Mehdi Zaaboub Ammar, from video game development to NoCode

Mehdi Zaaboub Ammar, Senior NoCode Developer at Alegria.group, from video game development to NoCode, he excels in IT!

His background

Mehdi Zaaboub Ammar, 24, obtained his French baccalauréat in Tunisia before moving to Grenoble, where he is studying computer science at theIUT2 Grenoble. Following his DUT in computer science, he spent a year in Quebec as an exchange student, with the aim of obtaining the equivalent of a video game license. He humorously points out, "A little anecdote: in Quebec, the license is called a Baccalauréat."

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mehdi returned to Tunisia, while continuing his distance studies at his Quebec school. To finalize his studies, he completed an internship at ModerLab, a company specializing in 3D immersive visit applications for real estate. Thanks to all the practical and theoretical experience he had accumulated, he was able to earn his Master's degree in computer science, specializing in video games. After his internship, Mehdi landed his first permanent contract. In his opinion, the work environment was not adapted to his values, so he decided to terminate the contract 6 months later.

Following this experience, he worked briefly as a salesman at the Centre Européen de la Formation, a job whose working conditions were not compatible with his professional expectations. He decided to leave the company 1 month after starting.

Mehdi then spent two months out of work, looking for further training, but not knowing what it was. In November 2022, he received by chance a TikTok video sent by his father. "That video introduced me to NoCode, and I was hooked! Being a code developer at heart, I embraced the change." He adds mockingly, "And then... let's not lie, there was money to be made in this field!" 

Intrigued by the possibilities on offer and attracted by the professional opportunities, Mehdi came across the 15-month diploma course offered by Alegria.academy during his research. After going through the recruitment process, he joined Alegria.academy as a learner and work-study student atAlegria.group!

Discovering NoCode

The Alegria.academy diploma training program gets off to a flying start with an intensive 3-month Bootcamp, a total immersion in the world of NoCode where every day holds its share of surprises. Mehdi, eager to learn, immerses himself body and soul in this intense apprenticeship, while making the acquaintance of extraordinary people in his Batch (his graduating class), such as Coraline Guillevic.

But the adventure doesn't end there. Mehdi was lucky enough to land a place at Alegria.group to continue his career as a work-study student. It was a real turning point in his professional life, an opportunity he seized with gratitude and determination. "The Bootcamp had already gone well, so doing my work-study placement at Alegria.group was the icing on the cake!"

Thanks to the various projects he successfully completed during his work-study program, Mehdi is now a full member of theAlegria.solutions team, proudly holding the position of Confirmed NoCode Developer. "I use a lot of tools during my assignments, it could be WeWeb, Webflow, Xano, Bubble, Make or even Airtable!"

How he uses it every day

On a daily basis, Mehdi skilfully juggles NoCode and AI tools to optimize his tasks and stimulate his creativity. Notion becomes his indispensable ally, offering a centralized platform for organizing his gym workouts, managing his assets and drawing up smart shopping lists, distinguishing between what's essential and what's not.

As well as taking advantage of existing tools, Mehdi also enjoys creating his own web applications, exploring the infinite possibilities offered by NoCode to bring his boldest ideas to life.

As for AI, Mehdi can't do without his faithful companion ChatGPT, an inexhaustible source of inspiration and support. Whether in his personal or professional life, ChatGPT proves to be a valuable resource, answering his questions, providing suggestions and accompanying him in his most ambitious projects. "ChatGPT is my best friend!"

His proudest achievement with Alegria.solutions

Among the projects he carried out with Alegria.solutions during his work-study period, Mehdi remembers two in particular that stood out for him. The first was a project for a well-known French group. It consisted of a tool on the platform to simulate election calendars. Mehdi was alone on this project, in charge of its conception and realization. Despite its complexity, he was able to bring the project to a successful conclusion, providing a functional and valuable tool for election management.

The second project, for an international luxury goods group, was as impressive as it was rewarding. Mehdi worked on this project using Airtable, the essential database management platform. "I was impressed by the scale and prestige of this project. I must admit that our customer's satisfaction made me particularly proud."

Mehdi's 3 cheat codes

• Gradual learning of coding : While mastery of coding is not necessary to get started with NoCode, it is beneficial to have a grounding in the basics. Mehdi recommends Roadmap.sh, a platform offering video courses and case studies designed by experienced developers to help understand fundamental coding concepts.

• Independent practice: Mehdi encourages experimentation by creating personal projects. Recreating existing websites allows you to test your skills and learn new ones, encouraging further development.

• Active participation in NoCode communities: He stresses the importance of getting involved in NoCode communities. Mehdi recommends joining three main communities: Slack NoCode France, forums dedicated to NoCode tools and the Alegria.network community, offering the opportunity to share experiences, learn from other members and stay up to date on the latest trends and innovations in the NoCode field.

Tips for those who want to get started 

"Avoid spreading yourself too thin by using too many tools simultaneously. By spreading yourself too thinly, you run the risk of having an average level in all skills. It's better to concentrate on a few specific tools! For example, practice on a full stack tool that combines several functionalities such as CRM, ERP, etc., as well as an automation tool and a database tool. You could also opt for a site creation tool like Webflow. But the most important thing is to focus on two specific tools, in order to deepen your skills and achieve more significant results."

What next?

"In the future, my aim is to become an expert in my field. Currently confirmed, I aim to reach expert level within a year. My ultimate ambition is to become a Tech Lead. I find it a rewarding profession, especially as I work in a great team!"