# AI Automation & Building Resources

Curated, high-trust sources for grounding this course. Knowledge in lessons should
be drawn from here, not parametric guesses. Wisdom comes from the communities listed.

## Knowledge

### AI literacy & prompting
- [Anthropic — Prompt Engineering Overview (docs)](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/build-with-claude/prompt-engineering/overview)
  Primary source from a model maker. Use for: structuring reliable, reusable prompts (role, context, examples, output format).
- [Generative AI: Prompt Engineering Basics — IBM / Coursera](https://www.coursera.org/learn/generative-ai-prompt-engineering-for-everyone)
  Explicitly designed for non-technical professionals. Use for: gentle on-ramp framing of "natural language programming," zero/few-shot, chain-of-thought.
- [Prompt Engineering for AI Guide — Google Cloud](https://cloud.google.com/discover/what-is-prompt-engineering)
  Vendor-neutral conceptual reference. Use for: definitions and a second voice on zero-shot/few-shot/chain-of-thought.

### No-code automation tools
- [Vellum — No-Code AI Workflow Automation Tools (2026 guide)](https://www.vellum.ai/blog/no-code-ai-workflow-automation-tools-guide)
  Comparison of the current field. Use for: choosing between Zapier / Make / Gumloop / Relay for a given workflow.
- [Zapier learning resources & templates](https://zapier.com/resources)
  Tool-maker's own tutorials and ready-made templates. Use for: triggers/actions concepts and copy-pasteable starter workflows.
- [Make (Integromat) Academy](https://www.make.com/en/academy)
  Free structured lessons on visual, multi-step automation. Use for: visual scenario building and branching/routing logic.

### Vibe coding & building (the build half)
- [Lovable — Best Vibe Coding Tools 2026 (build apps by chatting)](https://lovable.dev/guides/best-vibe-coding-tools-2026-build-apps-chatting)
  Tool-maker overview, but a clear map of the beginner field. Use for: tool selection — Lovable/Bolt/v0 for non-coders, Replit to grow into.
- [Index.dev — 15 Best Vibe Coding Tools (Bolt, Cursor, Lovable)](https://www.index.dev/blog/vibe-coding-tools)
  Independent comparison. Use for: second opinion on tool strengths and where each fits.
- [SEM Nexus — The AI App Roadmap for Non-Technical Founders (2026)](https://semnexus.com/ai-app-roadmap-non-technical-founders/)
  Use for: realistic sequencing of how a non-technical founder goes from idea to shipped app.
- [Medium (Predict) — Best Vibe Coding Tools 2026 for People Who've Never Written a Line of Code](https://medium.com/predict/best-vibe-coding-tools-2026-for-non-coders-8ce9d18443bf)
  Use for: absolute-beginner framing and first-build expectations.

### The pitfalls (design the course AGAINST these)
- [blog.mean.ceo — Building Your First AI Feature: Non-Technical Founder's Guide](https://blog.mean.ceo/building-first-ai-feature/)
  Source of the "blank chat box" UX trap (build results/buttons, not chat) and "start with one narrow, low-risk job + keep a human review step." Use for: Module 4–6 framing.
- [Momen — Best AI App Builders 2026: Avoiding the Prototype Trap](https://momen.app/blogs/best-ai-app-builders-2026)
  Source of the "final 20% / comprehension debt" trap. Use for: justifying Module 5 (escape-the-trap) and setting honest expectations.

## Wisdom (Communities)
- [r/automation](https://www.reddit.com/r/automation/) and [r/Zapier](https://www.reddit.com/r/zapier/)
  Practitioners sharing real builds and gotchas. Use for: troubleshooting a stuck automation.
- [r/vibecoding](https://www.reddit.com/r/vibecoding/) and [r/SideProject](https://www.reddit.com/r/SideProject/)
  Non-/semi-technical builders shipping real things with AI. Use for: feedback on a build idea, escaping a debugging loop, motivation.
- The course's own **weekly live build sessions** (hybrid component).
  Use for: real-time feedback on each learner's automation and app.

## Gaps
- Need one canonical, plain-English "what is an LLM" explainer vetted for non-technical readers.
- Need a vetted, current cost/credits cheat-sheet — AI build credits (Lovable/Bolt) and tool tiers move fast; verify near delivery, don't bake in stale numbers.
- Need a beginner-safe, non-scary reference on the basic security pitfalls of generated apps (exposed keys, open databases) for Module 5. Search before finalizing Module 5.