My background is as a php developer. Due to client requests to develop android applications and I didn't have java skills until I found dropsource.com, a no code platform for building native androids.
Early 2020 I got DropSource it was difficult to develop new features and too many bugs. My client was furious that some bugs could not be fixed and I had to wait for them to fix them. Then I thought if they closed the service what should I do?
and it turned out to be true. Those sending an email will shut down their service. I've learn React native to replace dropsource if they have to close their service. So that I don't lose my clients.
From here I learned no code is a big lie. Our business depends on their nocode platform. If they close service, your business will be abandoned.
let's think..
for example makerpad.com. From the wappalyzer results, their community site using ruby or zeroqode forum one of the advocate nocodes, they use Discourse.
why don't they use the no code bubble platform? doesn't zeroqode sell Discourse templates?
as a developer i always laugh at the no code campaign. And they fall victim to ad campaigns and objects of the nocode platform.
I always laugh when they no code people are proud of what they did to create a "clone project" without code. But almost all of their websites use a code framework.
Instead of wasting your time learning the no code on which your business depends on their platform. Better start learning to code now.
If you only want to build an MVP, using wordpress makes a lot of sense.
I can see where you're coming from and I follow your argumentation in some points. But seeing you as a developer laughing at no code enterpreneurs sounds a bit like a horse breeder lauthing at the first cars back in the days.
Instead of playing it down, you better start thinking of what that could mean to you:
If what took you as an experienced programmer one year to build, now takes an indie hacker with no experience 6 weeks to build.
If someone without coding experience can clone a project or platform as airbnb or uber.
THAT would make ME think.
Of course, the risk you mentioned is real, especially in the current "early" stage of the no code world: many solutions will pop up, but not all of them will become profitable and some might disappear again. But the no code ecosystem will develop and become more stable. Until then, you have to be are aware of this risk and treat it accordingly.
But no code enables indie hackers to start their project or side hustle and develop MVPs and fully working products without going through the process of learning how to code. Result: faster prototyping, less investment, quicker development and a lot of potential for more innovative solutions!
By the way: no code does not mean that there is no code framework behind, but that no specific knowledge of this framework is required to build something.
I myself have searched for so many low/no code solutions and I may find many pieces but I always find something I cant achieve, weeks turned into months researching, installing, tinkering in so many solutions and trying to get then to talk with each other, then later finding out its not possible, or I'm missing this feature or that feature....
cut a long story short I stopped hoping to find a solution and started to learn how to code! I started with JS with react/vue and now I've made the jump to larvarel.
As I spent the time learning the basics of JS, PHP is not to far off and follows a similar syntax. I'm still a noob but learning the basics and there is so much that comes out of the box, and once I get good at lavarel launching any MVP will be doable.
If you can get a pre built solution for your mvp then yes go for it but the best advice I can give is write out exactly the parts you need to work, and I mean all parts, I've made this mistake so many times when I think I have found a solution to all of my MVP only way later find out I forgot I needed a feature and I can solve it in the current no/low code stack and have to start my search again 😉
Good luck 👍