How to learn Bubble.io (and decide if it’s worth your time and effort)

This realization was a game-changer for our own co-founders. In 2013, before the no-code movement was a “thing”, they turned to Bubble out of necessity. Without the skills, connections, or budget to build their startup products the traditional way, they started learning Bubble.io and, within months, built their envisioned web apps – entirely bypassing the need for code.

This experience showed that writing code is no longer the be-all and end-all to creating the software a business needs. You can now learn a no-code tool like Bubble.io to get where you need to go faster and more affordably. And that’s really great news for entrepreneurs, existing businesses, and aspiring developers who need to save time and money. 

If you’re considering learning Bubble to build your own custom software or internal tool, or to start a new career in app development, we’ve answered the top questions to help you set your expectations and decide if it’s the right choice for you.

• Why learn Bubble.io?
• Who can benefit from learning Bubble.io?
• How easy is it to learn Bubble.io?
• How long does it take to learn Bubble.io?
• What learning resources are available?
• What are some best practices for learning Bubble?
• When should you engage a professional Bubble.io developer or agency to help?

Q: Why learn Bubble.io?

There are hundreds of tools now available for fast and easy development without code. But if you’re looking to learn a no-code tool that mimics the flexibility of coding, Bubble.io is ideal. 

Below are some of the most common benefits and reasons for learning Bubble.io: 

• No coding required: it’s accessible to those without traditional programming skills.
  
• Cost-effective development: it’s cheaper than hiring an expensive coder.
  
• Speed to market: it enables rapid prototyping and development, meaning you can quickly build and launch an MVP to test your ideas and get feedback from users.
  
• Customizable, flexible, versatile: unlike other tools that focus on specific use cases (e.g. Shopify for e-commerce) or tech stack components (e.g. Airtable for databases), Bubble excels in building unique, complex software, making it the closest alternative to custom code. You can tailor your app to meet your specific needs, allowing you to produce virtually any modern app configuration.
  
• Full control: make changes, add features, and fix bugs without relying on external developers.
  
• Career opportunities: as no-code development becomes more popular, you can offer development services as a freelancer or join a company looking for Bubble.io expertise.

Q: Who can benefit from learning Bubble.io?

Bubble is changing how software development works by making it much faster and less expensive to launch new products and tools – especially for use cases that didn’t make sense before. This makes it a great fit for the following groups: 

• Startups: by being able to quickly develop MVPs to test market demand and iterate on their products based on user feedback, startup founders can use Bubble to save significant time and resources in the early learning stages. 
  
• Small business owners/corporate teams: existing businesses that want to automate and streamline internal processes can create custom software tailored to their specific requirements without the need for extensive development resources. This offers a significant advantage to businesses tired of grappling with ill-fitting SaaS solutions or facing the hefty costs and effort of building custom add-ons and integrations.
  
• Nonprofits/public sector organizations: nonprofit and governmental organizations can build custom solutions for their operational needs or community engagement projects without requiring significant development budgets.
  
• Aspiring professional developers and freelancers: individuals looking to start a new career in software development can use Bubble.io to build custom web applications for clients without the steep learning curve of traditional coding.

Q: How easy is it to learn Bubble.io?

The answer to this depends on your goals, how you define "easy," and what you're comparing it to. 

While Bubble is faster to learn than full-stack web development, it has a steeper learning curve compared to other no-code tools. It may take weeks to grasp the basics and many months to become truly proficient. If you have time to spare and are willing to learn through trial and error, Bubble can be a cost-effective option. 

For complex projects with tight deadlines, it may not be the best choice to try learning and building all on your own at first. However, if you want to prototype ideas quickly and cheaply, learning the basics of Bubble.io can be a good investment. You might not reach expert level quickly, but you’ll be able to create basic functional prototypes to validate your business assumptions. This knowledge will also help you manage freelancers or agencies more effectively and make minor tweaks on your own later.

Q: How long does it take to learn Bubble.io?

The time it takes to learn Bubble.io varies depending on your goals, background, and how intensively you study. Here are some general timelines for different levels of proficiency:

• Basic Proficiency:
  • Timeline: a few days to a week
  • Goal: learn the basics of the Bubble.io interface, how to create simple web pages, and perform basic workflows.
  • Activities: watch introductory tutorials, follow beginner guides, and experiment with simple projects.
    
• Intermediate Proficiency:
  • Timeline: a few weeks to a couple of months
  • Goal: build more complex applications with user authentication, data handling, and custom workflows.
  • Activities: take intermediate courses, build small to medium-sized projects, and explore Bubble’s documentation and forums.
    
• Advanced Proficiency:
  • Timeline: several months to a year
  • Goal: develop sophisticated, scalable web applications with advanced features like API integrations, custom plugins, and performance optimization.
  • Activities: work on larger projects, participate in advanced courses, join the Bubble.io community for feedback and support, and continuously experiment and learn new techniques.

In addition, there are some important factors to consider that can affect your learning time:

• Prior experience: if you already know how to code or have a background in software development, you’ll likely pick up learning faster since you’ll have familiarity with some basic concepts.
  
• Learning intensity: just like anything else in life, the more time you dedicate to the learning process, the faster it will go. If you’re only able to spend a few hours per week learning, expect your learning timeline to be longer.
  
