Have an idea for an app, a game or a useful tool? Let’s give it a starting point.
Perhaps you’ve thought, “There should be an app for that,” or found yourself repeating a task that a computer could handle for you.
I offer practical training to help you turn those ideas into working software using AI. If you would prefer to have something developed for you, I also build custom tools and applications.
Bring your idea, your existing project or simply the problem you want to solve.
You don’t need to start as a programmer
Learning to develop software once meant spending considerable time studying a programming language before you could build much of your own.
AI gives you another way to begin. You can describe what you want to achieve, use it to help write the code and learn how that code works as you develop your project.
But there is still a learning curve. You need to know which tools to use, how to run the software, what information to give the AI and how to check the results.
That’s where personal guidance helps. Instead of piecing together tutorials and getting stuck on unfamiliar steps, you can work through your own project with someone who can explain the process and help you move forward.
Choose how you want to work
Learn to build your own software
Practical training built around something you want to create.
With basic computer confidence and a laptop or desktop computer, you can start learning without previous coding experience.
My training focuses on using AI to develop Python tools and applications. Depending on your starting point and project, we can cover:
- Choosing and setting up the development tools you need.
- Turning an idea into a clear set of requirements.
- Breaking a project into manageable stages.
- Giving AI useful instructions and the right context.
- Running the code on your own computer.
- Installing the additional components your software needs.
- Creating an interface with buttons, forms and useful displays.
- Working with files, spreadsheets and stored information.
- Understanding error messages and working through problems.
- Testing features and checking that results are correct.
- Saving working versions so changes can be recovered.
- Preparing an application to run outside the development environment.
You’ll work towards a functioning project while learning a process you can use again.
Have your software built for you
Custom software for a task, a business need or an idea you want to explore.
If you would rather have someone handle the development, I can build tools and applications around your requirements.
We’ll start by discussing what you want the software to do, who will use it and which features matter most. From there, we can agree on a sensible scope and price.
That might mean building a focused tool that solves one problem, or starting with an initial working version of a larger idea so you can try it before committing to further development.
AI-assisted development can make parts of the work quicker and more affordable. My role is to guide that process, bring the components together and test the software against the agreed requirements.
You can also combine development and training: have me build the starting version, then learn how to use AI to adapt and extend it yourself.
What could you create?
Tools that save you time
Automate repetitive work such as organising files, processing reports, combining information or preparing routine outputs.
Applications for your business
Create a tool to manage a particular workflow, record information, track progress or reduce manual administration.
Data analysis and dashboards
Turn raw information into something easier to understand, with searchable records, calculations, charts and useful summaries.
Personal projects and app ideas
Build something that solves a problem in your own life, supports a hobby or lets you test an idea you’ve been considering.
Games and interactive projects
Explore game development tools and use AI to help build a simple playable starting point. More ambitious games involve additional work in design, artwork, sound and testing, but you can begin with a manageable part of the idea.
Mobile app ideas
Explore whether your idea is best approached as a mobile app, a web app that works on a phone or a desktop application. Choosing the right starting point can avoid unnecessary complexity and expense.
Learn the process behind the prompt
Getting useful results from AI takes more than asking it to “build an app”.
A clear idea needs to become specific instructions. The code needs to run in the right environment. Features need testing, and changes need checking so they don’t break something that already works.
I’ll show you how to work through that cycle:
- Define what the next feature should do.
- Give the AI the information it needs.
- Run and test the result.
- Describe problems clearly and work through corrections.
- Keep a working version before moving on.
As your understanding grows, you can take on more involved projects with greater confidence and less dependence on someone else for every change.
Start small. Build towards the bigger idea.
You don’t need to develop the whole application at once.
If you have a larger idea, we can identify a useful first version: the smallest set of features that lets you try the main concept.
For a business tool, that might mean importing a file and producing one useful report. For a game, it might mean getting the main interaction working before building levels and adding artwork.
This gives you something you can use, test and improve, while keeping the early stages manageable.
What do you need to get started?
For training, you’ll need a laptop or desktop computer and confidence with everyday tasks such as installing programs, managing files and using a web browser.
You don’t need to arrive knowing programming terminology. I’ll explain the concepts as they become relevant to your project.
We’ll discuss suitable software and AI tools beforehand, including any subscriptions or other costs. More demanding projects may need additional services or more capable hardware, which we can assess before you commit.
Practical experience, personal support
I’m Lee Timotheou, the person behind Illuminatek.
Alongside around 18 years of experience working with websites, I develop Python software for automation, data analysis, monitoring and custom applications.
I use AI as part of that development process and teach customers how to apply it to their own projects.
You’ll work directly with me, with explanations suited to your experience and practical help focused on what you want to achieve.
Pricing and getting started
Tell me what you want to build, and we’ll work out a suitable first step.
For training, let me know your experience, the computer you use and what you would like to create. We can agree on a focused session or a series of sessions.
For development work, I’ll discuss your requirements and provide a quote based on the agreed scope.
Before work begins, we’ll agree on the price, what is included and any expected additional costs, such as AI subscriptions, hosting or external services.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need to know how to code?
No previous coding experience is needed to start training. Basic computer confidence is enough. You’ll learn relevant programming concepts as we work through your project.
Is this the same as “vibe coding”?
That term is often used for building software by describing what you want to AI. My approach also covers the practical skills needed to run, test, understand and improve the results.
Can we work on an idea I already have?
Yes. Your own idea can be the starting point. We’ll discuss what is achievable and choose a manageable first stage.
Can you help with something I’ve already started?
Yes. If you’ve begun building with AI and become stuck, tell me which tools you’re using, what currently works and what you’re trying to do next.
Can I build a complete app in one session?
A focused session may be enough to create a small working tool or make a useful start. A larger application will need more development and testing. We’ll agree on a realistic aim for the time available.
Can you help me make a game or phone app?
I can help you explore the tools and development approaches available and start with a suitable project. The work involved depends on the idea, target devices and features, so we’ll discuss those before agreeing on training or development.
Will my application be ready to sell?
A working first version is a useful milestone. Software intended for customers may also need packaging, documentation, security and privacy work, wider testing and ongoing support. If selling or distributing your application is your goal, we’ll include that in the initial discussion.
Tell me what you would like to create
You don’t need a technical specification or a fully developed plan.
Describe your idea or the problem you want to solve, and let me know whether you’re looking for training, development or a combination of both.
If you’ve already started, tell me what you’re using and where you’ve become stuck.