Three days ago, I couldn't center a div. Today, I have a working mobile game, a portfolio site, and a viral blog post.
I didn't spend a single dollar. I didn't take a 6-month bootcamp. I used "Vibe Coding."
If you want to replicate my results, you don't need a budget. You just need these 5 free tools.
- The Brain: Gemini (or ChatGPT) This is controversial, but I stopped trying to memorize syntax. Instead, I treat the AI as my "Senior Developer."
How I use it: I don't say "Write code." I say:
"I want a space game where the ship shoots lasers. Explain the logic to me like I am 5, then give me the code."
It writes the HTML, CSS, and JS. If it breaks (and it does), I paste the error back in and say "Fix this." It is 100% free and better than any textbook.
- The Host: Netlify I used to think "deploying" a website was scary. I thought I needed servers and Linux commands.
The Reality: Netlify allows you to Drag and Drop a folder from your desktop to the internet.
Cost: $0
Time: 5 seconds
Skill required: Knowing how to drag a mouse.
My game is hosted there right now, and it handles the traffic perfectly.
- The Aesthetics: Unsplash A game with a white background looks like a homework assignment. A game with a "Cyberpunk City" background looks like a product.
The Hack: I went to Unsplash, searched for "Neon City," and copied the image address.
One line of CSS: background-image: url('link');
Result: Instant professional vibes.
- The Marketing: Dev.to You can build the best app in the world, but if nobody sees it, it doesn't exist.
I posted my first article here on Saturday. I didn't use fancy SEO tricks. I just told my honest story about struggling with files.
Result: 300+ readers and real feedback in 24 hours.
Lesson: The community here wants to help beginners. Don't be afraid to post.
- The Editor: Notepad (Seriously) You don't need a fancy IDE to start. I built the first version of my site using standard Notepad.
Why? Because it forces you to focus on the code, not the extensions. Now I'm moving to VS Code, but starting simple kept me from getting overwhelmed.
Conclusion
We are living in the golden age of creativity. You don't need a budget. You don't need permission.
You just need an idea and the courage to hit "Publish."
(P.S. If you want to see the game I built with these tools, the link is in my bio!)
Top comments (2)
I tried it! It was fun
Thank you ❤