CodeFast
Review

Learn to code in weeks, not months

Medium
  • Last updated 02/06/2025
by Marc Lou

What you'll learn ? Overview

We discovered CodeFast while searching for practical coding courses that actually deliver results, and what caught our attention was Marc Lou's impressive track record. This isn't your typical theoretical programming course, it's a 12-hour video program designed to get you building real SaaS applications in just 14 days.

Created by Marc Lou, a solopreneur who generated $1.5 million in annual revenue and earned $528,000 from ShipFast in just four months, the course brings serious entrepreneurial credibility to the table. We were particularly interested in how someone with over 100,000 followers across social platforms translated that success into teaching.

The curriculum covers the entire modern web development stack: HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Next.js, Tailwind CSS, and MongoDB. What sets it apart is the integration with payment processors like Stripe and Lemon Squeezy, plus authentication systems using Supabase. You're not just learning to code, you're learning to build revenue-generating applications.

We noticed the course structure follows a logical progression through 14 modules, starting with mindset and stack overview, then diving into practical implementation. Students build everything from user authentication and database management to payment processing and email systems. The inclusion of code snippets and a private Discord community adds practical support that's often missing in self-paced courses.

At $169 for lifetime access (or $299 bundled with the ShipFast boilerplate), CodeFast positions itself in the mid-ticket range. For developers who already have some JavaScript knowledge, this could be a fast track to launching profitable web applications. The question is whether it lives up to its bold promise of shipping a SaaS in days, not months.

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Is this course for you?

πŸ‘‰

Prior experience needed

Intermediate (Some Foundational Knowledge Recommended)

πŸ‘‰

Time commitment

moderate Moderate (5–10 Hours/Week)

πŸ‘‰

Learning style

Self-Paced (Work On Your Own Schedule)

πŸ‘‰

Goal

Learn A New Skill

Best suited for:

Developers with JavaScript experience looking to rapidly build SaaS MVPs, indie hackers wanting to launch products quickly, freelancers seeking to expand into SaaS development, technical founders needing a structured development framework

Instructor

Marc Lou

Solopreneur and SaaS Founder Legitimacy Score: 9/10
Marc Lou is a highly successful solopreneur and startup founder, renowned for his expertise in building and scaling SaaS businesses. Based in France, Marc has launched over 20 ventures, with seven achieving profitability. His standout platform, ShipFast, generates $54,000 monthly. Marc's journey from multiple failed startups to creating a million-dollar business has made him an influential figure in the tech and marketing space, inspiring both seasoned entrepreneurs and newcomers.
Marc's entrepreneurial journey spans several years, marked by the launch of over 20 startups. His breakthrough came with ShipFast, a boilerplate for entrepreneurs to launch startups quickly. In just four months, ShipFast generated $528,000 in revenue. Marc's experience includes developing AI tools, SaaS products, and various other tech solutions. His approach of 'failing fast and pivoting faster' has been crucial to his success, allowing him to refine his business strategies and product development processes.
β€’ Product Hunt 2023 Maker of the Year
β€’ Generated $1.5 million in annual revenue as a solopreneur
β€’ Launched ShipFast, earning $528,000 in just 4 months
β€’ Successfully bootstrapped and scaled multiple SaaS businesses
β€’ Built a loyal audience of over 100,000 followers across social media platforms
β€’ Recognized as a top 1% Marketing & Sales influencer in France
β€’ Guest on 'The Morning Maker Show' podcast, discussing app development strategies
β€’ Featured speaker at various startup and tech conferences (specific events N/A)
β€’ Regular contributor to entrepreneurship and tech forums online
β€’ Hosted live coding sessions on YouTube, demonstrating rapid app development
Marc Lou maintains an active online presence across multiple platforms. On YouTube, he posts an average of 3.2 videos per month, focusing on SaaS development, startup strategies, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of his projects. His content consistently garners high engagement, with an average of 1.7K engagements per video. On Twitter (now X), Marc shares daily insights, engaging actively with his audience. His newsletter, 'Just Ship It,' reaches over 32,000 entrepreneurs, providing valuable content on startup ideation, fast launches, and profitability strategies.

