One of the novelties in the world of software development, these tools do not require in-depth knowledge of programming languages and can save developers time – but they also have important limitations.
This article is part of our Software Development series.
The world of software development, just like any other activity that deals with new and upcoming technologies, sees trends emerging from time to time. Some of them mean nothing and disappear as quickly as they appeared. Others, however, can have a real impact on the way we do business , at least momentarily. This appears to be the case for low-code/no-code platforms.
As the name suggests, no-code and low-code are 2 methodologies that allow you to develop an application with minimal programming or no traditional programming at all. This means that development is done on the front-end, with the developer using features such as drag and drop options and menus to select the features they want to integrate and configure what the application should do.
As with virtually any methodology a software developer chooses to follow, there are notable advantages and disadvantages that can make no-code/low-code more or less suitable for your project. Let's take a look at some of them.
Low code vs. low code No code
Before we start going into detail about what low-code and no-code alternatives can do for those looking for software development, it's important to first get something out of the way. Typically, we see both low-code and no-code being treated almost identically, analyzed and scrutinized as a trend or solution that doesn't require advanced programming knowledge. While the last part may be true, it's important to remember that low-code and no-code are not the same thing .
On the one hand, no-code provides a way for someone who is not familiar with programming to develop an application by leveraging pre-programmed features. On the other hand, low-code solutions can even help experienced developers get their work done faster. Low-code platforms can range from software that corrects mistyped code, offers alternatives for the next line of code a developer is writing, or even analyzes written code and provides information on how to improve it.
The fact is that not all low-code/no-code platforms are the same , and if you think they are a good option for your project and want to take advantage of their advantages, you need to look for the one that best suits your specific needs.
Faster implementation
Developing software is not an easy process. It takes a lot of work and several professionals collaborating on a considerable number of tasks to achieve a quality product from start to finish. By employing low-code/no-code alternatives, you can reduce this time considerably as the sometimes arduous work of writing thousands of lines of code is bypassed in favor of a unique front-end development process.
This more hands-on approach also means that fewer people would need to be involved in the actual development. With fewer thinking heads, there are fewer conflicts to resolve, fewer balancing needs, and consequently, considerably less time to spend getting everyone on the same page regarding many different issues.
Diverse entry
The fact that virtually anyone with a low-level understanding of what it takes to develop an application can get involved in low-code/no-code platforms also means that a wider group of individuals can contribute to their efforts and points of interest. view of the project. I mean, think about it: if you're faced with an undertaking that you know absolutely nothing about, it's unlikely you'll be able to contribute to the process.
But if development is being implemented on a low-code/no-code platform, C-level executives who don't have programming experience but who can contribute their unique vision, for example, may be motivated to look at what's happening. being done and offer an idea or two.
Lack of customization
As with most things in life, low-code/no-code methodologies also have their drawbacks. One of them refers to the limitations on customization options . Being an out-of-the-box, one-size-fits-all solution, these systems are clearly incapable of serving everyone who needs software development.
They offer some customization features, evidently. However, if you choose to develop your application from start to finish with a team of software engineers, you can have each component tailored to your business needs. With low-code/no-code, you will never achieve this.
Platform dependency
Another problem with these platforms is that you will be limited to what the low-code/no-code platform has to offer for each stage of development. This could be in terms of the visual presentation of your app, the actions you are planning for it, the integration features you want to attach to it, and so on.
As with the issue of customization, a dedicated team of developers working on an app will not be limited by any pre-programmed platform. This means your project can do just about anything you can imagine, as long as you give your developers and software engineers the tools, time, and budget they need to pull it off.
Whether a true revolution or a temporary method to deploy applications in a shorter period of time, the use of low-code/no-code platforms has gained considerable popularity in the world of software development. Knowing how to take advantage of their advantages and overcome possible setbacks will certainly help you make use of these tools to improve your code, save time and deploy even better applications.
More related articles in our Software Development Series.
