Coding is a mystical entity. Like a legendary beast, there are those who claim to have mastered it but, for those who have never even experienced a moment of cognizance when thinking about it, it is incredibly difficult to imagine how or, given the frustration involved…why.
Of course, even if we know absolutely nothing else, we know its basic function. At its most fundamental, coding is the act of speaking in a computer’s own language in order to create something, like a website or video game. It features rows upon rows of ones and zeroes, all of which mean something different to the digital ‘brain’ of the PC – and, of course, the infamous coders themselves.
Still, for many of us – and, in all likelihood, you as well – that is about the extent of our knowledge, and those things that require even a basic understanding of coding tend to pass us by without much fanfare.
There are, however, some things that many of us will inevitably want to do. While few of us plan on quitting our day jobs to build a best-selling video game from scratch, there are myriad reasons why someone with no experience in or understanding of coding may want to create their own website from scratch.
In the past, this was something that required an expert level of proficiency with coding. Afterall, every button, page and function rely on there being a perfect chunk of code powering it, and ensuring that the computer always does what it is we expect it to do. And, of course, this remains true: we cannot tell computers what to do without at some point speaking their language.
Still, that doesn’t mean that you have to speak the language. These days, website builders act as a vital interpreter between the computer and the designer, ensuring that anyone can choose from a catalogue of carefully designed website templates, and edit it to meet with their own unique specifications, without a single line of code coming between them and their sanity.
Utilize a Fully Integrated Website Builder
Of course, the most notable benefit of utilizing a website builder is the ability to provide a platform on which you can create a site, without any need for code, with varying degrees of creative freedom. Not all website builders are created equally, and the scope of your creative freedom will depend on the platform’s ability to take the guesswork out of building something digitally. For this reason, it is vital that you realize quite how much more beneficial an integrated platform will be for you.
Users of open-source website builders like WordPress, for instance, rely on third-party plug-ins to ensure that users with no background knowledge in coding can curate together the features they want for their site. In essence, non-professional users are at the mercy of the professionals and, while useful, this means that many of the elements you use on your website will come from different sources – and won’t have been designed to work in tandem.
When it comes to an integrated platform like Wix, however, all elements originate from the same source, so to speak. They offer a wealth of design features and elements for you to pick and choose from, and customize, and all the technical demands of coding and updating those features and elements fall on Wix’s team, rather than you.
While there are many more differences separating integrated platforms from non-integrated builders – for instance, whether or not they offer full encryption via HTTPS, and 24/7 customer service – this is arguably the most important factor for those with limited understanding of coding (and fixing technical issues as and when they occur) to take into consideration when looking for a starting point.
Look to Other Sites for Inspiration
These days, given the massive popularity of website builders, there exists an incredibly long list of websites that have been created by people who hold no coding knowledge. Of course, that’s not to say these sites are not run by complex reams of code, but that all the nitty-gritty is handled by a team of experts, and the design process is able to take place independently.
Sometimes, all it takes is the knowledge that others have made remarkable successes of their online platforms in spite of the fact that the thought of coding still strikes fear deep within, and that they hold no interest in honing this particular talent.
As you embark on your own website design process – whether it’s for an online shop or your own digital resume – the best thing you can be armed with is the knowledge that, these days, being able to translate all those ones and zeroes into anything meaningful is not a prerequisite for creating something to be proud of. That, and, of course, plenty of creativity and inspiration to ensure you get the most out of your new website.
Leave a Reply