Course Details

  • ⏱ Duration14
  • πŸ“Ά DifficultyMedium
  • βŒ› Access Lifetime
  • ⏰ Time investmentModerate (5–10 Hours/Week)

🧠 Prerequisites

Solid JavaScript fundamentals required, React/Next.js experience strongly recommended


πŸ’» Requirements

Computer with Node.js capabilities, stable internet connection, code editor (VS Code recommended)


πŸ’Έ Hidden Costs

Third-party services (Supabase, Stripe, Mailgun) have free tiers but may require paid plans as you scale


πŸ™‹β€β™‚οΈ Support Options

Private Discord community, direct access to Marc Lou, peer support network

Course content

  • Module 1: Welcome (1 min) - Course introduction and overview
  • Module 2: Mindset (9 mins) - Entrepreneurial approach to rapid development
  • Module 3: The Stack (20 mins) - Next.js, Supabase, Stripe, Lemon Squeezy, Mailgun overview
  • Module 4: Setup your project (10 mins) - Development environment initialization
  • Module 5: User Authentication (50 mins) - Social logins, magic links, password reset with Supabase
  • Module 6: Database (40 mins) - Supabase tables, Row Level Security, foreign keys, backups
  • Module 7: File Storage (30 mins) - File uploads, deletions, CDN integration with Supabase
  • Module 8: Payments (60 mins) - Stripe/Lemon Squeezy integration, webhooks, checkout, customer portals
  • Module 9: Emails (30 mins) - Transactional and marketing emails, DNS configuration
  • Module 10: App (120 mins) - Layout, forms, SEO, error handling, dark mode, i18n
  • Module 11: Launch (30 mins) - Pre-launch checklist, analytics setup, legal pages
  • Bonus Module: Monetize your boilerplate (20 mins) - Building in public, affiliate marketing strategies
  • Bonus Resources: Code snippets folder and private Discord community access

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Feedbacks

Overall sentiment

Based on our research, CodeFast generates mostly positive reactions from students who appreciate Marc Lou's practical, no-nonsense approach to teaching SaaS development. The course benefits from Marc's established reputation in the indie hacker community, though as a newer offering, long-term reviews are still emerging.

Praised points

  • Practical implementation focus that gets students building real applications quickly
  • Comprehensive tech stack coverage including modern tools like Next.js, Supabase, and Stripe
  • Active instructor support with Marc Lou regularly engaging in the Discord community

Criticisms

  • Requires existing JavaScript knowledge, making it less suitable for complete beginners
  • Limited independent reviews due to the course being relatively new to market
  • Some debate about instructor expertise with critics questioning depth of technical knowledge

Testimonials

"I was able to launch my SaaS in 2 weeks thanks to CodeFast!" - Damon Chen (damonchen.org)

"Most valuable course I've taken in 2024" - Twitter user

"Basic and straight to the point. Its interesting and engaging content so you aren't bored skipping through the course!" - Product Hunt reviewer

"He explains exactly how much you need to implement" - Twitter user

"I started with zero experience and now I have started building my own websites" - CodeFast student

Social insights

Twitter discussions show enthusiasm from Marc Lou's followers, with users like @NoCodeAdvocate praising the launch. However, we found some criticism on Indie Hackers regarding marketing claims and technical expertise. Reddit conversations about Marc's other products (particularly ShipFast) trend positive, though specific CodeFast discussions remain limited.

Video review

Marketing Analysis

Claim Verification

The "ship your SaaS in days" promise appears realistic for developers with prerequisite skills building MVPs. We found multiple testimonials of students launching within 2 weeks, though this refers to functional MVPs rather than fully-scaled businesses.

Price History

Currently $169 for the course alone, $299 bundled with ShipFast. As a newer course, significant price history isn't available yet.

Upsell Practices

Main upsell is the ShipFast boilerplate bundle ($299 vs $169 standalone), which provides genuine additional value. No high-pressure tactics observed.

