This post is in response to An Idiot’s Guide To Bigger Projects by @three, which is way too advanced for me.
I’m not a developer, by any means. My coding experience spans from from a few Hello Worlds in Visual Basic to a half-hearted attempt at a Udemy full stack curriculum (I got through HTML, but hit the wall at CSS).
But after years as a product manager and explaining to friends that “if I’m in the codebase, something has gone terribly wrong,” I thought AI might have finally caught up (down?) to my ignorance. And I knew two things for sure: I didn’t want to use a website builder, and I definitely don’t know how to write code myself.
Here’s how I “vibe coded” my website step-by-step using Cursor and Netlify:
Cost Breakdown
- Domain: $14.99/year
- Cursor subscription: $20/month
- Netlify Hosting: Free
- Time spent: Maybe 8 hours total, but that’s with learning the tools
Step 1: Setting Up Cursor I started by downloading Cursor. I did not explore other solutions. After installation, I gave Cursor access to my command line (questionable decision?), which let the AI handle servers and live previews. I began each session by telling Claude 3.7 that’s it’s a smart, very good boy with prompts like: “You’re a web developer with deep experience in creating engaging websites for independent consultants.”
Step 2: Buying a Domain Claude recommended I purchase a domain, which I bought through Netlify for just $14.99. I think it was $9.99 on another broker, but I figured I’d simplify by keeping everything in one place.
Step 3: Writing Clear Prompts After uploading my resume for copy content, I quickly learned that simple, clear prompts worked best. Here’s one of my starting prompts:
“Create a clean, modern, responsive site showcasing my background, with a logo grid highlighting my professional experience, and a simple contact form. Make it look good everywhere.”
Step 4: “Coding” on YOLO Mode I didn’t write a single line of code myself - and the only folder I’ve been in is the images folder to add logos and a headshot. Instead, I gave a prompt and let Cursor cook on YOLO Mode, which, while “dangerous” required even less interaction from me. When the chef was ready, I’d have the app launch the site locally (I launched a lot of localhosts.. and learned that too) and then provided direct feedback:
- “I’m not seeing anything… here’s the error”
- “Can you optimize for iOS?”
- “Make sure the contact form actually sends messages to my email.”
- “Make the buttons the same size"
- “The “About Me” section is awkward. Rewrite and make the font smaller”
- “Can you add a subtle hover effect to the logos to make it feel interactive.”
Each prompt was simple, non-technical, and easily tested on the back end for effectiveness.
Step 5: Testing (a lot) I essentially became human QA, running the site locally and testing every adjustment. If something broke or looked weird, I’d clearly describe the problem and let Cursor handle the rest.
Step 6: Deploy and Iterate Once things looked good locally, I deployed my site using Netlify’s free tier. It’s pretty simple: ask Cursor to prepare the site for deployment to Netlify, then drag and drop in the .zip. The testing didn’t stop there: shoutout to my mother-in-law for catching that the site wouldn’t scroll on an iPad.
What I Learned
- It’s not that difficult: Even I can do it, with a bit of patience and iteration.
- Simple feedback was best: Clear, plain-language feedback and “persona” preparation made the sessions more effective.
- Zero coding: You genuinely don’t have to code yourself to create something useful.
The Result Check it out at johnblackmar.com:
- Looks professional and updates easily
- Loads fast
- Easy-to-use contact form
- Didn’t need expensive builders or monthly platform fees (aside from Cursor)
- Efficacy: …TBD
Final Thoughts If you’re like me on the “business side” of software, I highly recommend trying this method. No coding skills required, just clear instructions, willingness to struggle a bit, and iterative testing.
If you’re curious about specific prompts, logs, or have questions about the process, feel free to reach out.