This post will examine the advantages and prospects of low code technology, its use cases, and applications for all developers regardless of experience level or newcomers. We offer advice to seasoned experts and newcomers looking for guidance when using low-code solutions.
What Is Low Code Development and Why Is It Necessary?
What is Low Code Development (LCD) is an approach to software development that employs visual models instead of manual coding in creating applications, significantly decreasing the time and effort required to develop. Low Code Development helps accelerate software development processes while improving their efficiencies while shortening development times as it eliminates repetitive manual code writing processes and time-to-market delays. Furthermore, Low Code Development makes development processes more inclusive by including nontechnical individuals such as business analysts or subject matter experts, thus creating more inclusive yet collaborative software creation processes!
Low Code Development Platforms often rely on visual models to represent various elements in an application, such as dashboards, data models, workflows, and forms. Below are examples of low-code graphical models.
- Workflow Diagrams- Graphical representation of steps and decisions involved in the process.
- Form builders- Users may customize and create data entry and collection forms.
- Dashboards- Visual representations of data and key performance indicators such as charts, graphs, and tables provide essential visual aids.
- Data Models- Data structures and their relationships.
- State Machines- An object or process's path through its various states. Also included are transitions that occur from state to state.
- Business Rules- Conditions and actions which define an application's behavior.
- UI prototyping- Visual representation that depicts the design and layout of an user interface/user experiences development when using it.
Visual models allow developers to quickly understand and modify applications without writing complex code, facilitating communication and collaboration among nontechnical stakeholders and technical staff. Together they help everyone work towards developing better apps faster together.
What Is The Distinction Between Low-Code Platforms And No-Code Platforms?
Low-code and no-code platforms aim to minimize manual programming requirements when developing applications; however, their respective strategies vary considerably regarding how much hand coding must be accomplished manually.
- Platforms with low-code: Low-code platforms enable developers to quickly build applications using visual models, thus decreasing manual coding requirements while still permitting some customization if required. Professional developers use such media to streamline development processes more efficiently.
Example Low-code Platforms are:
Martini
Bellini
Salesforce Lightning Platform
OutSystems
Microsoft Power Apps
- Platforms Without Code: These platforms remove manual coding from application development and enable nontechnical individuals to build apps using simple drag-and-drop interfaces, even without prior experience in programming languages. As a result, even individuals with technical skills backgrounds can build software applications even though they might need more expertise.
Some examples of platforms that do not require a code are:
Wix
Webflow
Retool
Microsoft Power Apps
Appy Pie
These approaches may appear similar, with low-code and no-code platforms offering similar platforms, further creating confusion for potential developers. Yet there are key distinctions that you should keep in mind between them.
Users
Low Code: Professional developers looking to eliminate duplicating basic code can use Automator to focus more on advanced features or innovations rather than duplicate basic tasks themselves. Automating standard aspects with syntax-agnostic coding enables reskilling and talent pool expansion for professional developers.
The No-Code: Business users with extensive domain knowledge who possess tech savvy but need to possess the necessary coding abilities may benefit from using an automation framework like Apigee Edge. Furthermore, this solution is ideal for teams consisting of business users and developers and small businesses with non-IT departments such as finance, HR, or legal that share offices.
Cases For Use
No code: Front-end applications designed quickly using drag-and-drop interfaces make an excellent use case of Elm. Such apps that report data, analyze it, import/export it quickly, or perform similar operations are ideal candidates.
No-code applications can also be a great solution to automate mundane business processes like Excel reports. It may not prioritize these projects, but no-code applications may help save business teams' lives! They are also suitable for smaller apps without extensive functionality, such as internal company apps.
With its Extensive Component Library: Low-code can scale to enterprise levels and is ideal for applications requiring heavy business logic. Low-code can also connect with external APIs or apps and build security-guarded systems requiring IT expertise.
Fasten Your Seatbelts
Low code: Traditional methods of software development process take longer, require additional training, development, and deployment efforts compared to agile-oriented ones, and may cause unnecessary expenses in terms of time spent creating software applications. By contrast, agile development methods provide faster solutions.
Low code is often faster to develop due to its highly configurable nature. Manual coding may also cut testing time in half since errors arise more easily with manual input. However, this aspect must be evaluated first to ensure data flows and configurations remain correct.
Closed Vs. Open Systems
Low-code: Users have the capability of adding functionality by manually altering code. This provides more flexibility and reuse options; users may create their own data sources or plugins specific to a use case and reuse them later. It should be noted. However, that testing must take place using all manually added codes before finalizing an LCAP project.
