Let’s face it — building apps has always sounded like something only developers could do. You picture someone typing away in a dark room with 10+ tabs open, juggling confusing code, tools, and settings. For most of us, especially if we’re not from a tech background, app development feels way out of reach.
But here’s the twist — in 2025, things have changed. AI is no longer just about chatbots or image generators. It’s actually building real apps now. And not just for coders, but for anyone who knows how to explain an idea in plain English.
What if you could build that app yourself — just by typing your idea as a prompt into an AI tool?
That’s exactly the challenge I gave myself.
I decided to use Lovable.dev, a new AI-powered no code app builder that turns prompts into full apps. My goal was to test it to the extreme:
No coding
No dragging and dropping
No manual fixes behind the scenes
Just me, my idea, and plain English prompts.
Could I go from idea → working app, without touching a line of code?
This blog is the full breakdown of what happened — every step, every success, every roadblock — so that you can decide for yourself if prompt-based app building is worth trying.
I took the challenge — no coding, no manual edits, just prompts.
And I documented everything.
Meet Lovable.dev: The AI App Builder
Lovable.dev is a fast-growing no code app builder focused on converting plain language prompts into complete, working applications.
Feature
Description
Type
Prompt-based No Code App Builder
Target User
Makers, designers, entrepreneurs, non-coders
Core Technology
GPT-4 + proprietary automation pipelines
Output
Frontend + backend apps, API-ready
Integration Options
Stripe, Supabase, Clerk, Zapier, Webhooks
Keyword note: Lovable.dev also ranks as a top ai app builder and prompt ai app builder 2025.
The Ground Rules: Building With Prompts Only
Here’s what I committed to:
✅ Use Lovable.dev only
✅ Use zero custom code
✅ Use only plain English prompts
❌ No tweaking the auto-generated code
❌ No external tools unless embedded inside Lovable.dev
The goal? Push the platform and the concept of “prompt-only app development” to its limits.
Step-by-Step: My Experience Building the App
The app idea? A simple Habit Tracker with user login, daily check-ins, and habit streak analytics.
Step 1: Ideation and Prompts
I started with this prompt:
“Build a habit tracking app where users can log daily tasks, track streaks, and set goals. Include a clean UI, user authentication, and a dashboard with charts.”
What happened:
Lovable.dev immediately generated a working app skeleton.
Backend services were suggested (Supabase + Clerk).
The UI was designed with TailwindCSS.
✅ The ideation process was surprisingly smooth. Just one prompt created the entire wireframe and DB structure.
Step 2: Backend Generation
Prompt used:
“Create backend for a habit tracker: user table, habits table, daily logs, streak calculator logic.”
Results:
Supabase tables were generated and linked.
The platform generated CRUD APIs automatically.
I received pre-filled data and relationship mapping.
Table Name
Columns
Users
ID, Email, Created_At
Habits
ID, User_ID, Habit_Name, Created_At
DailyLogs
ID, User_ID, Habit_ID, Status, Date
Streaks
User_ID, Habit_ID, Current_Streak
⚠️ Note: I had to rephrase one prompt for the streak logic to work correctly.
Step 3: UI Generation
Prompt used:
“Design a modern UI for the habit tracker dashboard. Use cards for habits and a sidebar navigation.”
The UI was generated in less than 2 minutes.
TailwindCSS + custom components used.
Responsive on mobile by default.
Bonus: I asked it to “Add charts for progress” — it integrated Recharts and auto-bound the data!
✅ Zero code required ✅ Fast iteration with prompts ✅ Real-time deployment ✅ Visual editing optional but not mandatory ✅ Can build complex logic (with layered prompts)
Area
Rating (⭐ out of 5)
Speed
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
UX Simplicity
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Backend Setup
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Mobile Ready
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Real Dev Power
⭐⭐⭐
Where AI Still Struggles (Cons)
❌ Needs better contextual memory across prompts ❌ UI logic sometimes gets repeated ❌ Limited real-time preview control ❌ Prompt structure impacts results significantly
Helpful Prompt Templates (Free Table)
Use these prompt templates for your next AI-built app:
Goal
Prompt Example
Build an app idea
“Build a journaling app with tags, moods, and export option.”
Design dashboard
“Create a modern admin dashboard with a sidebar and metrics cards.”
Create database
“Generate Supabase tables for users, orders, and products.”
Add user login
“Enable user authentication using Clerk.”
Add email notifications
“Set up email notifications for daily summaries using Resend.”
Final Verdict: Can You Really Go Prompt-Only?
Yes — but…
You can absolutely build a full MVP using just AI prompts, especially with Lovable.dev. But for production-ready apps with edge cases, error handling, and custom polish — you’ll eventually want a dev to review it.
That said, tools like Lovable.dev are revolutionizing app development for non-technical founders, indie hackers, and idea-first creators.
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