You Can Build an App in a Week Without Code

I created AlugaVaga.com.br — a marketplace in Brazil that allows people to rent out their empty garages to others looking for a parking space. The app was created in under a week using Bubble.io — a no-code builder.

Benefits of no-code builders

• Speed – releasing a product in under a week is very doable

• Ease – no real coding skills required

• Testing – an MVP can validate demand before looking to scale

Disadvantages

• Scalability – database constraints and limited customisation make it harder to scale

• Cost – prices rise rapidly as your usage increases, cutting into profits

• Vendor lock-in – you’ll have to build from scratch if you want to move elsewhere

After realising my app was quite like Airbnb’s model — but for garages — I decided to build an Airbnb clone. They have a tried-and-tested UX design, refined over years with millions of users. Though confident in my abilities, I didn’t think I could beat their design in under a week.

However, before that, I did start trying to learn all the features of Bubble, but I quickly got bored after realising how slow I was progressing toward a finished product. So, finding an established design to clone may be a smart idea for you.

This is the tutorial I followed to create the app — making necessary adjustments and diversions where needed.

After a week of building, I had a fully fledged web application, complete with signup, payments, and complex workflows.