I’ve been in the No-Code space for years. I love it.

But here’s the truth: the term “No-Code” has never felt right.

And I am sure deep down you've felt the same way too.

What’s wrong with “No-Code”?

1. It’s misleading.
“No-Code” doesn’t mean zero code.
Most tools still rely on code behind the scenes—and sometimes you’ll need to write or at least understand some of it.

2. It sounds anti-code.
The “No” makes it feel like we’re rejecting developers or traditional coding.
But this isn’t about opposition. It’s about inclusion—broadening the pool of people who can create software.

3. It’s not honest.
Many tools promise simplicity. “You’ll build without writing a single line of code.”
But the reality? Some tools have steep learning curves. And when things get complex, code often becomes necessary.

4. It’s vague.
Outside our bubble, “No-Code” means nothing.
It needs explanation. Context. Analogies.
You can’t say “I work with No-Code” and expect instant understanding.

5. It’s become a buzzword.
Buzzwords attract attention—but they also create confusion.
The newness of the term created space for misleading promises:

• “Build an app in a weekend and make millions”

• “Launch a startup without learning anything technical”

That opens the door to bad actors—people selling unrealistic dreams to those who just want to learn or build.
And when those dreams don’t pan out? The whole space loses credibility.

We need a better term. I’ve been thinking about it—and I bet you have too. It’s a tough nut to crack.

The title trap

We didn’t choose to become “No-Code Developers.”
We just started using the tools… and suddenly, that’s what we were called.

But if the term doesn’t feel right—
Why carry it in your job title?

Visual Development: Better, but not quite

More people are switching to “Visual Development.”
It sounds clearer. But…

• It misses the code-meets-creativity side of the work

• “Viz Dev” is already a job title in animation—not in tech

So it’s not the perfect solution either.

Is there a better term?

I’ve asked folks in the space. Most agree:
No-Code” isn’t ideal. But we keep using it because… well, there’s no better option yet.

Some defend it through gritted teeth, knowing it’s flawed—but it stuck.

I used to be afraid to talk about this.
Not anymore.

What should a better term do?

• Reflect how we build
  It should capture the blend of creativity, logic, visual tools, and emerging technologies like AI.

• Be clear and honest
  The term shouldn’t mislead or overpromise. It must align with the actual experience of using these tools.

• Work as a job title
  It should be something we can proudly use to describe our role and identity—professionally and publicly.

• Be flexible and future-proof
  The term needs to grow with the industry and remain relevant as tools evolve and blend further.

• Avoid conflict with existing fields
  It must not overlap with established job titles or domains from unrelated industries.

• Sound credible
  The term should be taken seriously by clients, employers, developers, and people outside the no-code space.

Is it easy to name something that checks all these boxes?
Nope. But we can try.

What we don’t need: “Vibe Coding”

Yes, this is a real term floating around.
Sure, it sounds fun. But it makes things worse.

It’s even less clear.
And it won’t help anyone take this space seriously.

(I’ll admit—I’ve used it too. But honestly? It feels more like a joke.)

Why this matters

At the end of the day, our goal is simple:
Build products that solve real problems—and do it faster.

That’s the world we live in now:

• Fast-paced

• Global

• Constantly shifting

We use tools and AI to move at hyper speed.
The words we use should reflect that energy.
Not slow us down.

My humble proposal

Let me throw a new name into the mix:
Hyper Development
Or simply, Hyper Dev.

I know. It might also not be perfect, and I am ok with that.

Here’s why I believe it works:

• “Hyper” means fast, elevated, enhanced
  It reflects the pace we’re building at—with tools, AI, and automation pushing us forward

• It’s flexible
  You can say “Hyper Dev,” “Hyper Developer,” or “Hyper Builder.”
  It adapts to real job titles, real teams, real roles

• It’s future-ready
  We're not just building apps—we’re solving problems with speed, systems, and scale

And to be clear:

• I don’t want to just “ask things to an AI”

• I want to build, and I want help along the way

• AI + Visual Tools is the combo that makes that happen

That’s what Hyper Development is about.

We are living in a hyper world, we need to build accordingly.

Let’s fix this together

I’m not saying I’ve nailed it.
But I am saying we need to start the conversation.

What do you think?
Do you agree? Have a better name? Want to help define this next era?

• Share your thoughts

• Comment with ideas

• Let’s shape this together

  
  

References and inspiration

These are some of the videos and articles that, along the way, sparked my attention and helped me realize I wasn’t the only one questioning the term "No-Code." They inspired me to believe this thought is shared by others too:

Videos

• Why "No-Code" is a terrible name – watch here

• “No-Code” is not what you think – watch here

• The No-Code Debate (Vibe Coding?) – watch here

Articles

• No More “No-Code” – by Toddle

• The Future of Visual Web Application Development – by Codrops

For those who want to dive deeper:

Comparison of Terms

1. No-Code

• Reflects how we build: Only partially. The term "No-Code" implies that you're building something without code, but in reality, there is often code involved behind the scenes or occasionally when customization is needed.

