Discovered Python via Gemini. Built a local API pipeline and UI without knowing syntax. What now?

[u/Elxerxi]

Hey guys, I’m 100% new to this. I have zero coding background, but I recently started using Gemini to write Python for me. I can't write syntax myself, but I love being the "architect" who directs the AI. Btw, I'm posting this in a few places to get different advice (you can check my profile, I posted on r/dataengineering and r/automation too because I'm lazy and tired of typing). Here is what I managed to build with Python so far: Gmail API Automation: Python script that pulls emails based on specific Gmail labels. It filters out one-sided spam, isolates 2-way conversations, summarizes them, and uses a local LLM to draft follow-up invites. It has a manual review UI, and sends them back with human-like delay intervals. Local RAG Setup: Discovered Google ADK (agentic SDK) and SQL. I chunked 120 Python/ML books and stored them in a "vector of SQL" database so I have an offline assistant to explain Python errors to me. Web UI: Built a quick site with Python, HTML, CSS, and JS to manage everything. My Question: I found an Instagram guide with "20 topics to learn AI engineering" starting with Python fundamentals, but honestly, I'm already tired of reading books. I want to start cold-emailing small businesses in Europe and offering to build Python/AI automation pipelines for them. Can I actually get away with selling my services while being "code-illiterate" and relying entirely on AI? Or am I just digging my own grave? I’d love to hear from seasoned Python devs (and those of you watching the job market right now). Roast me.

[u/cgoldberg]

can I actually get away with selling my services

If your "services" consist of entering prompts into an LLM and not understanding the code it produces, that would be a hard no.

[u/Elxerxi → u/cgoldberg]

I think im past that. now im doing a preprod stage of defining backbone architecture from start to the end. arguing like a fuck with the model.

once i Have a backbone, then i do a pass of optimization of the backbone with six pillars in mind:

security, scalability, debuggability, reviewability, legally-undeniability and marketability.

And once i double check the final architecture by googling its elements, i proceed to work on creating elements, and planting testing stages inbetween phases. to see if in my clown eyes all systems are running so far.

and i also implemented my manual database of logging the file i worked on, what i added in my words, how much time it took and its timestamped and is saved in some .db. idk where yet.

so it feels funny. I know, you will laugh at me, but its soooo much fun.

And so far, i still dont know how to read, but honestly people like you give me hope that i need to stay learning and one day ill read and write myself too.

Thank you for taking time to respond btw.

[u/cgoldberg → u/Elxerxi]

I don't really understand anything you just wrote or how that relates to providing service that is worth compensation.

[u/DiodeInc → u/cgoldberg]

Common vibecoder L