No code: Assuming you use an open system with templates as its expansion mechanisms, using boilerplate integrations and plugins limits the use cases you can address; however, keeping backward compatibility easier since no code must be manually written is still an advantage.
It Risk In The Shadows
Shadow IT risks have long been an issue when using low-code and no-code platforms; however, employing without-code systems requires little IT team involvement. Without close oversight from IT team personnel, this can result in parallel systems not being monitored closely, leading to security flaws and technical debt accumulation.Low-code, However, IT teams still manage this aspect. This may result in improved governance and controls.
Architectural Range
Low-code solutions outshone no-code alternatives regarding scalability, cross-platform compatibility, and ease of use. Custom plugins or code allowed for more platforms and implementation options.Code can only be partially extensible to legacy systems and scale accordingly; therefore, its uses and scalability become severely restricted.
Demand For Low Code Development: A Look At Industry Growth Trends
These statistics offer insight into Low Code Development's rapid expansion over time.Grand View Research's analysis suggests that the global low-code platform market will experience compound annual compound growth rates from 2022-2030 at a 22.9% compound yearly compound average rate.
Recent forecasts by Forrester project that the Low Code Development Market will grow from $10 billion in 2020 to $45.2 by 2026 at an impressive compound annual compound growth rate of 33.2% yearly. Low Code Development has become increasingly widespread within enterprises as they look to upgrade their tech stack and adapt it to meet changing customer and market demands.
The Advantages Of Low-Code Development
No-code/low-code development refers to using various tools for rapid application creation ranging from business apps and processes to IT processes. There are some shared characteristics across no/low code platforms, such as:
- Low-code APIs for direct integration and accessibility
- Drag and drop workflow designer
- Test and prototyping of workflows
Low-code tools may include advanced devops tools, monitoring, and resource management, depending on the platform used to develop them. Low-code development may also be utilized to converge enterprise processes or develop an app platform.
- Improved Business Agility: Low-code platforms can be expanded, enabling IT departments to leverage APIs, command lines, and web services, reusing APIs or web services more efficiently and allowing businesses to keep pace with trends in automation and customer demands more efficiently. Deploy and integrate new technologies and tools more smoothly while staying ahead of the competition more easily than before!
- CapEx/OpEx: Low-code development has transformed how IT creates solutions internally compared to purchasing external software packages, giving IT a much faster turnaround. No longer must they purchase SAP job coordination tools when creating processes using low code platforms - instead, this technology enables more immediate creation with limited resources required.
- Shadow It Is No Longer Needed: Business teams may implement software without consulting IT to manage it more quickly, as IT takes too long. IT departments can significantly decrease shadow IT by using low-code tools to deploy applications and processes without delay quickly.Additionally, users can manage and execute processes through user-friendly interfaces while citizen coders/developers can create apps themselves.
- Automation: More Automation in Less Time: Devops allows low-code platforms to quickly automate processes and tasks with low-code development tools like templates and variables for rapid platform creation and management; Workflow automation can also be activated based on IT or business events, and API access provides seamless automation solutions to any digital business processes.
- Rapid Iterations: Low-code platforms allow developers to adapt existing processes quickly as business needs shift, such as editing child jobs or documenting them quickly and iteratively. Revision History ensures any necessary changes can easily be reversed if required, and test facilities provide smooth operations once entering production.
- Increased Productivity: IT departments can maximize productivity with less effort by streamlining development and increasing automation, employing low-code applications that facilitate process simplification and streamlining development, such as monitoring systems that alert personnel of risks. If servers become overloaded, redirections of processes could help avoid bottlenecks, delays, and other complications - saving IT valuable time-fighting fires! These tools could execute remediation workflows so IT doesn't waste its precious resources fighting fires hourly!
Why Should Developers Who Appreciate Programming Embrace Low-Code Application Development?
Even if you are an experienced developer, low-code platforms offer many benefits.
- Productivity Increase: Low-code platforms help IT departments reduce manual coding by streamlining development. As such, these low-code platforms help accelerate application creation resulting in increased productivity and the capacity for new projects.
- Concentrate On High-Value Tasks: Coding can be enjoyable, but writing repetitive code quickly loses its thrills. By taking advantage of low-code platforms, you can focus on more valuable lessons, such as complex problem-solving or solution architecture instead.
- Better Collaboration: Low-code platforms enable more effective collaboration among stakeholders who do not possess technical abilities, like business analysts and subject matter experts. This results in improved approaches and increased cooperation.
