What Not to Build

Master how to recognize unsuitable projects for Buzzy before wasting time. Learn what works, what doesn't, and why—saving months of frustration.

The Harsh Truth About No-Code Limits

Not every idea is suitable for Buzzy's no-code platform. Some projects will waste your time, money, and enthusiasm if you try to build them with Buzzy, no matter how capable Buzzy AI v3 is.

Non-technical explanation: Buzzy is like a Swiss Army knife—incredibly versatile and powerful for many tasks, but you wouldn't use it to cut down a tree or perform surgery. Similarly, Buzzy excels at business applications, internal tools, and data-driven apps, but it's not designed for real-time games, blockchain, or operating systems.

Why this guide matters:

This guide helps you:

  • ✅ Recognize unsuitable projects before you start

  • ✅ Understand why they won't work with Buzzy

  • ✅ Find better alternatives for those projects

  • ✅ Save months of frustration and wasted effort

  • ✅ Focus on projects where Buzzy excels

Important context: Buzzy's no-code approach eliminates many traditional development problems:

  • ✅ No tech debt from AI-generated code (Buzzy doesn't generate code)

  • ✅ No dependency management nightmare (Buzzy handles the Core Engine)

  • ✅ No framework update hell (Buzzy maintains React, infrastructure)

However, Buzzy still has appropriate use cases. This guide helps you identify projects beyond Buzzy's scope or any no-code platform's capabilities.

Red Flags: Don't Build This

1. 🎮 Real-Time Competitive Games

Examples of what NOT to build:

  • First-person shooters (FPS games)

  • Fighting games (like Street Fighter)

  • Racing games (like Mario Kart)

  • Fast-paced platformers (like Super Mario)

  • Rhythm games (like Guitar Hero)

  • Real-time strategy with hundreds of units

  • Multiplayer battle royale games

Why it won't work with Buzzy:

  • Requires 60+ frames per second (FPS) performance for smooth gameplay

  • Frame-perfect timing essential (millisecond precision)

  • Complex physics engines for realistic movement and collisions

  • Sophisticated real-time networking for multiplayer synchronization

  • Specialized rendering pipelines for 3D graphics

  • Custom game loops and update cycles

  • Low-level performance optimization required

Non-technical explanation: Building a fast-paced game in Buzzy is like trying to run a 100-meter sprint in snowshoes. The tool wasn't designed for speed and precision at that level. Games that require split-second reactions and smooth 60 FPS performance need specialized game engines built specifically for that purpose.

What you'd actually get if you tried:

  • ❌ Laggy, unresponsive experience (choppy movement)

  • ❌ No proper game loop (can't update 60 times per second)

  • ❌ Poor performance (slow loading, stuttering)

  • ❌ Broken physics (objects don't behave realistically)

  • ❌ Unusable for competitive play

  • ❌ Frustrated users expecting smooth gameplay

Use these instead:

  • Unity (most popular, great for 2D/3D games)

  • Godot (free, open-source, beginner-friendly)

  • Unreal Engine (high-end 3D graphics)

  • GameMaker Studio (great for 2D games)

What CAN work in Buzzy: See Game Development for turn-based games, puzzle games, trivia games, and text adventures that work great with Buzzy's no-code approach.


2. Enterprise-Scale Applications (Initially)

Examples:

  • Full ERP systems

  • Hospital management systems

  • Banking platforms

  • Large-scale CRM

Why it won't work (as first project):

  • Extreme complexity

  • Thousands of business rules

  • Regulatory compliance

  • Mission-critical reliability

  • Years of traditional development

What you'd get with Buzzy:

  • Simplified toy versions

  • Missing critical features

  • Potentially inadequate for enterprise scale

  • Cannot meet all regulatory requirements

Reality check: These take teams of experienced developers years to build

Better approach: Start with ONE module in Buzzy, validate, expand gradually. Buzzy excels at individual business process apps, not entire ERPs.


3. Apps Requiring Advanced Computer Vision

Examples:

  • Facial recognition systems

  • Medical image analysis

  • Autonomous vehicle software

  • Quality control inspection

  • AR applications with object tracking

Why it won't work with Buzzy:

  • Requires specialized ML models

  • Needs training data and expertise

  • Performance-critical processing

  • Specialized hardware often needed

What you'd get:

  • Generic API calls (via Buzzy Functions)

  • No real computer vision capability

  • Poor performance

  • Unreliable results

Use instead: Specialized CV frameworks, pre-trained models, hire ML engineers

Note: Buzzy CAN integrate pre-trained APIs (like OpenAI Vision) via Buzzy Functions for simple use cases.


