Brief Guide to Low-Code and No-Code Development Platforms

Businesses take advantage of modern technology and are trying to keep up with the pace of the digital transformation. It is quite difficult to imagine a company that does not have a website or an app nowadays. 

However, traditional approaches to software development may be time-consuming and costly. But what if you need to do it quickly and with minimal expenses? Then you may consider going for low-code or no-code platforms to assemble an app.

What is low-code/no-code movement, which are the pros and cons of such platforms, and in which cases you should choose traditional software development — you will be able to find an answer to all these questions in our article. The ultimate goal — is to give you a range of options to determine whether it is low-code or no-code you should consider for a business. 

Low-Code Development Platforms

According to GlobeNewswire, the low-code development platform market is expected to rise to $187 billion by 2030. Amazing predictions, right? What is even more amazing is the fact that in 2019 the low code development platform market was only $10.3 billion. According to Gartner, the no-code-low-code platform market will grow to $12.3 billion in 2024.

In other words, low-code is the future. Now, we have a clear grasp of the potential growth of the low-code market. There is only one small thing left — determine what is low-code development and why it is important? 

What Is an Example of Low Code?

Have you seen the Matrix? Imagine a computer operator sitting in front of the screen with thousands of lines of code running down like a waterfall. For the uninitiated, it will seem extremely complex. The truth is, the time of people working in obscure machine language is far gone. 

There are only a few developers who can write the source code. Instead, learning from the challenges of the predecessors, many platforms were developed. These ones exist to assist new developers in writing code more efficiently. Low-code brings computer programming closer to the masses.

Essentially, low-code is recognized as a development environment where a user can create software through a graphical interface. When using low-code platforms, you get a range of options to streamline the deployment of various solutions. Essentially, low-code allows automating and abstracting almost every given process step.

With the rapid rise of low-code solutions, there are many low-code solutions that go far beyond mere app development. Using a list of low code platforms, you can easily create an entire ecosystem assisting businesses to use the app to the best of their capabilities. Such is only one of the many low-code advantages available to users.

Low Code Platform Advantages

The very essence of low-code is to make programming more accessible to people who do not have specific technical knowledge or look for easy-to-use instruments. Keeping in mind low code platform pros and cons, we listed several key upsides to low-code.

Suitable for Nontechnical Audience

In a world where the personalization of products and the ability to create omnichannel systems is a game-changer. Before the existence of low-code and no-code solutions, companies heavily relied on technical experts, which presented itself as a costly endeavor. 

With the introduction of low-code, many nontechnical users received an opportunity to fast-track various digital programs, thus breaking the traditional boundaries.

Easier Maintenance

Software maintenance can be a massive burden. With low-code, you receive standardized and ready-made solutions with a lesser degree of bugs in comparison to conventional day-to-day development processes. It means that by spending less time on software maintenance, developers can focus on aspects like innovation instead. 

Speeding Up the Stages of Development Cycle

Innovation is key for scalability. Keeping that in mind, low-code erases many boundaries when it comes to entry for innovation. How? Simply, by offering people with little or no coding knowledge and experience to create digital products. Companies expedite their development cycles with visually appealing and flawlessly functioning products created via low-code platforms. 

Increased Productivity

Availability to users, easy application, and promotion of innovation are the elements all translate into higher productivity. Low-code bridges the gap between business and IT professionals. With low-code automation, business teams now have sufficient expertise to create applications. They do not need to wait for developers to complete a particular task. Naturally, such freedom means that new ideas and projects can be launched quickly. 

Low-code is not a panacea. Yet, its proper application can offer a ton of benefits. The key aspect is to understand how such upsides can be properly extracted. 

Low-Code Use Cases

While there are several key advantages of low-code, one should always consider one crucial aspect — how do those advantages translate into real-life tangible outcomes? When to use low code platform? Essentially, the low-code application is visible through the scope of certain use cases. These show how top low code platforms transform modern business practices. 

Digital Transformation

Low code automation massively aids the digital transformation process. For instance, it enables flexibility and agility. In other words, low-code helps create and maintain flexible and agile tech stacks, which can be further translated into business process management. Essentially, it means that low-code is used to automate business processes.

Another example of low-code aiding digital transformation is through availability. By being at everyone’s fingerprints, the technology accelerates digital transformation by means of lowering the existing technical barriers. Simply put, more people can be involved in the digital transformation process.

Finally, low-code boosts digital transformation by offering teams a massive degree of autonomy. When the hands of people are untied, they can work on different projects simultaneously. Besides, they do not need to check and double-check new solutions with developers. Low-code platforms have comprehensive in-built tools that make the application process smoother. 

