As someone who has been developing on WordPress for 20 years, I’ve always prided myself on my ability to tinker. I’ve dabbled in code here and there in my younger years, but I wouldn’t call myself a developer. Most of my skills came from necessity rather than formal training, and I’ve always found ways to work around problems. But recently, I found myself intrigued by a TikTok video showcasing Claude.ai, an AI-powered tool that can help create apps and plugins.
Watching someone generate code without traditional development knowledge struck a chord with me. That spark of curiosity took me down a path that changed how I approach plugin development.
The Birth of My Brand Archetype Plugin
Years ago, I developed a brand archetype survey as a paper test. It was a solid piece of work, rooted in deep research and a love for branding archetypes, but it always remained a manual process. The idea of turning it into a WordPress plugin had been on my mind for ages, but like many side projects, it got pushed down the to-do list. When I saw what Claude could do, I realized it was time to dust off my old project and bring it into the digital age.
I started by converting the test into an Excel document to make sure my logic held up. It worked, but it still required manual calculation. Seeing the potential, I dove headfirst into Claude.ai, thinking, “Why not try turning this into a WordPress plugin?”
Building the plugin with Claude was like sitting next to a lightning-fast developer who could take my business requirements and instantly translate them into code. I had to brush up on some technical survey knowledge, but it wasn’t as overwhelming as I expected. The process was incredibly smooth, and whenever bugs cropped up, Claude helped me troubleshoot and guided me through potential fixes. In just a few hours, I had a working prototype of the plugin that functioned about 90% as I envisioned. Sure, there are still some nuances to iron out and features to add, but the heavy lifting was done.
The Future of Development: Code-Free?
This experience got me thinking about the future of technology and development. Tools like Claude are making it easier for people like me—who may not have kept up with the latest coding trends—to build functional, complex applications without getting deep into the weeds of programming. We’re standing on the brink of a code-free future where technology workers won’t need to know every programming language or the ins and outs of a specific codebase. Instead, they’ll be able to focus on the creative, strategic side of projects, using AI to handle the technical heavy lifting.
And Claude isn’t the only one leading this charge. Systems like GitHub Copilot and ChatGPT are offering similar capabilities. Developers are already integrating these AI tools into their workflows to generate code, troubleshoot issues, and even refactor projects. It’s a brave new world for development, one that is rapidly evolving and opening doors for more people to create without the traditional learning curve.
Other Use Cases for Claude
Beyond plugins, Claude has been helping people with a wide range of development needs. Some use it to automate tasks, streamline workflows, and even design full-fledged web applications. It’s empowering non-technical professionals to experiment and build ideas that would have once required a dedicated team of developers. From automating email responses to designing e-commerce platforms, the possibilities are endless.
I’ve seen small business owners use Claude to build custom solutions for their shops, and marketers create dynamic content systems to manage and deploy campaigns. It’s a versatile tool that, in the right hands, can make complex technical work accessible to the masses.
What Should I Build Next?
This journey has reinvigorated my love for creating, and I’d love to hear from fellow marketers and developers: what plugin ideas have you been sitting on? Whether it’s something that simplifies a tedious task, automates a process, or brings a new level of creativity to branding, let’s brainstorm! The code-free future is here, and it’s up to us to take advantage of it.
If you’re interested in brand archetypes and want to see the plugin in action, you can check out the archetype survey on the Brand Voyagers page here. It’s exciting to think about how AI like Claude can continue to evolve this field and create more tools that empower us to explore branding in new ways.
I’m looking forward to hearing your ideas and sharing more about what comes next in this AI-driven development adventure!
