No-Code vs. Vibe Coding: Why I’m Switching Sides (and you might too)

Hey there,

So I've been thinking about this whole no-code vs coding debate lately, and honestly? I think we're all missing the point.

Look, I get it. I'm a programmer (have been for almost a decade now), but I also absolutely love playing around with no-code tools like n8n. And here's what nobody wants to admit - we're all just picking sides like it's some kind of tech holy war.

The thing is, you shouldn't be emotionally attached to one solution.

I learned this the hard way. When you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail, right? (God, I hate that saying, but it's annoyingly true.)

When No-Code Actually Makes Sense

Here's when I personally use n8n:

• Quick automations for my own daily tasks

• Back office stuff that just needs to work

• When I'm dealing with SMB clients

And look, if you're working with small businesses, no-code is honestly ideal. That landscaping company down the street doesn't need a complex AI application. They need something that works, takes minutes instead of hours to set up, and doesn't require them to understand what an API is.

But here's where it gets tricky...

The Limitations Nobody Talks About

I encounter this every single day when building AI agents for clients. We'll start with simple automations in n8n - maybe even pilot projects. But then the client wants something more complex, and suddenly I'm hitting walls.

Those crazy demos you see on YouTube? They're demos. Not production builds. (Sorry to burst your bubble.)

Don't get me wrong - n8n is fun, easy to set up, and the visual aspect is amazing. But when you need something truly custom, scalable, and flexible... well, you technically need to know how to code.

Enter "Vibe Coding" (yes, that's apparently what we're calling it now)

Okay, so here's where 2025 gets interesting. If you can speak English (or any language really), you can basically tell an AI to build stuff for you.

I'm talking about tools like Cursor AI - and honestly, it's kind of mind-blowing. You prompt it like you would ChatGPT, but it's actually creating files and building projects for you.

The game-changing part? Complex logic that n8n just can't handle. I used to write Python for this stuff, but now I just... ask Cursor to build it for me.

(It definitely helps that I'm a programmer and know what I want, but honestly? You can learn the basics by just chatting with ChatGPT for a week.)

My Real-World Results

Last week, I turned one of my no-code automations into a full SaaS application called Iconicly. Took me three days plus a couple days of testing (which nobody tells you about).

Another example - I built an AI agents directory that scraped over 800 pages. Didn't write a single line of code myself. Just told the AI what I wanted.

It's honestly kind of surreal.

The Smart Approach (aka don't be a cult member)

Here's my advice: Use both. But be smart about it.

Don't be one of those people who's like "no-code is the only way!" or "real developers only write code!"

It's about use cases:

• Fine with building just for yourself or small businesses? No-code works great.

• Want to build something truly custom and scalable? Time to embrace vibe coding.

The beauty of owning your own code? No vendor limitations. You don't have to wait for n8n to release a new feature. You can build whatever you want, whenever you want.

The Part That Scares People

Look, I get it. The idea of "learning to code" sounds intimidating. It used to look like alien language to me too.

But here's the thing - you don't need to become a hardcore engineer anymore. You just need to understand the basic concepts well enough to tell an AI what you want.

Your first application won't be perfect. (Mine sure wasn't.) You'll probably need a few weeks longer than someone like me. But your second project? It'll go from four weeks to two weeks. Then you'll dial it in to about a week for complex applications.

The Catch (because there's always a catch)

There are things to consider with vibe coding - like security. I've seen way too many people get burned because they didn't think about the basics.

That's actually why I'm hosting a free vibe-coding workshop for total beginners (limited to 30 people - link https://tally.so/r/mRaQWj ). I'll show you how to get started with just a free Cursor AI plan.

My Hot Take

The competitive edge isn't in choosing sides. It's in being flexible enough to use whatever tool makes sense for the job.

I see coders who refuse to touch no-code tools because they're "too proud." I also see no-code enthusiasts who think learning any programming concepts is beneath them.

Both are missing out.

The AI wave is giving us incredible tools. Don't limit yourself by picking a team and sticking with it no matter what.

Be agnostic. Be flexible. And maybe, just maybe, stop arguing about which approach is "better" and start building cool stuff instead.

What do you think? Have you tried vibe coding yet? Or are you still Team No-Code all the way?

Hit reply and let me know - I actually read these.

Talk soon,

 Sercan | The AI Agent Guy 

P.S. - If you're curious about that workshop, seriously just grab the link below. Even if you've never touched code in your life, I'll walk you through the basics. Worst case scenario? You learn something new.

 👉 FREE Vibe-Coding Workshop(Google Meet): https://tally.so/r/mRaQWj