Back-Office Systems

Low-code enables better use of different back-office systems. Why is that important? It creates a better organizational flow and automates many processes that drive many professionals crazy. 

In that area, low-code use cases include the following:

• Customer relationships management (CRM). You might have heard it millions of times — CRM is the future of customer management. No matter how you put it, the statement is true. With a key focus on integration, low-code can be easily applied to CRM technology. As a result, businesses receive applications allowing automation and optimization of customer management workflow. For businesses heavily involved in customer management, it can be a game-changer. 
• Enterprise resource planning (ERP). Having a clear grasp of proper ERP flow is a massive strategic choice. Luckily, with low-code integrated into ERP, you receive fully-fledged systems that integrate with third-party applications. When working with ERP in the past, businesses relied on experts with a high degree of technical expertise merely because operating ERP is more difficult than CRM, for instance. Now, low-code solutions make the process easier and require fewer developers to complete and maintain. 
• A finite-state machine (FSM). What is a finite-state machine? FSM is a mathematical model of computation that is vital for control logic, the process applied in various instances. To illustrate, FSM is critical for digital signal processing, digital filters, and digital transmission. The process relies on datapaths and active controllers. What does it mean? Essentially, all you need to know - FSM needs constant attention and control. With low-code, the control can be partially automated and maintained by people who do not have a high degree of technical expertise. 

Low-code makes CRM, ERP, and FSM more efficient by making maintenance easier. 

Legacy System Modernization

Looking for ways to update or rebuild vital business processes? Low-code is the instrument to use. There are various low-code platforms available, the ones you can use to replace, rebuild, or enhance core legacy systems. The process relies on developing new applications. Further, you use them to transform the legacy system. 

What are the outcomes? The use cases show low-code platforms employed to help businesses evolve steadily and control fashion. If a new business model demands a new direction, you simply use low-code platforms to adjust core systems to meet the prerequisites of the new business model. The available platforms have in-built features helping ease the process of modernization. You can be sure fewer mistakes will be made on the way.

Integration

When exposed to a highly competitive environment, businesses are forced to work on multiple projects simultaneously. It results in developers designing and maintaining multiple procedures and applications. Within the traditional scope, it is a time- and resource-consuming process. 

With low-code platforms at your disposal, you can take off a massive chunk of the heavy burden from the developers’ shoulders. Essentially, non-experts can be included in the process of development and new project integration. Low-code platforms support various use cases, which make the process of integration even more accessible. In the end, it all leads to greater scalability, which brings a competitive advantage in a turbulent business environment. 

Best Low Code Development Platforms 

Now, it’s time to take a look at the best low-code development platforms available. After hours of investigations and low code platform comparison process, we’ve selected several ones you can use:

• UBOS. Flexible low-code development cloud. Boasts with its impressive portfolio. The company offered its clients an accelerated application development process and preserved about 50 percent of time and resources for businesses developing digital products. Offers an omnichannel integration to databases like REST, gRPC API, and GraphQ. 
• Appian. Appian low code platform focuses on adding value to its users. The company showed $13.42 million in savings over three years. Promises a 17x faster application development process. 
• Pega. The company puts a massive emphasis on the orchestration of various processes across multiple channels. Pega maximizes customer lifetime value and proves to boost efficiency for its users. Many leading businesses have already used Pega’s services.
• OutSystems. The key advantage of this low code application builder is its sustainability. When using OutSystems’ services, you become a member of the community. It grants you access to resources for sharing ideas, learning insights, and connecting with developers around the globe. 
• Mendix. The platform is the leader in enterprise development. With Mendix there comes a range of instruments. For a reasonable price, users receive automated workflows, online portals, and tools for legacy system modernization. 
• DronaHQ. The company emphasizes UI. Its API works to create beautiful applications with a focus on responsiveness. If you value the interface and responsivity of products, DronaHQ should be your choice. 

These options are coined among the best low code development platforms. They offer a range of instruments and tools to meet the business needs of multiple clients. However, you may look for a free low code platform and may find even more interesting solutions.

No-Code Development Platforms

When discussing low-code development platforms, professionals usually mention a similar approach — no-code development platforms. Let’s take a closer look at this approach to find out what it is, how it is different from low-code development, and what its advantages are.

What is Nocode?

No-code development offers a range of options for developing digital products without a single line of code written. Essentially, no-code platforms are based on frameworks or software design systems, allowing people without technical knowledge to execute software. Because nontechnical users would predominantly prefer to utilize the easiest no code app builder, an intuitive and user-friendly interface is one of the most important aspects. 

No-code platforms have so-called drag-and-drop features to build a powerful, user-friendly interface. It allows using a visual development interface to execute various tasks. No-code solution provides access, agility, and richness. 