- Reduced Time-to-Market: Platforms offering low-code development capabilities can speed your time-to-market for applications, enabling your organization to respond rapidly to business changes while staying ahead in an ever-evolving digital sphere.
- Support Agile Development: Low-code platforms are perfect for Agile Development as they allow rapid iterations on applications and changes as required, keeping pace with ever-evolving business requirements.
Read More: What Is The Difference Between Low-Code and Custom-Code Development?
What Applications Lend Themselves Well To Low-Code Development?
Rapid Prototyping: Low Code Platforms allow businesses to build prototypes to test and validate ideas quickly, significantly decreasing time and resource requirements for prototyping processes.
Agile Development: Low-code platforms make an excellent addition to agile development practices, as they enable developers to rapidly adjust applications according to changing business needs and keep pace with constant requirements updates. It makes managing changes simpler.
Projects With A Time-Sensitive Focus: Low-code platforms enable businesses to develop applications more rapidly, reduce time to market significantly, and respond quicker to changing business needs, making it ideal for time-sensitive projects.
Business Process Automation: Low-code platforms enable employees to automate processes to minimize manual labor while spending more time completing activities that add real value.
Development of Custom Applications: Low-code platforms enable you to develop custom applications quickly for marketing, sales, and customer support without relying on coded solutions.
Involvement of Nontechnical Participants: Low-code platforms enable nontechnical participants, like business analysts or subject matter experts, to actively contribute to software development processes without being restricted by technical or expertise limitations. This ensures greater collaboration and an inclusive approach.
Do There Exist Low-Code Platforms Between Front And Backend Engineers?
Both backend and front-end developers may utilize Low Code Development Platforms depending on their expertise and roles in development.
Low Code platforms enable backend developers to automate the creation of server-side code, including business logic, data integration, and external system integration. Low-code venues include prebuilt visual templates and models for tasks like connecting databases to APIs and providing authentication and security controls for backend tasks.
Low Code platforms allow front-end developers to build custom UI elements, customize forms and create interactive dashboards quickly with low coding requirements. Common Cod platforms offer pre built visual templates and tools for customizing user interfaces while supporting best practices such as responsive design and accessibility.Low Code platforms enable front-end developers and backend developers to focus on what they do best: creating innovative applications of superior quality.
What Are The Best Low-Code Backend Development Platforms?
Backend Development Platforms with Low Code:
- Mendix: An intuitive Low Code Platform with a visual approach for designing apps with integrations and backend development as its specialty.
- OutSystems: Low Code Platform with Visual Development Environment for Front-end and Backend Development focusing on Enterprise Integrations and Scalability.
- Salesforce Lighting: Salesforce customization can be simplified using a low-code platform with visual development environments for backend, API, and system integration development projects.
- Appian: Low-code platform featuring an integrated visual environment for rapid application development. This platform excels at connecting to enterprise systems while supporting backend development projects.
- Zoho creator: Low-code platform offering an accessible visual environment to develop custom business apps focused on data management and integration with Zoho Products.
- Martini: Martini is G2's highest-rated iPaaS platform. Suitable for creating API-centric backends using data sources like SQL or NoSQL databases, SaaS applications, customized line of business apps, or customized LOB apps; Bellini integrates seamlessly with Martini for creating low-code front-end apps.
Platforms provide many features and tools for automating backend development, including visual models, templates, prebuilt connections, and drag-and-drop functionality. This makes these platforms great for automating processes or developing complex business apps.
What Are The Best Low-Code Front-End Development Platforms?
Below are the best Low Code Development Platforms for Front-end Development:
- Wix: An accessible platform for building websites without needing to code.
- The bubble-Low-code: Platform features a Visual Development Environment to facilitate the development of custom mobile and online apps, emphasizing front-end development and user experience.
- Retool: Low-code development platform enables developers to build applications using prebuilt components and APIs quickly. It features an easy visual user interface for web and mobile apps and supports AWS/Google Sheet integrations for enhanced database support and backup functionality.
- AWS Honeycode: AWS Honeycode is a low-code cloud platform designed to enable developers to build custom apps quickly. Utilizing its visual user interface, users can rapidly create web and mobile applications without writing code - perfect for organizations of any size looking to rapidly scale applications faster and manage data with workflows or collaborate effectively across teams.
