My time at the CreateWith conference

Looking back on the day now whilst sitting on the train, I don’t think I’ve ever felt so motivated to create great software, apps or websites. At every point the expert speakers on each panel really captivated me and made me think about how I was building and more importantly, WHY I was building software.

There’s something about being in a room filled with professionals who share a similar passion that you do, and more, being able to talk all things tech. Seeing these amazing teams and technologies first hand with key themes like AI, No-Code platforms, and Vibe coding was enough to really see what the future of technology is like.

Glide

One of the standout moments for me was meeting Andy and Brett from Glide after listening to their presentation. I know it might sound a bit cliché, but they’re genuinely some of the nicest and most passionate people I’ve met in the technology industry. Their session was inspiring—not just because of what they’ve built with Glide, but because of the story behind how they are support partners to build a world-class eco system for success.

They shared their journey of building Glide from the ground up over the last few years, and what really struck me was how thoughtfully they’ve cultivated their community. It’s not just about a product—it’s about empowering people to create. With Glide’s no-code platform, they’re making it possible for anyone, regardless of technical background, to build apps and workflows powered by AI. It’s so easy even your kids can do it! But beyond the tools themselves, what makes Glide special is the people: the community that supports each other, shares ideas, and pushes boundaries.

How to make UX feel fast

Blazingly Fast! That was what I took away from listening to the amazing and clever Petter Amlie. He demonstrated so many ways to improve apps and websites, using database query optimisations, smart loading patterns, and psychological tricks. His decade of dissecting and rebuilding applications shows how passionate and almost second nature to him about creating fluent, easy to use, and blazingly fast apps!

The most fascinating part was how small UX decisions can manipulate perception, reduce friction, and create the illusion of speed (which, in practice, is often more important than raw performance). One standout example: during user onboarding, instead of making users wait on a “loading” screen while the system creates their profile, you walk them through a short onboarding experience—like asking a few questions, letting them customise something, or just introducing your app. By the time they finish, the setup is complete, and they’re seamlessly dropped into the app. The process feels instant, but you’ve simply used time well.

The biggest takeaway for me, is time management in an app. You never want a user waiting at a loading screen for a short period of time because it breaks the user’s flow. Don’t get me wrong, there are sometimes wait periods which are unavoidable, especially if it’s a task that can take 20 or 30 minutes on the system. What Petter explained was be respectful of the user’s time, and not to waste it.

Beyond Vibe Coding: The Future of AI App Builders

This talk hit home for anyone who's felt both the excitement and the limitations of building apps with AI. To be honest I was sceptical about this talk before I sat down. Often Vibe Coding is filled with excitement and can be seen a fad or a craze, however Tomas understood this, and filled out some of the limitations of it. My thoughts on it are, because it’s not so great now, doesn’t mean it won’t be great in a few years.

Tomas started by acknowledging the rise of vibe coding—the movement where AI replaces traditional drag-and-drop interfaces with fast, prompt-driven creation. It’s transformed how we approach no-code development. Tools are faster, the barriers to entry are lower, and builders can go from idea to prototype in minutes. But Tomas challenged the room to think beyond that initial magic.

As apps grow in complexity, the cracks start to show. Vibe coding is great for quick wins and experimentation, but it struggles with structure, scale, and iteration. That’s where Tomas outlined that he feels the future of AI app builders is heading - towards systems that understand structured intent, not just language prompts you enter it.

He laid out a vision where AI is less of a “genie” and more of a collaborator (I want to emphasise that I think AI should be a tool, more than a replacement)—working with builders through smarter iteration loops, better handling of state and logic, and a deeper understanding of context. It’s about giving creators precision and control, without giving up the speed and accessibility that make no-code so powerful.

His talk made it clear: the future isn’t just faster—it’s smarter. And if we get it right, AI won't just help us build faster, it will help us build better. For me, it more excited me. AI is evolving literally at the speed of light, and to think the next BIG programming language that ANYONE could use is going to be the English language, is amazing. Thinking of the people with the most incredible ideas that could change the world, but with little to no programming knowledge, can now make those ideas into reality.