4. Blockchain/Cryptocurrency Applications

Examples:

  • Custom cryptocurrencies

  • NFT marketplaces

  • DeFi protocols

  • Smart contract platforms

Why it won't work with Buzzy:

  • Requires deep blockchain expertise

  • Security is absolutely critical

  • Complex cryptographic concepts

  • Regulatory minefield

  • Not Buzzy's design purpose

What you'd get:

  • Insecure implementations

  • Fundamental misunderstandings

  • Potential for losing money

  • Legal issues

Reality: Blockchain development requires specialized knowledge and specialized platforms. Don't learn with real money at stake.


5. Operating Systems or Low-Level System Software

Examples:

  • Custom operating systems

  • Device drivers

  • Kernel modules

  • Embedded firmware

Why it won't work with Buzzy:

  • Requires systems programming expertise

  • Memory management critical

  • Hardware-specific knowledge needed

  • Debugging extremely difficult

  • Completely outside Buzzy's scope

Reality: This is expert-level programming requiring specialized languages (C, Rust, Assembly). No-code platforms like Buzzy aren't designed for this.


6. 🏥 Mission-Critical Medical/Aviation/Industrial Control

Examples:

  • Medical device software

  • Aviation control systems

  • Industrial safety systems

  • Life support systems

Why you absolutely cannot:

  • Lives depend on it

  • Regulatory requirements

  • Certification needed

  • Liability issues

  • Requires formal verification

Legal reality: You likely cannot legally build these without certifications, teams, and formal processes

Don't even try: Seriously, don't.


7. "Facebook/Instagram/TikTok Killer"

Examples:

  • Social network to replace Facebook

  • Video platform to replace YouTube

  • Marketplace to replace Amazon

Why it won't work with Buzzy:

  • Network effects are real

  • Requires millions of users

  • Massive infrastructure costs

  • Years of development

  • Huge marketing budget

What you'd get:

  • Basic CRUD app

  • No recommendation engine

  • Missing 99% of features

  • Cannot compete on scale

Reality: These companies have thousands of engineers and billions in investment

Better: Build for a specific niche with Buzzy, not "replace [giant company]"


Yellow Flags: Proceed with Caution

1. Marketplace Platforms (Two-Sided)

Examples:

  • Uber for X

  • Airbnb for Y

  • Freelancer marketplace

Challenges:

  • Chicken-and-egg problem (need buyers and sellers)

  • Payment processing complexity

  • Dispute resolution

  • Trust and safety

  • Marketing to two audiences

Can work if:

  • You have one side already (sellers or buyers)

  • Very specific niche

  • Simple to start

  • MVP is truly minimal

Reality: Most fail due to business, not technical, issues


2. Content Platforms (YouTube/Medium-like)

Examples:

  • Video hosting platform

  • Podcast hosting

  • Image sharing site

Challenges:

  • Storage costs scale quickly

  • Bandwidth expensive

  • Content moderation required

  • Copyright issues

  • Discovery/recommendation systems

Can work if:

  • Very small, specific audience

  • Users pay for hosting

  • Start with tiny storage limits

  • Use third-party hosting initially


3. Real-Time Collaboration Tools

Examples:

  • Google Docs competitor

  • Collaborative design tools

  • Real-time whiteboarding

Challenges:

  • Operational transformation complexity

  • Conflict resolution

  • Performance at scale

  • Offline sync

Can work if:

  • Use existing libraries (Yjs, Automerge)

  • Simple use case

  • Small number of simultaneous editors

  • Can tolerate some lag


4. Complex ML/AI Features

Examples:

  • Custom recommendation engines

  • Advanced NLP

  • Computer vision features

  • Predictive analytics

Challenges:

  • Requires ML expertise

  • Need training data

  • Model training infrastructure

  • Ongoing maintenance

Can work if:

  • Use pre-trained APIs (OpenAI, etc.)

  • Simple use cases

  • Willing to pay for API usage

  • Don't need custom models


Green Flags: Good Ideas for AI Development

✅ Internal Business Tools

Examples:

  • Team task management

  • Internal dashboards

  • Simple CRM for small team

  • Inventory tracking

Why it works:

  • Small user base

  • Forgiving users (your team)

  • Can iterate quickly

  • Clear requirements

  • Immediate feedback


✅ Niche Community Apps

Examples:

  • Local sports league tracker

  • Book club organizer

  • Recipe sharing for specific diet

  • Neighborhood event calendar

Why it works:

  • Specific, well-defined need

  • Small, engaged audience

  • Simple feature set

  • Personal connection to users


✅ Personal Productivity Tools

Examples:

  • Habit tracker

  • Expense logger

  • Reading list manager

  • Learning progress tracker

Why it works:

  • You're the user (fast feedback)

  • Simple data model

  • Clear success criteria

  • Low pressure


✅ Simple SaaS Tools

Examples:

  • Invoice generator

  • Simple form builder

  • Appointment scheduler

  • Simple survey tool

Why it works:

  • Well-understood problem

  • Many successful examples

  • Can start simple

  • Clear business model


The Reality Check Questions

Before starting any project, honestly answer:

1. Complexity Reality Check

Ask: "How many screens will this need?"

