Don't be a toddle developer

I still consider myself a newcomer to the no-code community. Before I created toddle.dev I spent over 20 years building web applications for over a dozen companies.

It was almost like I rediscovered programming when I met the next generation of developers who built terrific things with tools that didn't require code. I almost forgot the magical feeling you get when you create something out of nothing. In the no-code community, you get that feeling everywhere.

With a new generation of developers comes new ideas. It's an opportunity to rethink old practices and dogmas and a great time to introduce new paradigms. I would like to suggest one old idea that I think we should leave behind.

Don't define yourself by the technology or tool you use.

A sad trend in the world of code is that developers let their tools and technologies become part of their identity. They aren't web- or frontend developers but React- or VUE developers.

This prevents new developers from realizing their potential.

In software development, we see tools and technologies come and go. When I started building websites, I used PHP. Since then, I have seen major industry shifts to jQuery, Backbone, Angular, and, most recently, React.

We know more information today than yesterday; tomorrow, we'll know more than we do today. This is a normal part of life, and with more information comes change. Old technology is replaced with better technologies. When that happens, a developer needs to adapt, and the good news is that you can apply what you have learned to a new paradigm.

No-code is still in its infancy, and we will see many more tools emerge in the coming years. Whether you are a coder or a no-coder, your future success as a developer depends on your ability to learn new technologies and adapt them to your professional toolbox.

Tools and frameworks come and go, and the web remains.

The web has stood the test of time. The web platform is ever-evolving, and we always add unique new features. It's a remarkably robust platform; websites built almost 30 years ago still work in today's browsers. Just look at the Space Jam website from 1996.

If you understand the technologies that make up the web, you can apply that knowledge to any new tool. Learning about Semantic Markup, Flexbox layouts, WAI-ARIA, HTTP, and REST is much more essential than learning about toddle, Bubble, or WeWeb.

Remember not to get too attached to the tools you use. Don't let them define who you are. Be a web developer, an app developer, or a full-stack developer. Don't be a React- or Bubble developer and...

dont be a toddle developer.