Lunch

I won’t go on about Lunch, because who wants to read about some software developer eating food. However, I must give credit to the events coordinators and organisers because the food provided was great and plenty enough to go around. P.S I had the Caesar wrap; the fajita wraps and some flavoured sparking water they gave you. Food score: 9.6/10.

But Does It Scale?

Next, Ben Michaelis and I attended the Main Stage expert panel on “But does it scale?” with with four seasoned experts in the space. This wasn’t just a hype session—it was a grounded, practical conversation about what it really takes to make no-code work at scale in large organisations.

What I enjoyed about the talk, is that they just point blank asked the question “Does it scale?”. And what they said was… “No”. Well, “No, however it depends.”. And they’re right! It really does depend, and I think this talk can relate back to vibe coding a bit. No matter the structure of the code, and weather it’ll scale. It’s important to see what your product is from a bird’s eye view.

For example, Integration is not a blocker and experts remarked on how Glide apps are being used as serious, production-grade platform at scale —hooked into existing systems through APIs, connected to legacy software, and supporting large user bases with confidence. The overall message was clear: Yes, no-code can scale—but not by accident. It takes intentional strategy, thoughtful design, and a shift in mindset. When done right, it opens the door to faster development, broader participation, and truly agile innovation.

This panel was one of the most grounded and practical discussions of the conference—and a reminder that no-code isn’t just about moving fast. It’s about building smart, inclusive, and sustainable solutions. This talk was also a great reminder of the whole conference not being a huge hype fest, but extremely down to earth and informational.

How to Make the UK the Next Silicon Valley?

One of the most forward-looking and thought-provoking sessions at the CreateWith conference in London was the panel discussion on “How to Make the UK the Next Silicon Valley?”, featuring three powerhouse ecosystem builders and experts.

This wasn’t about hyping the UK as a startup utopia—it was a real, candid conversation about where we stand, what’s holding us back, and what we need to double down on to truly rival the global tech giants. The panel didn’t shy away from the challenges. Navigating shifting regulations and funding complexities in a post-Brexit UK is no small feat. But rather than treating these as blockers, they reframed them as opportunities to innovate with intention, policy, and a fresh approach to global collaboration.

The panel disccused about building a truly distributed startup ecosystem—one that doesn’t rely solely on London. From local meetups to regional startup programmes, a vision of a UK tech scene was painted and explains how this supports builders wherever they are, not just in the capital. It was mentioned and emphasised that the UK is the top 8 in Technological expertise with almost 4 trillion in the industry, and keep in mind we only have around 70 million people living here.

The talk was very funny too. The panel explained the true tech environment of the UK in a way where they understood it, it rains a lot, but also our technology industry is pretty dam good, and that we should bring more people from around the world to build upon it too. What made this panel powerful was the balance of realism and optimism. Yes, there are headwinds. But there’s also unmatched potential: a deeply collaborative culture, world-class talent (I mean I live here after all), and an increasingly mature ecosystem of tools, platforms, and communities.

The UK may never be Silicon Valley—and that’s okay. We don’t need to copy it. We can build something unique instead.

Closing Remarks

As the day came to an end and I sat on the train home, I couldn’t help but feel incredibly inspired. CreateWith wasn’t just a tech conference—it was a window into the future. A future where anyone can build, where ideas matter more than credentials, and where technology becomes an extension of creativity rather than a barrier to it.

Every talk I attended gave me something different—be it motivation, technical knowledge, or a new perspective on where things are headed. The honesty, the optimism, and the sheer brilliance of the people in the room made it more than worth it.

Before I left, I swung by the Glide booth one last time—because how could I not? I grabbed a few stickers (you can never have too many), and yes… I walked away with a Glide-branded fidget spinner. It’s currently living on my desk and will probably be my new go-to thinking tool while I’m building apps for ThinkEngine.

All in all, the CreateWith conference was everything I hoped it would be—and so much more. I’ve left with new ideas, new tools, and most importantly, a renewed excitement to keep building. If you ever get the chance to go: go. It’s the kind of experience that reminds you why you started creating in the first place.