Code Free Revolution

From Ideas to Reality (Without Writing Any Code)

I’d like to kick off this Substack with a bit about me and why I’m here. Over the years, I’ve worn a lot of hats as a designer and product manager. I’ve dabbled in creating a few companies—with wildly different outcomes. One ended in a legal saga that stretched on for a decade (we won, then lost thanks to a judge). Another was acquired but left me with a sour taste for various reasons. Those adventures taught me one thing for sure—I’m not a CEO, and that’s okay. I think of myself as a creative professional, a would-be Chief Product Officer, but never a ceo-type who thrives in boardrooms.

My wife, always brutally honest, likes to remind me that I’m “average.” It used to bug me, but over time I’ve realized she’s probably not wrong (she rarely is). Still, being average doesn’t mean lackluster. It’s made me self-aware enough to know my strengths, like creativity, curiosity, and the ability to adopt new tech at warp speed.

What does set me apart, though, is my love for designing and building things. Big or small, I’ve always had ideas I wanted to see come to life. The problem? Ideas and designs aren’t worth much until they’re built. And unless you can code, bringing those ideas to life usually means collaborating with developers.

Ah, developers. Where do I even start?

I’ve shared a love-hate relationship with developers throughout my career. On one hand, they bring impossible ideas to life. On the other, they’ve often been my biggest hurdle. When I was starting out, developers often delivered work that was...well, not quite what I envisioned. There was always a gap between my pixel-perfect designs and what appeared on screen. Back then, I wasn’t about to sit around waiting for someone to get it right, so I taught myself HTML. Those were the days when you could build entire layouts using tables and a handful of clever workarounds. Eventually, I picked up CSS, but as web development grew more complex, I realized I wasn’t cut out to be a full-time coder.

Still, I dreamed of a world where I could implement my ideas without needing developers. It felt impossible. A pipe dream I used to joke about with my wife during one frustrating project after another. Every designer or product person has probably wished the same at some point, but I figured it was just wishful thinking.

Until now.

The rise of no-code tools has completely changed the game. Tools that once seemed like a fantasy are making it not only possible but practical to create web products without writing a single line of code. For someone like me, that’s the dream I never thought would come true. I’ve spent years as a builder dependent on development teams, and now I’m learning to shed those dependencies. No-code tools are letting me turn ideas into products faster than ever.

This is my space to share that process with you. I’ll cover the no-code tools I’m experimenting with, strategies for creating impactful digital experiences, and probably a fair bit of trial-and-error storytelling too. I believe we’re in a new era for creativity, where designers, product leaders, and just about anyone with ideas can build things that were once out of reach.

If you’ve ever been stuck waiting on a developer, held back by a lack of coding skills, or simply curious about what no-code actually means, stick around. There’s so much to explore, and I’m excited to take this journey with you.

Here’s to building, dreaming, and maybe breaking a few things along the way. I can’t wait to share what’s next.