Overview
You have ideas for apps, automations, and tools that would solve real problems in your work—but you’re not a programmer and don’t have months to learn coding. This two-day course shows you how to use AI as your programming partner to build functional web apps, automate repetitive tasks, and create custom tools without traditional software development skills.
You’ll master AI-assisted coding with ChatGPT and Claude, use specialized AI coding environments like Cursor and Replit, build actual working applications from natural language descriptions, and understand when your project needs a professional developer versus when AI can get you across the finish line. Whether you’re automating spreadsheet tasks, building internal tools for your team, creating simple web apps, or prototyping startup ideas, this course gives you practical skills to turn concepts into working code.
Format: 2 Days | VILT
Who Should Attend
- Business professionals with process improvement ideas but no coding background
- Entrepreneurs and startup founders prototyping product ideas
- Product managers and project coordinators who need to understand what’s possible
- Data analysts who need custom tools beyond Excel formulas
- Small business owners who can’t afford custom development
- Anyone who’s ever thought “I wish there was an app for that” about their work
What You’ll Learn
- Use AI to write functional code for web apps, automations, and custom tools
- Build simple applications using AI coding assistants without programming knowledge
- Automate repetitive tasks with Python scripts generated by AI
- Debug and improve AI-generated code through iterative conversation
- Combine no-code platforms with AI for more sophisticated applications
- Understand project scope: what you can build yourself vs. when to hire a developer
Course Outline
Module 1: Understanding AI-Assisted Development
- What AI can realistically help you build today without coding experience
- The AI coding ecosystem: ChatGPT, Claude, Cursor, Replit, GitHub Copilot, V0
- Understanding code types: web apps, scripts, automations, APIs
- Setting realistic expectations: complexity levels you can handle
- When to use AI vs. no-code platforms vs. hiring a developer
- Security and best practices: what not to build or deploy without expertise
Module 2: Your First Code with AI Assistance
- Describing what you want in language AI understands
- Generating simple Python scripts for data processing and automation
- Creating basic web pages with HTML, CSS, and JavaScript
- Understanding the code AI generates (enough to work with it)
- Running code locally: setting up your environment
- Iterating with AI: “that works, but can you make it also do…”
Module 3: Building Web Applications with AI
- Using V0, Bolt.new, and Lovable for instant web app generation
- Creating functional forms, calculators, and interactive tools
- Building simple dashboards and data visualization apps
- Adding user input, buttons, and interactive elements
- Styling and customizing appearance without design skills
- Deploying apps so others can use them (Netlify, Vercel basics)
Module 4: Task Automation and Scripting
- Automating Excel and Google Sheets tasks with Python
- File processing: renaming, organizing, converting formats
- Web scraping basics: extracting data from websites (ethically and legally)
- Email automation and notification systems
- API integration: connecting different tools and services
- Scheduling automated tasks to run regularly
Module 5: Debugging and Improving AI-Generated Code
- Understanding common error messages and what they mean
- Using AI to debug: “This code gave me an error, can you fix it?”
- Adding features incrementally: building complexity step-by-step
- Testing your code: making sure it works in different scenarios
- Refining user experience based on actual use
- When code works locally but fails in deployment: troubleshooting basics
Module 6: AI Coding Environments and Tools
- Cursor AI: coding with an AI pair programmer
- Replit: building and running code in the browser
- GitHub Copilot: code suggestions as you type (for those ready to learn more)
- ChatGPT Canvas and Claude Artifacts for iterative coding
- Choosing the right tool for your project type
- Version control basics: saving your work and tracking changes
Module 7: Real-World Projects and Production Use
- Building an internal tool for your team: requirements to deployment
- Creating a data collection form with automated processing
- Developing a simple customer-facing web app
- Prototyping a product idea to test with users
- Combining AI coding with no-code tools (Airtable, Zapier, Make)
- Knowing your limits: when to stop and hire a professional developer
- Maintenance and updates: keeping your AI-built tools running
- Security considerations: protecting user data and avoiding vulnerabilities
Prerequisites & Technical Requirements
- No programming or coding experience required
- Comfortable installing software and learning new tools
- Basic understanding of how web applications work (as a user)
- A specific problem or project idea to work on (recommended)
- Computer capable of running modern web browsers and basic development tools
Customization Options
This course can be tailored to specific use cases—business process automation and workflow tools, data analysis and reporting applications, customer-facing web tools and calculators, internal team productivity apps, or MVP/prototype development for startups. We can focus on the programming languages and platforms most relevant to your needs (Python for automation, web development for apps, etc.) and work on your actual project ideas for immediately applicable results.