Seeking strategic guidance for developing my first app

Hello everyone, I’m preparing to develop my first application and would like to gather strategic advice from experienced developers and founders.

The concept I’m exploring focuses on helping international students connect for study support and language exchange. I’m currently studying Japanese and English, and I plan to learn some Chinese as well to better understand potential user groups and market behavior.

At this stage, I’m researching development approaches and planning the structure of the project. I would appreciate insights on:

Whether starting with no-code tools or traditional development is more effective for a first project

Core skills and knowledge that are essential early in the process

Common pitfalls that new creators should avoid

Recommended resources or tools for planning, prototyping, and early development

I’m committed to approaching this project seriously and building a strong foundation from the beginning. Thank you in advance for any guidance or recommendations.