Tools like Lovable and Replit are making headlines because they can generate code and with that a working application. That’s exciting, but what’s even more exciting is what it represents: more people than ever are getting a taste of application development. And I believe that matters, because the ability to solve your own problems with software is one of the most powerful drivers of digital transformation, whether in enterprises or in someone’s personal life. I think real magic happens when people can build for themselves.
Is Code Generation the wrong focus?
But here’s something worth reflecting on. Most people using Lovable aren’t there to admire code being typed out on the fly, they just want a solution that works. And if that’s the case, I believe code generation itself might be a bit of a distraction. Code is fragile. As your app grows, so do the headaches: endless refactoring, hidden dependencies, and technical debt creeping in. Low code flips that script by using metadata as the foundation. It adds guardrails, accelerates development, and maybe most importantly lets AI continuously improve your app without dragging you into an endless cycle of code refactoring.
The Betty Blocks philosophy
That’s the philosophy we’ve embraced at Betty Blocks. Yes, we generate real code under the hood: React for the frontend and a WebAssembly based backend that can run in any language. The code is always accessible and for you to download. But the difference is that you don’t need to wrestle with it unless you want to. Instead, you focus on building and iterating, with AI as your copilot. I think that’s the future: not just generating code faster, but rethinking how we build altogether so anyone can create sustainable, adaptable software. And honestly, I believe that’s where the real transformation starts.
