’s more important now to learn how to write and code. Writing and programming aren’t always a means to an end. Writing is the most important skill to help you improve your thinking. It’s also the most effective way to remember what you’ve learned. Programming helps you think algorithmically and will significantly improve your logic and reasoning skills.
Even though AI can easily generate code for you, understanding traditional languages like Python is also important from an efficiency perspective. Asking ChatGPT or Claude to write one line of code is a ridiculous waste of time. You’ll have an advantage similar to that of an experienced writer who can edit an essay much faster by rearranging the words on the screen themselves.
Programming has always been a gateway drug to learning more about the technology that powers and governs everyday life.
Understanding how software works and how you can design systems to achieve anything more efficiently is critical in the AI era.
— Daniel
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