3 AI Tools to Code Your Apps (Even If You’re Not a Software Developer)
Forget learning to code. Learn to vibecode, where ideas become real apps through conversation.
📚 Medicine, education and technology are changing faster than ever. Each week, I test the newest AI tools so you don’t have to 💁🏻♂️ focusing on what actually helps professionals work smarter, not just faster. Here’s what stood out this week:
Cursor – An AI-first code editor that helps you scaffold, refactor, and ship production code with inline chat. You can ask it to fix bugs, refactor code, or even build entire features from a prompt.
Gemini Canvas – Google’s visual playground for builders. Prompt-to-app that outputs working code and UI in minutes.
Lovable – A beginner-friendly app builder with a built-in backend; super easy, but watch the costs.
Scroll down to see how I actually used these tools in real projects this week and give one a try yourself.
Note: I’m not paid or sponsored by any of the tools I mention, I just share what I’m genuinely experimenting with and finding useful.
👨🏻💻 Tool #1: Cursor
What it does: Cursor is an AI-first code editor that pairs a chat interface with your codebase. You can describe a feature in plain English, and it scaffolds files, proposes diffs, and helps refactor—right in the editor.
Why it matters: If you’re moving beyond prototypes, Cursor bridges the gap between “AI-generated starter code” and “production-ready code.” It’s especially helpful for iterating on AI-built apps: tightening types, improving structure, and adding tests without context-switching to docs or search.
How I used it this week: I asked Cursor to help me clean up and improve some code.
I described a small feature I wanted, and it wrote the code for me.
Then I asked it to explain what each part did — super helpful for learning.
Finally, I told it to rename a few files and fix all the links automatically.
💡 Takeaway: Cursor might not have the most beginner-friendly interface, but it’s incredibly powerful — especially when paired with Claude or CODEX. It’s the most capable tool of the three for serious developers.
🧩 Tool #2: Gemini Canvas
What it does: Gemini Canvas (from Google) lets you describe the app you want in natural language, then generates the code and interface. In testing, I wrote a quick prompt and watched it think… then it said “okay, I made it,” and the code appeared.
Why it matters: It’s a fast way to move from requirements to a working prototype, great for internal tools and admin dashboards.
How I used it this week: I prompted a “document manager” and clicked into the generated UI to validate the flows. The key win was seeing a usable interface with code I could iterate on immediately.
💡 Takeaway: Gemini has an intuitive, easy-to-use interface with surprisingly strong design capabilities and impressive natural language understanding.
🩵 Tool #3: Lovable
What it does: Lovable is an app builder that feels friendly for non-coders, with the bonus of a built-in backend/database for uploads.
Why it matters: It’s one of the easiest ways to go from idea to live site—perfect for first projects or simple storefronts—though you should keep an eye on costs as usage grows.
How it’s used: I built an art portfolio/shop for a friend’s daughter by typing exactly what I wanted; after some back-and-forth tweaks, Lovable produced a working website. It was genuinely easy to use, but I eventually backed off because it got pricey at my usage level.
💡 Takeaway: Lovable wins over Gemini in almost every way: it’s intuitive, powerful, and seamlessly handles backend integration. The only downside? It’s pricey per use. If cost weren’t a factor, I’d use Lovable for everything.
💬 What to Try This Week
Pick one of the three tools and see how it fits into your workflow.
Try Cursor to improve or explain your code
If you’ve ever been curious about code, open a small project in Cursor and ask:
“Explain what this file does in simple terms.”
or
“Add a search bar to this page.”Cursor will do the coding for you — and teach you as it goes.
Try Gemini Canvas to build a simple tracker app
“Create a task tracker where I can add, edit, and mark tasks as done.
You’ll see how it turns plain English into a working app.
Try Lovable to build a quick website or form
“Build a form where people can submit feedback and show the results on a dashboard.”
Lovable will handle the design, backend, and hosting, no setup needed.
Then share your experience.
Reply with: “I tried Tool #2 on X — here’s what happened.”
🖼️ Poll: AI or Real?
Each week I’ll share one picture — your job is to guess: AI-generated or real?
Cast your vote in the poll, and I’ll reveal the answer in next week’s newsletter.
Image A
Image B
