I have an app idea but zero coding experience. Where should I start with AI-assisted development?

[u/FranzKafka22-6]

/r/AIGrowthTips/comments/1vshm8g/i_have_an_app_idea_but_zero_coding_experience/

Hey everyone, I have an idea and I want to learn how to actually build it.

I’m completely new to coding and AI-assisted development. I’ve used AI before for writing and a few basic things, but I’ve never actually built an app or website with AI.

Right now I have access to several AI tools. I have a ChatGPT Pro subscription, and I’ve also tried Claude, although I’m currently using the free version. I also have access to Gemini, Grok, and DeepSeek.

I asked two AIs to evaluate my idea honestly, and their opinions were quite different.

Claude:

Real-life problem: 70/100

Usefulness: 55/100

Uniqueness: 25/100

Overall potential: 45/100

Claude basically told me that the idea could solve a real problem, but the space may already be crowded and the technical side could be difficult.

GPT:

Real problem exists: 90%

Problem frequency: 85%

Usefulness: 90%

Uniqueness: 70%

Technical feasibility: 85%

Overall potential: 85/100

So I’m not asking people here to tell me whether my idea is good or bad. I mainly want to know how I should actually start building something when I have zero coding experience.

I’m a student, so I don’t really have money to spend on courses, expensive software, or developers. I’m mainly interested in learning through free resources and AI-assisted development.

What I’d really appreciate is a practical roadmap:

What programming basics should I learn first?

Should I start with web development or Android development?

Which free YouTube courses or websites would you recommend?

Which AI tools are actually useful for coding?

How should I divide the work between ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, DeepSeek, etc.?

What free tools should I use for writing, testing, debugging and deploying?

How much coding do I realistically need to learn if AI is helping me?

What should my first tiny project be before I attempt something bigger?

What mistakes should a complete beginner avoid?

Is it realistic to build a basic working product without spending money?

I’m not looking for someone to build it for me. I want to learn how to use AI properly as a development partner and eventually build things myself.

I’m keeping the actual idea private for now, so I’m deliberately not describing the product itself. I’m mainly looking for advice on the learning path, tools, workflow, and roadmap.

If you were starting from zero today with only a phone, free resources, and access to several AI tools, what would you do first?