• Clear and Honest: No. It gives the false impression that you don’t need any coding at all, which is not true. Many No-Code tools still require some understanding of code, or even writing it in certain cases.

• Works as a job title: Yes. People do call themselves "No-Code Developers," but this term has limitations because it doesn't reflect the full scope of the role.

• Flexible and Future-Proof: No. As technology evolves, the term might become outdated as new, more complex tools emerge that blend No-Code and AI.

• Avoids conflict with other fields: Yes. The term "No-Code" is not currently associated with other industries or professions, but that could change over time.

• Sounds Credible: No. The term is often misunderstood, which can undermine the credibility of professionals who identify with it.

2. Visual Development

• Reflects how we build: Yes. It emphasizes the visual aspect of creating products, which aligns with No-Code tools that focus on drag-and-drop or visual interfaces.

• Clear and Honest: Yes. It’s a more accurate description of the work being done with visual tools and is less misleading than “No-Code.”

• Works as a job title: Yes. "Visual Developer" sounds more legitimate than "No-Code Developer" and would be understood more clearly.

• Flexible and Future-Proof: No. The term could confuse people with other existing job titles, such as "Viz Dev" in animation, which already holds meaning in another industry.

• Avoids conflict with other fields: No. The term “Visual Dev” already exists in the field of animation, so using it in the No-Code space may cause confusion.

• Sounds Credible: Yes. It’s a more professional-sounding term compared to “No-Code,” but still might not fully capture the complexity of what No-Code builders do.

3. Low-Code

• Reflects how we build: No. "Low-Code" focuses more on tools that still require some coding, which is different from the No-Code experience that often involves minimal or no coding.

• Clear and Honest: Yes. It accurately describes tools that require a small amount of code to customize, but that’s not the experience many No-Code users are looking for.

• Works as a job title: Yes. Low-Code Developer is a legitimate job title, but it’s more relevant for developers who write code alongside using Low-Code tools.

• Flexible and Future-Proof: Yes. As software tools evolve, this term could still fit well, especially in a world where more people will blend code with visual tools.

• Avoids conflict with other fields: Yes. There’s no significant overlap with other industries, so it can be used without confusion.

• Sounds Credible: Yes. The term is clear and professional, and is understood within the tech space as a legitimate job description.

4. Vibe Coding

• Reflects how we build: No. The term is too vague and doesn’t describe the process of creating products in any meaningful way. It’s more of a trend than a legitimate description of the work.

• Clear and Honest: No. The term is playful and doesn’t reflect the complexity or serious nature of No-Code development.

• Works as a job title: No. It’s not a serious or professional term that would be accepted by the industry.

• Flexible and Future-Proof: No. This term is fleeting and not sustainable in the long term.

• Avoids conflict with other fields: Yes. "Vibe Coding" doesn’t overlap with other job titles, but that’s because it doesn’t have any established meaning.

• Sounds Credible: No. It sounds unprofessional and could detract from the legitimacy of No-Code work.

5. Hyper Dev

• Reflects how we build: Yes, with some context. "Hyper Dev" captures the idea of fast-paced, efficient development, and reflects the speed and power of combining No-Code and AI tools.

• Clear and Honest: Somewhat. While it’s clear that it implies speed and efficiency, the full concept may need some explanation at first, as it’s a new term.

• Works as a job title: Yes. “Hyper Developer” could easily be used as a job title and would be understandable within the context of the rapidly evolving No-Code and AI space.

• Flexible and Future-Proof: Yes. As No-Code and AI continue to merge, "Hyper Dev" could adapt and evolve with these changes, capturing the essence of future development tools.

• Avoids conflict with other fields: Yes. "Hyper Dev" doesn't overlap with other established professions, making it a unique and fitting choice.

• Sounds Credible: Somewhat. While it could sound futuristic and tech-forward, it may require some explanation to ensure people understand its meaning and relevance in the No-Code/AI space.

  
  

Table of comparison:

Quick analysis:

No-Code: Still the most used term, but it's imprecise and carries misleading interpretations.

Visual Dev: Seems better at first glance, but causes confusion with another field (animation and design).

Low-Code: Honest, but conveys a different proposition. Might turn off those who don't see themselves writing code.

Vibe Coding: Weak, informal, and unreliable term.

Hyper Dev: Promising. Needs context and support to establish itself, but aligns best with the future direction of the market (speed, intelligence, integration between AI and visual tools).

Conclusion:

The term "Hyper Dev" seems like the most promising option, but it’s still new and may need some time to gain traction. It captures the rapid, flexible, and intelligent development process that blends No-Code and AI tools, and works well as a job title that can evolve with the industry.