There is a lot of buzz around “no-code” tools that empower people to build things without writing code. Website builders like Wix fall in this category, and so do IPaaS like IFTTT or Zapier. Makerpad is a community where people can learn how to launch a business with only those tools and without having to be or hire a developer. While I love and use some of those tools myself, they are also limited and don’t possess the full power of programming.

Anil Dash is the CEO of Glitch, a web-based IDE with a cloud-based runtime where people can write code and connect with a community of developers. He recently published an article on LinkedIn about a concept called “Yes Code”. Anil has similar sentiments about the potential of being able to code and believes that we should also empower people to learn that instead of just hiding the code behind the abstraction layers of “no-code” tools. He goes on about coding as a superpower and how it can help us build a better, “new human web” when we include more people in this process. I don’t want to repeat his points, so go and read his article.

For me, Anil’s thoughts are a good reminder of why I’m passionate about excellent API design and unique developer content. Yes, we need good material to teach the basics of programming, but we also need to make our APIs and SDKs and (open-source) libraries accessible and beginner-friendly. It is not only the right thing to do if you care about being inclusive, but it also makes good business sense to extend your audience and help a guy or girl building their next independent business on top of your API.

I can help you improve your API design to make it better for everyone, not just beginners, and I can create additional content to teach your API or developer product. Send me an email or fill out this form to learn more about my services.