  • < 10 screens: Probably doable with Buzzy

  • 10-30 screens: Challenging but possible with Buzzy

  • 30+ screens: Very difficult, requires excellent planning

2. User Base Reality Check

Ask: "How many users do I need for this to work?"

  • Just me: Great!

  • < 100: Doable

  • 100-1000: Challenging

  • 1000+: Need professional development

3. Revenue Reality Check

Ask: "Will users pay for this?"

  • If no: Why are you building it?

  • If yes: How much? Is it worth your time?

  • If "ads": Need massive scale (probably not suitable)

4. Competition Reality Check

Ask: "What do competitors have?"

  • None: Might be no market, or great opportunity

  • A few small ones: Good validation

  • Giant companies: Are you sure?

5. Time Reality Check

Ask: "How long will this take?"

  • Hours-days: Probably realistic

  • Weeks: Possible with good planning

  • Months: Are you sure you understand the scope?

  • Years: This is not an AI project

6. Skill Reality Check

Ask: "Do I need expertise I don't have?"

  • No: Great!

  • Yes, but I can learn basics: Okay (Buzzy documentation can help)

  • Yes, need deep expertise: Buzzy might not be the right tool

The Simplification Test

Take your idea and answer:

"What's the absolute minimum version that's still useful?"

Example transformations:

"Social network for artists" → "Gallery where artists can post and comment"

"Uber for dog walking" → "Directory of dog walkers with booking calendar"

"AI-powered investment platform" → "Portfolio tracker with basic insights"

"Video editing platform" → "Simple video trimming tool"

If the simplified version:

  • Still sounds complex: Not ready for Buzzy

  • Sounds too simple to be useful: Original idea too ambitious

  • Sounds about right: Good candidate for Buzzy!

When to Stop

Stop immediately if:

  1. You're losing money fast

    • Cloud costs spiraling

    • Not generating revenue

    • Can't afford to continue

  2. It's taking 10x longer than expected

    • Original estimate: 2 weeks

    • Current status: 5 months in, still broken

    • This is a sign the idea is too complex

  3. You keep hitting fundamental walls

    • Can't make core feature work

    • Performance is terrible

    • Keep having to compromise on essentials

  4. Users consistently don't want it

    • Can't get people to use it

    • Feedback is "I don't need this"

    • You're the only user

  5. Legal/compliance issues

    • Lawyers telling you to stop

    • Regulatory requirements you can't meet

    • Liability concerns

Pivot Strategies

When your idea isn't working:

Option 1: Simplify Radically

  • Remove 80% of features

  • Focus on one thing

  • Make it really simple

Option 2: Change Audience

  • From general public to specific niche

  • From consumers to businesses

  • From global to local

Option 3: Change Scope

  • From platform to tool

  • From marketplace to directory

  • From social network to community

Option 4: Stop and Learn

  • This idea doesn't work (yet)

  • What did you learn?

  • What would you do differently?

  • What's the next project?

Success Stories: Simple Ideas That Worked

Real examples of successful "simple" apps:

Wordle: One puzzle per day, very simple Notion templates: Pre-built templates, not the platform Carrd: Simple one-page websites Buffer: Just schedule social posts (initially) Calendly: Just schedule meetings

What they have in common:

  • Solve one specific problem

  • Do it simply and well

  • Started very small

  • Grew based on user feedback

Final Wisdom

Build What You Can Actually Build

Not: "I want to build the next Facebook"

Yes: "I want to build a directory of local coffee shops with ratings"

Start Smaller Than You Think

Your first instinct is probably still too big.

Halve it: That's probably still too big.

Halve it again: Now you might be close.

The Goal Isn't the Idea

Wrong goal: Build the perfect, complete application

Right goal: Ship something useful, learn, iterate

Know When to Walk Away

Some ideas don't work. That's okay. You learned:

  • What doesn't work

  • How to evaluate ideas

  • What to try next

Failure is data, not a verdict on your abilities.

Next Steps

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