"I've vibe-coded something, but I have no idea how it works."
// learn to build with AI
Build anything with AI. Like an engineer.
I'm Mabon, a senior software engineer. I'll teach you to build your own apps and tools with AI, put them live on the internet, and actually understand how they work. One to one, in plain English.
£100 / hour · no coding background needed
// sound familiar?
"I've got an idea for an app, but I don't know where to start."
"I'm paying monthly for tools I'm sure I could build myself."
You're in the right place. You don't need to know how to code. The AI writes it. You'll learn to direct it.
// why this works
AI can write the code. Engineers know what to build.
Anyone can get AI to spit out an app now. Getting something that works, stays working, and doesn't leak your data is a different story.
That part isn't about typing code. It's about knowing how the pieces fit: where your data lives, what talks to what, how it gets onto the internet, and what to do when it breaks.
That's what professional engineers learn over years. I'll teach you the bits that matter.
You'll leave able to build what you want, host it, and explain how it works. Not just hope it does.
// what you'll learn
Nine skills. Each one ends with something real.
Thinking like an engineer
Turn an idea into a simple plan: what the pieces are and how they connect.
[[architecture]]Directing an AI coding tool
Brief it like a developer on your team, then check what it built.
[[ai-coding]]How apps talk to each other
APIs in plain English: what they are, and how your app uses them.
[[apis]]Where your data lives
Databases without the jargon, so nothing gets lost.
[[data]]Putting it live
Hosting, domains and deploys, so other people can actually use it.
[[hosting]]Plugging in other services
Logins, payments and emails, without building them from scratch.
[[integrations]]Keeping it safe and cheap
Passwords, keys and running costs, and what never to expose.
[[security]]Never losing your work
Version control: an undo button for your whole project.
[[git]]Fixing it when it breaks
Read the error, find the cause, and get AI to fix the right thing.
[[debugging]]// how it works
Your project, not a generic course
-
step_01
Bring an idea
A short form: what you want to build, what you've tried, and what you already know (nothing is fine).
-
step_02
Build it together
A video call where you drive the AI and I guide, explaining what's happening and why as we go.
-
step_03
Understand what you built
A written recap with a simple map of how your project fits together, so you can keep going on your own.
// show, don't tell
A few things I've built with AI
My own CRM instead of a $297/month tool
It runs my outreach, lives on my own cloud account, and costs pennies a month to host.
A flat hunt that ran itself
It checked new listings every 30 minutes and only emailed me the ones worth seeing.
Ideas from my phone, filed for me
A tiny web form, a queue and a script. I type a thought on my phone and it's filed by the time I open my laptop.
In a session, I'll help you build your own, and show you exactly how the pieces connect.
// pricing
Start with one session
single-session
£100
60 minutes
- Pre-session questions
- One skill, or bring any problem
- Written recap
idea-to-live
£250
3 sessions
- Your first project, built and online
- Skills 01 to 05
- A map of how your project fits together
full-track
£650
All 9 skills, over 6 to 8 weeks
- Everything in Idea to Live
- Logins, payments, safety and debugging
- Message me between sessions
Want this for your team? Get in touch and we'll work out something that fits.
// about me
I didn't start out as an engineer either
A few years ago I was writing reports at a small research company in Cardiff. The best part of my week was the odd messy spreadsheet I got to untangle.
That turned into teaching myself Excel, then a coding bootcamp, then a career as a software engineer. Now I'm a senior engineer, and I build most of my own tools with AI.
I know what it's like to stare at something and have no idea how it works. I'd love to help you skip the slow bits.
// faq
Good questions
Do I need to know how to code?
No. The AI writes the code. You'll learn to direct it, check it, and understand what it's built at a high level. That's the part that matters.
What will I actually be able to do?
Take an idea, build a working version with AI, put it online for other people to use, and explain how it fits together: what talks to what, where the data lives, and what it costs to run.
Which tools will we use? What do they cost?
Usually an AI coding tool like Claude Code, plus a hosting service to put your project live. Most have free tiers to start, and small projects tend to cost very little to run. I'll tell you before you spend anything.
Is this just vibe coding?
The opposite. Vibe coding is hoping it works. This is knowing why it works, so you can change it, fix it and trust it.
Online or in person?
Online, over a video call with screen sharing. I'm in London, so in person may be possible. Just ask.
What if it's not for me?
Start with a single session. There's no commitment beyond that.
// next step
Bring the thing you want to build.
We'll build it together, and you'll leave understanding how to build the next one yourself.
Book a sessionor email mabon@mabongwyn.com