Understanding the future of software development - Low Code and No Code

Dipen patel
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June 20, 2020

What Is Low-Code Development?

Low code is a software development method that requires minimal coding to build applications and processes. The low-key development platform uses simple visual interface and drag and drop features instead of comprehensive writing languages. These clever tools allow users with no formal code or software development to build applications for many purposes such as mobile apps and business applications.

Key features of Low Code 

Low code forums provide a powerful visual drag-and-drop interface that allows users to build applications for a variety of business activities, from client-focused applications to integration with third-party solutions. Users can create several types of business applications, such as:

Customer Performance Programs:

Build any business-level app for different business functions. These apps can be anything from customer-focused apps to sophisticated business processes to get the most effective customer interaction and personalization.

Efficiency Programs:

Create applications that perform processes automatically to increase efficiency. These apps offer a few business benefits that include reduced costs and reduced risk of automatic error.

Business Procedures:

Define workflow and create workflow processes of any complexity so that you can perform tasks automatically across several departments.

UI, Data and Business Logic Model:

Define and configure data models, business intelligence, and UI (visual usage) for web applications and mobile devices.

AI-Based Solutions:

Build applications that use AI and machine learning algorithms to process data efficiently to reduce manual performance and speed up efficiency.

What Is No-Code Development?

No-code development is a method that allows codes and non-professional users to build applications with visual modeling and configuration tools. No-code movement accelerates application development and fulfills the need for automated workflow and custom software creation faster than conventional coding methods. No-code allows every employee to become a citizen engineer without having to learn to write codes. This, in turn, helps businesses to accelerate operations, quickly adjust processes to change, better meet customer and employee needs, and grow.

Key Features of No Code 

Visual Modeling Tools:

Creating apps using visual methods and models is faster than developing using code. Powered with visual modeling capabilities, no-code platforms use built-in components to represent any information in a form that is readable to anyone – from regular business users with no tech skills to professional developers.

Out-Of-The-Box Functionality:

Leading low-code systems provide OOTB (out-of-the-box) functionality, which eliminates the need to build core modules for apps from scratch. For example, some no-code platforms include modules for data management or modules for customer-facing apps, such as service management or sales processes management.

Drag-And-Drop Interfaces:

Every established no-code platform has drag-and-drop abilities. It is one of the most useful and important features that enables an easy development process. Both citizen developers and professional developers benefit from the convenient drag-and-drop features provided during the creation of applications.

Reusability:

One major aspect of no-code development’s OOTB functionality is the usage of pre-configured modules and functionality for apps. These modules have common core functions needed for several apps, and they can be reused to develop different solutions more quickly. It’s essential that a low-code platform allows users to reuse prebuilt or newly-developed modules, plug-ins, and entire applications to develop necessary apps faster.

Cross-Platform Accessibility:

No-code tools are accessible from any device and don’t require special technical equipment. Moreover, its cross-platform compatibility allows users to build apps that can also run on all core platforms and devices.

Scalability:

No-code platforms provide scalability. They allow users to build new applications that can handle an increase in customers, business growth, and other changes in business strategy and development.

Application Lifecycle Management:

No-code streamlines several stages in the software development lifecycle, such as debugging, testing, and deployment. In addition to these benefits, users get the ability to access information about the apps created and their development. Users also can revert to previous versions if needed for better application lifecycle management.

Distinguishing Low Code and No Code  

The difference between no-code and low-code development platforms mainly depends on three related points:

Coding skills.

No-code platforms don’t require technical knowledge and thus are accessible to any end-business user. Low-code requires developers with knowledge of coding who can work within a platform to support and streamline the development process.

Core design.

With no-code platforms an end user chooses an app's design through drag-and-drop logic. Low-code solutions provide a similar development model but with more dependence on coding for managing an app's core architecture.

User Interface.

No-code relies on a preset UI layer which streamlines applications design. Low-code platforms provides more flexibility in UI options, but at the cost of additional coding requirements.

What makes Low Code and No Code Similar?

Low-code and no-code share some common goals: to speed up software development, lessen the risk of coding errors, and increase agility. There are similarities in the way these goals are achieved. Both technologies enable a visual way to build applications, utilizing visual integrated development platforms (IDEs). Both enable builders to drag-and-drop pre-coded blocks instead of continuously writing code from scratch. Basically, less coding = faster development.

Uses for low-code/no-code development platforms

Low-code and no-code development platforms can be used to create apps for various business or technical purposes -- provided that the apps have no complex programming requirements and require little or no customization.
These platforms can be used to develop apps aimed at operational efficiencies, such as computerizing manual and paper-based processes or contributing to business process management efforts. They can also be used to modernize legacy systems, thereby helping organizations advance their digital transformations, further their migration to the cloud or support their use of newer innovative technologies such as IoT and artificial intelligence.
Furthermore, these platforms can be used to create business apps used by workers, as well as apps used by business partners; they can also be used to create customer engagement apps.

To Summarize - 

No-Code and Low-Code are the future of software development. In times to come, more and more application development will be done by citizen developers using no-code and low-code platforms. It will provide the required governance for the development across business functions.
written by
Dipen patel
Founder

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