• Resources and support: there are tons of available resources for learning Bubble, but if you’re a beginner, we recommend using courses and tutorials with a structured learning path to make the learning process more efficient and cohesive. In addition, engaging with the Bubble.io community and seeking help from experienced users can help troubleshooting problems faster. 

Q: What learning resources are available?

There are practically limitless learning resources available for those interested in learning Bubble.io, catering to different learning styles and experience levels, but here are some of the top resources:

• Official Bubble.io Resources:
  • Bubble.io Academy: Bubble’s official learning platform offers a range of courses from beginner to advanced levels, including interactive lessons and video tutorials.
  • The Bubble Manual: this covers everything you need to build apps with Bubble, from basic concepts to advanced features, including step-by-step tutorials, troubleshooting tips, and best practices.
  • Forum: here you can ask questions, share experiences, and get advice from other active Bubble users and experts.
    
• Online Courses and Tutorials:
  • Airdev Bubble Bootcamp: our very own Bubble Bootcamp is a self-paced course designed for beginners to learn web app development with Bubble.io. Drawing on our experience as the first and largest Bubble development agency, we offer video tutorials and hands-on build challenges covering database design, security, UX/UI best practices, workflows, API integrations, and much more. By completing the bootcamp, you’ll be equipped to create fully functional apps and start a career as a Bubble developer. Notably, many of our developer partners began their careers after taking our bootcamp!
  • YouTube: just type “Bubble tutorials” into YouTube and you’ll find hundreds of free videos and series created by Bubble experts and enthusiasts, ranging from beginner to advanced topics.
  • Udemy: if you’re willing to pay some money to learn, Udemy offers various courses on Bubble.io, covering everything from the basics to advanced app development. Courses are usually video-based and can be taken at your own pace.Thanks to Bubble.io and other no-code platforms, you no longer need to know how to code (or hire expensive developers) to build custom software. 

Q: What are some best practices for learning Bubble?

Learning Bubble completely on your own can sound pretty daunting. But based on our experience teaching Bubble through our online bootcamp, it’s totally doable if you follow a few best practices:

• Start with the basics: begin by understanding the fundamental concepts of Bubble.io, such as elements, workflow logic, database configuration, etc. Once you have those under your belt, you can go deeper into learning best practices for how and why different concepts fit together. We start the first 2 modules of our own Bubble Bootcamp here so that participants have a solid base before advancing to more complex topics.
  
• Get hands-on practice: learning by doing is essential with Bubble.io. After you’ve gotten a handle on the basics, start building simple projects to experiment with different features and functionalities and see how they work together. Our bootcamp emphasizes this approach, providing many opportunities for participants to practice concepts learned from videos.
• Follow a structured learning path: don’t try to learn haphazardly. Take the time to progress systematically from basic to advanced topics, building on your knowledge incrementally. This can help you minimize confusion and frustration later on.
  
• Use documentation and other learners: sometimes you’re going to get stuck, and that’s totally normal! When this happens, use documentation and official guidelines (such as Airdev’s Wiki) to get detailed explanations on how to use features effectively and avoid common mistakes. Also, tap in to learner communities (like the Bubble Forum) to ask questions and see additional tips, tricks, and insights shared by other users.
• Be patient and persistent: like any new tool or platform, Bubble has a learning curve. While it's a no-code tool, it still requires understanding the interface, logic, and features, which can take time. Understanding this from the outset can help manage expectations and prevent discouragement.

When should you engage a professional Bubble.io developer or agency to help?

While learning Bubble to build your own app is definitely the most cost-effective option, sometimes it’s just not feasible given the circumstances. Below are certain scenarios where hiring an professional Bubble developer or agency might be a better approach if you have the budget:

• Complex app: if your app idea is highly complex and requires advanced functionalities, intricate workflows, or extensive integrations, it might be challenging to execute it effectively without prior experience. A professional Bubble developer will have the expertise and knowledge to navigate complex requirements more efficiently.
• Time constraints: building an app from scratch can be very time-consuming, especially if you're starting as a beginner and needing to learn Bubble along the way. If you have a tight deadline or limited time to learn the platform, hiring a professional developer can significantly reduce the time it takes to bring your app to market, allowing you to focus on other strategic initiatives and core business activities.
  
• Quality and scalability: if you need your app to be up and running perfectly from day one due to the critical nature of your operations, high user expectations, or significant launch impact, it might be safer to hire a professional Bubble developer. They can ensure that your app is well-designed, performs optimally, and can handle future growth and updates from day 1. Without this expertise, you might risk building an app with subpar quality or scalability issues.
  
• Support and maintenance: once your app is live, it will require ongoing support, maintenance, and updates (especially if you plan for it to evolve in response to user feedback). If you can’t personally dedicate time and effort to handling this, a professional Bubble developer can provide ongoing support services, ensuring that your app remains functional and up-to-date with the latest platform changes and security updates.

Overall, there are pros and cons to whatever decision you make. Hiring a professional Bubble developer costs more upfront, but can result in faster, higher-quality development. Building the app yourself is cheaper, but can take longer and may result in lower quality due to lack of expertise. The best choice depends on how much time you can dedicate to learning.

Want to explore working with a professional Bubble developer?

If you're looking for professional Bubble developers, we can help: hire us as your full-service Bubble agency or hire individual Bubble freelancers through our Flex program.