Advantages of No-Code

There are several key options to mention when it comes to the upsides of no-code. To illustrate, a traditional approach to coding is often associated with complexity, a prolonged process of launching, and dependence on various expertises. In contrast, no-code offers solutions making the process of software development and project launch simpler, faster, and more autonomous.

Simpler Prototyping

No-code prioritizes visual abstraction over coding. The designers of no-code platforms translate code into easy-to-use drag-and-drop features. Even without understanding coding, you can use and execute the code. Respectively, codeless programming is viable in prototyping and minimum viable product design. 

With open source no code app builder, businesses can create and execute simple prototypes of digital products without writing any code and hiring developers. Merely, a series of well-designed images can be sufficient to illustrate the core idea to potential investors. Platforms like Bubble and Webflow are perfect no-code solutions for prototype development. 

Faster Launch

The traditional digital delivery process relies on components like content, design, and development. With the increasing complexity of each deliverable, you need more and more experts. Naturally, the more professionals you hire, the more you need to invest in them, and the longer the process of launching will take. 

With no-code tools, there is a massive chance you do not need plenty of experts working on the project. Essentially, it makes logistics easier, translating into less time required for product launch. A no-code solution is a perfect option if you want to launch a product as soon as possible. 

Fewer Dependencies

In a traditional product launch process, marketing and design teams are often forced to pull out engineers to clarify some processes. As a result, the development process stalls, and it takes longer to complete a particular stage of the launch cycle.

With no-code, companies can liberate marketing and design teams. They can easily hook up required forms, thus eliminating the necessity to distract developers from their work. 

More Autonomy

At this point, any no code backend builder brings fewer dependencies, boosts the launch, and costs less. These factors all grant more autonomy. Which one? The one to take risks. With no-code, you can create more prototypes and launch products faster. Having more autonomy means an opportunity to engage in a trial-and-error approach to polish your core products and services.

Such an approach offers a higher chance of developing a high-quality product. It also translates into a greater competitive advantage and recovering from any potential failures much faster. 

No Code Use Cases

Several key use cases illustrate the effectiveness of no-code solutions. 

Legacy Applications Migration

When it comes to developing legacy applications, companies engaging in the process need to be prepared to invest massive amounts of time and resources. Traditional migration from various legacy applications into more modern systems can be daunting for developers and managers. Luckily, no-code solutions have instruments that can ease migration obstacles.

BI Reporting

Reporting tools proved to be paramount for BI analysts and developers. The tool helps transform crude data into some actionable insights. To illustrate, with no-code approach, you have access to vital corporate data in real-time with a no-code approach. Besides, such raw data can be easily translated into visualizations and key metrics. These aspects grant insights to get the most out of the given business model. 

Operational Efficiency

No-code platforms put a massive emphasis on providing non-technical users with instruments that make developing applications possible. What does it mean in terms of operational procedures? It means developers can focus on critical and long-neglected projects, while non-technical users can carry out more mundane development tasks. As a result, the company witnesses a boost in operational efficiency. 

Data Management

No-code solutions allow businesses to connect their data to many databases, including PostgreSQL, MySQL, and MS SQL Server. When having the established link, you get an opportunity to edit, delete, and update data. Essentially, it means no-code solutions allow users to build database applications quicker and more efficiently. 

Best No-Code Platforms

With no code tools becoming mainstream, a new no-code platform is popping almost every day. It is challenging to find the best no-code development platforms. Yet, researching dozens of such platforms, we’ve used several criteria to list the best no code app builders seemingly bringing the most value to their clients.

When looking into the presented best no code platforms, you should choose the one that meets your needs best. Here are the options:

• Bubble. Witness the most powerful no-code platform for creating digital products. Bubble proved to be a key player in the market. It brings expertise and many success stories proving its expertise. 
• Airtable. This no code business app builder focuses on the following motto: “Connect everything. Achieve anything.” Airtable offers no-code instruments to accelerate the workflow and boost business transformation. 
• Appery. The company emphasizes scalability. With 10+ years of experience in digital development and about 10,000 published applications, Appery is the place to go when you need solid results. 
• AppSheet. The public envisions the company as an intelligent app no code builder. AppSheet boasts that it can design and launch an application in just two days. Essentially, the platform seeks to improve information management and enhance resource distribution. 

The platforms mentioned above are either industry leaders to prospective candidates. Essentially, becoming their clients, you can be sure to receive high-quality products and timely services. Besides, all the presented platforms have great customer support service, which helps users deal with any obstacle or challenge faced when using the service.

Low Code vs No Code

At this point, we have a pretty good idea of what low-code and no-code solutions are. There are advantages of both approaches and use cases illustrating their practical value. When it comes to understanding the difference between low code and no code approaches and reviewing low code vs no code platforms, that are several key criteria to consider.

