What is an IDE?

An IDE (Integrated Development Environment) is a software application (an enhanced text editor) that provides tools for coding and building applications.

But today’s IDEs (focused on AI) transform this experience into a simple conversation between you and your computer.

The End of the “I’m Sorry, I Don’t Know How to Code” Excuse

In ancient times…

…only people who could read and write in strange languages knew how to program… 😃

What I want to say is that today’s IDEs have completely changed what’s possible. If you’re an experienced developer who’s swamped with work, you’ve probably already tested these capabilities of new IDEs. But if you’re someone with an idea who has never touched code, these tools will soon change what you can achieve.

Why This Is More Important Than You Think

For beginners:

The excuse “I don’t know how to code” is officially dead. That business idea you abandoned because “you’re not a technical person”?

You can build it this weekend simply by explaining what you want. (of course a demo project - not a banking application 😉)

For developers:

Working with AI-based IDEs isn’t just about coding faster—it’s about coding smarter. While these tools can generate code in seconds, production solutions require more than just quick generation.

This is a topic for another time, but here are just a few quick tips:

Define clear requirements*, before asking AI to implement anything*
Perform small, incremental steps*, instead of trying to build everything in one giant prompt*
Define tests first*, to ensure your AI-generated code meets expectations*
Carefully review generated code for security vulnerabilities and edge cases
Establish security measures and verification for any AI-generated code that handles sensitive data

The most effective developers aren’t those who can write the most code—but those who can effectively collaborate with AI while maintaining the best software engineering practices.

For everyone:

We’re witnessing the democratization of software creation. The gap between “having an idea” and “building that idea” has just shrunk from months to a few hours.

”But Primož, this interface (IDE) looks intimidating!”

Okay, if you’ve never written code before and then open one of these IDEs for the first time, it looks like you’re piloting a spaceship. Maps everywhere, mysterious code all over the screen, buttons everywhere…

But if you want to build a simple presentation website, or a tool that will only serve you, here’s the secret: Ignore 90% of what you see.

Focus only on the chat window (in plain language: the chatbot window)

That’s it! Everything else is optional. Similar to driving a car—you don’t need to understand the engine to get to your destination.

Here’s an excellent feature of one of the IDEs (Windsurf):

I call it “Show and Tell”:

Click directly on any element on your website
Tell the AI what you want to change
Watch it happen in an instant

See that button that should be blue instead of green? Click on it and write: “Make this button blue and add some shadow.” Boom—done!

It turns web development into a simple click, chat, create process that anyone can master in minutes.

ChatGPT or Claude integrated into an IDE

In previous newsletters, I showed you how to create simple websites using chatbots in the sense of: generate code and paste it on a hosting platform.

That was just the beginning. To get you familiar with it.

In upcoming newsletters, you can expect me to show you how to easily use the best IDEs, in a conversational way.

A conversation with what you want to create. 😉

Remember:

Every expert was once a beginner. The difference is that you can skip years of learning syntax and jump straight into creating value.

At the same time, I’ll show you steps to ensure security, scalability, and other issues important for an easier transition from a demo project to a product.

Talk to you soon,
Primož

The End of the 'I Don't Know How to Code' Excuse