- Microsoft PowerApps: Microsoft PowerApps is an accessible platform that makes creating custom apps straightforward without needing to write code. With an easy graphical user interface for developing web-based mobile apps and desktop services like Dynamics 365 and SharePoint seamlessly integrated, PowerApps makes building custom solutions effortless and fast.
- Bellini: Bellini, a low-code application, is the premier tool for quickly creating front-end web apps. Users can use Bellini to generate dashboards and reports in an API-centric approach that links user interface elements directly with functionality provided by source APIs.
These platforms provide various features and tools for automating front-end development, including visual models, templates, prebuilt components, and drag-and-drop functionality. This makes these platforms great for automating processes and building web apps.
Can We Use A Low-Code Platform To Create A Native Mobile App?
Most low-code platforms feature an intuitive drag-and-drop interface to help create native mobile applications with minimal coding required. Furthermore, each low-code forum comes equipped with templates and components, making creating dashboards, forms, or workflows faster and simpler than ever.
To create an application that is robust and scalable, it's crucial to gain an in-depth knowledge of its underlying technology, including APIs, database structures, and data structures. Some customizations or more complex functions may require custom coding, but this should still require less code than traditional approaches.
The Top 9 Low-Code Platforms
Now that you possess an in-depth knowledge of low-code platforms, perhaps now is an opportune time to invest in one.
These platforms have received the utmost praise in various circles of software developers.
1. Appian
Appian is a platform with low-code capabilities and native deployment tools, and seamless integration with DevOps tools like Jenkins.Appian is an enterprise software solution for creating business processes and applications for any industry or sector.BPM software assists businesses to optimize and organize business processes more effectively.
2. Mendix
Mendix provides an open platform for developing and testing apps.Mendix was established in 2005, and now over 4000 businesses rely on it. Model-Driven Engineering (MDE) is its core component development methodology emphasizing abstract modeling.
3. OutSystems
OutSystems provides businesses with an omnichannel development platform for low-code application creation across various channels and mediums.Platforms boasting real-time dashboards, robust security measures, and rapid development are highly sought-after features.
4. Quickbase
Quickbase allows users to build workflows quickly. Teams using QuickBase may find ways of solving bottlenecks or reforming operations more effectively using this powerful solution.Quickbase also boasts No-Code capabilities; its prebuilt marketplace and integrations with third parties make for powerful assets on this platform.
5. Zoho Creator
Zoho, an Indian multinational tech company best known for its CRM (customer relationship management) tool, is well-regarded among business marketers.Zoho Creator stands out as an accessible visual platform with intuitive no-code/low-code development features that have long been an established player on the market.
6. Kissflow
Kissflow describes itself as an online digital workplace solution, and its primary role is workflow and process control.Kissflow's rule-based approach eliminates the need to code while offering flexibility through conditions to customize custom workflow. Based on this low-code foundation, kiss flow provides users with robust solutions at their fingertips.
7. Salesforce Lightning
Marketers may already know Salesforce; marketers frequently compare HubSpot and Salesforce as competing CRM platforms.On the other hand, Salesforce Lightning is an application framework composed of components. These low-code pieces allow developers to construct apps quickly.
8. Microsoft Power Application
Microsoft Power Apps makes creating custom business apps quickly and effortlessly possible.Amazingly, the artificial intelligence component of this service has been so well thought out and executed.Over 200 connectors allow you to link disparate systems and data together seamlessly.
9. Nintex
Nintex provides an easy and low-code platform for automating workflow and process automation, helping accelerate digital transformation within organizations of any size.Nintex holds an outstanding rating among various industries; more than 10,000 organizations across different verticals report positive investment returns with Nintex.
Low-Code Development Is Not Going Away
Low Code Development (Low Code) is an innovative new approach in custom software development services that allows businesses to produce apps more rapidly with less manual coding, using drag-and-drop interfaces and templates designed specifically to enable nontechnical people to build applications without writing code directly. Developers are freed from complex tasks while error chances decrease dramatically for more reliable, accurate applications.
Low-Code Development provides many advantages, from increased productivity and quicker time-to-market to cost savings and enhanced accuracy - as well as supporting Agile development methodologies. Low-Code platforms can be utilized for rapid prototyping or Agile development projects and time-sensitive tasks like automating business processes or developing custom applications while engaging nontechnical users in the development process.
Low Code Development gives businesses a competitive edge in an increasingly challenging business environment. It enables them to respond quickly to business changes while meeting customer requirements for applications rapidly and cost-effectively. Low Code Development should form part of any technology toolkit regardless of its role: business analyst or subject-matter expert.
