[pepeto]

Getting a partner only because he is a friend does NOT cover basic requirements for partnership.

Explanation:

Your idea is not going to work if no one knows how to code. Period. Your friend starting now will need a minimum of couple years to get to an OK level to build what you want. Your product will have bugs, inefficient code, hard to maintain. Given that, the only way to make it is if the market and idea are exceptionally strong and really pull you in sales so you hire someone better. Not likely.

What could happen?

Being honest and meaningful now with him is important because it will settle thigs right between you guys. If you keep him only because of friendship (yet worse, afraid to break friendship- if he is a friend he would understand whats meaningful for both) there will always be tension between you, low morale, the business will not move fast and things eventually will fall apart. Keep in mind also that you are getting him into something log term that is not likely to work this specific way, which is a bad favor.

What to do?

In my opinion, to keep the friendship and the business be honest with your friend and find a programmer to partner with. Or at least bring in a third person experienced coder. Otherwise it feels like you will lose both.