Low-Code

Starting with low-code, the primary focus should be on target users, customization, and integration. These factors lie in the foundation of low-code and make it distinguishable from no-code.

Both low-code and no-code platforms have drag and drop tools. They prove to be essential for making it possible for users to execute coding solutions through visual abstractions. However, in contrast to no-code, the low-code approach also includes custom code integration. 

The next crucial factor stems from the degree of technical knowledge of low-code and no-code users. Low-code is focused on technical people. These platforms aim at developers. It means that using low-code solutions, users need to have technical knowledge. 

The final component correlates to the ability to further integrate into existing systems. 

No-Code

As mentioned, similarly to low-code, no-code platforms have drag and drop tools. The instrument reduces the complexity of development to the minimum. 

Going further, one of the elements differentiating no-code from low-code stems from the inability of users to access the code results. The problem with such a downside is linked to the possibility of shadow IT emerging. It means that users can develop applications without proper supervision, leading to many security and privacy issues.

Finally, there are no traces of hand-coding in no-code. Essentially, without hand-coding a user does not have any access to higher levels of representation. 

Low-code and no-code have a similar foundation and use similar instruments. However, while low-code is directed toward technical users and offers access to code results and hand-coding, no-code does not offer such options.

Why Choose Low-code or No-code Solutions?

Andrew Bidochko:

After working in IT for some time, I noticed that a lot of simple software features appear repeatedly. It led me to the idea of simplifying the development process by automating certain things. This is how our low-code cloud UBOS was born.

So what makes no-code and low-code solutions so great? In my opinion, the most important advantages are:

• The ability to build applications visually;
• The ability to model all processes and relationships instead of programming;
• Significant savings of time and money;
• Providing opportunities for non-technical professionals to create software;

However, the low-code/no-code platforms are relatively new, and there is no solution yet that would set the golden standard for this field. But according to research and statistics, the low-code\no-code market is booming at the moment, so I think it is just a question of time when the “perfect solution” will appear. 

Speaking of the areas of usage, the low-code and no-code builders, in my opinion, are the best choices in the two cases. First of all, it is great if you need to develop a quick prototype to show customers or investors. If you have limited financial and time resources, low-code is the way to go. Second of all, low-code solutions are amazing if you need to create back-office or field management systems that would be operated by non-technical employees.

Although it may seem that no-code and low-code solutions may destroy traditional development, this won’t happen. I tend to believe that these approaches will create perfect synergy in the future. On one hand, it will make the development process more accessible and efficient. On the other hand, programmers will have the ability to avoid routine and uninteresting parts of the job and work on more complex and creative tasks. 

No Code and Low Code vs Traditional Development

Low-code and no-code platforms envision themselves as the future of digital development. However, it does not mean that everyone will forget about traditional development. However, some major areas in which traditional development cannot compete with low-code and no-code.

To illustrate, one of the key aspects that put low-code and no-code over traditional coding is application quality. Since the traditional approach entails an overly complex nature and high technicalities, the end-products of traditional development often have many bugs. In turn, low-code and no-code products often entail only a few bugs.

However, if you are interested in a complex product with broad functionality, low-code and no-code solutions are not the best choice. Only traditional development will allow you to choose APIs, technologies, and everything else that would allow you to create your perfect custom application.

Cost is a major downside of traditional development. Designing and launching an application can range between $40,000 and $250,000. In turn, low-code and no-code solutions are way too cheaper. 

On the other hand, with traditional development, you have full control and ownership over every aspect of the development. If you want to make any changes, you are free to do so.

Besides, as was mentioned before, traditional development does not offer the degree of agility provided by low-code and no-code. Traditional development relies on complicated configuration systems. The very fact of the existence of such systems means less agility. In addition, to deal with traditional development, developers need to have sufficient knowledge and expertise, which takes time. 

Yet, while low-code and no-code win almost on all fronts, there is one particular benefit of traditional development over low-code and no-code. The traditional approach grants a broader degree of tools to work with. For instance, DevOps consulting specialists will ensure your product is maintained and updated in time. Usually, low-code and no-code platforms have a small set of instruments to develop applications. 

In a Nutshell

Low code no code development can be used by people without broad technical expertise and help automate processes that proved to be a massive pain for developers. In such a case, low-code and no-code boost operational efficiency and help properly distribute critical tasks among developers, analysts, and managers.

As you can see, both the traditional development and low-code\no-code solutions have their own advantages. Which one is better in your case? Well, everything depends on what product you want to develop and the resources you have at the moment. The choice is yours!

The article was written in collaboration with Andrew Bidochko and Yurii Kostiuchenko, CEO and CBDO of low-code cloud UBOS.