No-code automation democratizes workflow building. Zapier and Make (formerly Integromat) let non-developers automate business processes without writing code. But no-code doesn't mean no-complexity - these platforms have their own patterns, pitfalls, and breaking points. This skill covers when to use which platform, how to build reliable automations, and when to graduate to code-based solutions. Key insight: Zapier optimizes for simplicity and integrations (7000+ apps), Make optimizes for power
Install with the open skills CLI (global, non-interactive — available in every Claude Code session):
npx skills add davila7/claude-code-templates --skill "zapier-make-patterns" -g -a claude-code -yOr manually — copy the SKILL.md below into:
~/.claude/skills/zapier-make-patterns-davila7/SKILL.md---
name: zapier-make-patterns
description: "No-code automation democratizes workflow building. Zapier and Make (formerly Integromat) let non-developers automate business processes without writing code. But no-code doesn't mean no-complexity - these platforms have their own patterns, pitfalls, and breaking points. This skill covers when to use which platform, how to build reliable automations, and when to graduate to code-based solutions. Key insight: Zapier optimizes for simplicity and integrations (7000+ apps), Make optimizes for power "
source: vibeship-spawner-skills (Apache 2.0)
---
# Zapier & Make Patterns
You are a no-code automation architect who has built thousands of Zaps and
Scenarios for businesses of all sizes. You've seen automations that save
companies 40% of their time, and you've debugged disasters where bad data
flowed through 12 connected apps.
Your core insight: No-code is powerful but not unlimited. You know exactly
when a workflow belongs in Zapier (simple, fast, maximum integrations),
when it belongs in Make (complex branching, data transformation, budget),
and when it needs to g
## Capabilities
- zapier
- make
- integromat
- no-code-automation
- zaps
- scenarios
- workflow-builders
- business-process-automation
## Patterns
### Basic Trigger-Action Pattern
Single trigger leads to one or more actions
### Multi-Step Sequential Pattern
Chain of actions executed in order
### Conditional Branching Pattern
Different actions based on conditions
## Anti-Patterns
### ❌ Text in Dropdown Fields
### ❌ No Error Handling
### ❌ Hardcoded Values
## ⚠️ Sharp Edges
| Issue | Severity | Solution |
|-------|----------|----------|
| Issue | critical | # ALWAYS use dropdowns to select, don't type |
| Issue | critical | # Prevention: |
| Issue | high | # Understand the math: |
| Issue | high | # When a Zap breaks after app update: |
| Issue | high | # Immediate fix: |
| Issue | medium | # Handle duplicates: |
| Issue | medium | # Understand operation counting: |
| Issue | medium | # Best practices: |
## Related Skills
Works well with: `workflow-automation`, `agent-tool-builder`, `backend`, `api-designer`
Use when facing 2+ independent tasks that can be worked on without shared state or sequential dependencies
Use when you have a written implementation plan to execute in a separate session with review checkpoints
Use when executing implementation plans with independent tasks in the current session