Student Success

Verifiable success stories include Damon Chen launching his SaaS in 2 weeks, and students creating projects like "allinclip.io" with improved conversion rates. Sarah Dayan (known developer) also endorses the course.

Platform & Delivery

Learning Platform

Hosted on Podia, a reliable platform known for smooth video streaming and user-friendly interface

Content Accessibility

Lifetime access to all videos and updates, downloadable code snippets included, streaming-based video content

Mobile Compatibility

Full mobile responsiveness through Podia's platform, accessible on smartphones and tablets

Technical Requirements

Modern web browser, 5+ Mbps internet for video streaming, Node.js environment for implementation

Red flags check

😬

Complaints

We found minimal significant complaints about CodeFast itself. Some criticism exists on Indie Hackers regarding Marc Lou's technical expertise and marketing approach, but no widespread issues with course delivery or content quality have emerged.

😬

Refund policy issues

The course offers a clear refund policy: 100% money back if less than 10% is watched within 7 days of purchase. This is more restrictive than some competitors but still provides buyer protection.

😬

Marketing practices

The "ship your SaaS in days, not months" claim is bold but appears achievable for developers with existing JavaScript knowledge building MVPs. Marketing focuses on speed and practical results without making unrealistic income promises.

😬

Community feedback

The private Discord community receives positive mentions, with Marc Lou reportedly being responsive to questions. No major community-related concerns surfaced in our research.

Is this course legit?

Value For Money

At $169, CodeFast delivers strong value for its target audience. The 12 hours of focused content, lifetime access, code snippets, and active community support justify the mid-ticket price point. For developers who implement the teachings and launch even one successful SaaS, the ROI potential far exceeds the investment.

Conclusion

After thorough analysis, we can confirm that CodeFast is a legitimate course that delivers on its core promise for the right audience. Marc Lou brings genuine entrepreneurial success ($1.5M in revenue, 100K+ followers) and packages that experience into a practical, actionable curriculum.

The course excels in several areas: it covers a modern, relevant tech stack (Next.js, Supabase, Stripe), provides hands-on implementation rather than just theory, and includes valuable resources like code snippets and community access. The legitimacy score of 8.1/10 reflects both its strengths and areas for consideration.

We found the main limitation is the prerequisite knowledge required, this isn't for complete beginners but rather developers with JavaScript experience ready to level up. The relatively new status means fewer long-term reviews exist, though early feedback trends positive.

For developers serious about building SaaS applications quickly, CodeFast offers a structured path from idea to launch. The $169 price point represents solid value in the mid-ticket category, especially considering the potential time savings and practical knowledge gained. While some debate exists about technical depth, students consistently report successfully launching applications, which ultimately validates the course's practical approach.

FAQs about this course

CodeFast is a 12-hour video course by Marc Lou that teaches developers how to build and launch SaaS applications in 14 days using modern technologies like Next.js, Supabase, and Stripe

It's designed for developers with JavaScript knowledge who want to quickly build SaaS MVPs. Complete beginners should learn JavaScript basics first before attempting this course

The course costs $169 for lifetime access, or $299 when bundled with the ShipFast Next.js boilerplate template

Yes, CodeFast offers a refund within 7 days if you've watched less than 10% of the course content

You'll master HTML, CSS, JavaScript, React, Next.js, Tailwind CSS, MongoDB, plus integrations with Supabase for auth, Stripe/Lemon Squeezy for payments, and email services

The course contains 12 hours of video content designed to be completed over 14 days with moderate time investment of 5-10 hours per week

Yes, for a functional MVP. Students report launching basic SaaS applications within 2 weeks, though building a fully-scaled business naturally takes longer

You get access to a private Discord community where Marc Lou actively participates, plus downloadable code snippets and lifetime course updates

Review statistics

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CodeFast screenshot
CodeFast Review
$ 169
Total score: 8,2/10 ⭐
  • Duration14
  • DifficultyMedium
  • Release Date01/2024
  • Format Self-Paced
  • AccessLifetime
  • Time InvestmentModerate (5–10 Hours/Week)
  • Payment Options One-Time
  • LanguageEnglish
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CodeFast Review