What is low-code?
Benefits of low–code
Types of low-code platforms
Examples of low-code platforms
What is the difference between low-code and no-code?
What needs to be included in low-code development programs? The features of low-code.
Re-cap
The low-code, no-code movement has taken the startup and developer world by storm in recent years. But what is this? What does it mean? And how can you use low-code within your business to help scale?
We have put together a guide to low-code to help you better understand this type of development tool and how it can be used to help your developers or business.
Low-code is what the title suggests, something that requires low-coding. It is a software development approach that involves little code to make it work or function.
So rather than complex programming, you are able to use an application from the outset. The configurability was made possible through intuitive steps, then evolved into simple drag-and-drop functionality or visual interface with basic logistics and low-coding. The best thing about low-code is you don’t need advanced skills or knowledge around coding to be able to build applications or systems within your business.
With a quick and easy process related to a lot of low-code software, these are becoming a lot more popular. Now when businesses, owners or entrepreneurs are looking for systems and platforms within their business, they are turning to low-code alternatives.
What is low-code development?
It is an alternative to the usual “by hand” computer programming. Low-code development is a framework that allows a programming environment where creating software without the code being done by hand.
As mentioned, low-code is a quick and easy solution to implement applications and systems within a business. But here are some added benefits of using a low-code development platform:
There are different types of low-code platforms. These have been categorized by Forrester and it really comes down to what you are trying to do. However, general-purpose is usually what most people need since they are designed to replace those low-level coding platforms such as Java.
There are also two types of users that will engage in low-code development. Low-code is here to help both developers and businesses. One platform will either be here to serve and help a developer increase their time working on a project. Where other platforms are here to make coding easy for the everyday user. Usually, a platform isn’t here to help both.
Appian
Used by small to large businesses to help create business process management apps. This ensures that the processes that keep the lights on for a business are best organized and optimized. Appian also has great integration options like Jenkins, and has native deployment tools.
Mendix
With more than 4000 companies currently using the platform, Mendix uses model-driven engineering, which often employs more abstract modelling. Mendix as a platform allows for testing, building and deploying of applications.
Quickbase
A development platform that helps businesses create workflows. This can be best utilized by teams looking to remove bottlenecks and optimize their current operations. The marketplace that exists on the platform makes it a dream to use, as are the third-party integrations.
But of course, there is some hot competition for low-code. That is the world of no-code!
To give you a quick overview, low-code is aimed to help and target more developers. A low-code platform is aimed at those with technological skills and enables coders to work more quickly. If there are tools and programs out there to make the job faster for developers, that is better.
No-code is more targeted at businesses and users because no part of this platform requires the need to manually add or edit code. It focuses on providing a user-friendly interface to negate the technical part of the platform. The more intuitive the interface and platform is the better experience for the user. This is the aim of no-code. Upflowy is a no-code platform.
The difference is the work needed for both. Low-code does need some coding. The coding is part of the construction of the platform and is here to ensure the creator has the power they need within the platform. No-code doesn’t need any coding (hence no-code). This makes no-code cheaper and simpler to use.
Usually, low-code provides more extendability than no-code. Also, for Upflowy, it's our strategy to start with low-code and walk our way to no-code as it is allowing us to hit the market faster and deliver value to our customers quicker. Most of our Enterprise customers actually leverage the low-code aspect by tweaking our solution to their preferences.
Low-code has features that are here to help reduce time, reduce costs and allow for more scalability within the business. These are the types of features that can be included (or must be) within low-code development. Low-code platforms would expose online code-editing UI to ease the writing process of code and enforce schema conformity.
Visual tools
When you have templates and visual guides, creating development apps takes way less time. When low-code systems are built with visual tools and modeling features, they use elements that reflect the details in a way anyone can understand. Whether they are developers or non-technical people.
Drag-and-drop
The drag-and-drop functionality in low-code is a very well-known approach. It is a very valuable function that helps with the production process. Drag-and-drop is here to support both non-technical and developers.
Out-of-the-box functionality
The out-of-the-box (OOTB) software removed the need to create core elements within an application from the very beginning. These could include data storage or customer-facing elements.
What you need to know about low-code
The summary of low-code as a recap for you!
What is the meaning of low-code?
Low-code is software development that helps IT developers build and work within applications using minimal coding. Building applications using all code can take months and months to create. Low-code can take hours or days to build, depending on the platforms used.
Will we see low-code in the future?
While the no-code movement is taking the developer (and business world) by storm, it will definitely continue to have its place within the developing and business community. Read more here.
Can I learn low-code?
You don’t need to be an extremely skilled developer to learn or use low-code. All you need is a basic understanding. This knowledge will help you customize apps rather than just drag and drop already made templates.
Who works with low-code?
There are two types who will work with low-code. The developers who want to produce more in less time. Or there are those who are in business and have a basic code understanding. It encourages them to customize their applications rather than just drag and drop.
What do I need to think about when it comes to low-code?
Even if a low-code program looks good and is user-friendly, it needs to be safe and secure. Before the low-code development starts, the application needs to be protected. You also need to make sure the low-code program is scalable.