Quick Summary
Low-code software development offers a revolutionary approach to application development. This method minimizes the need to write lengthy lines of complex code manually, enabling developers to create applications with minimal coding requirements. Low-code development involves a model-driven approach and reusable components, speeding up the development process and reducing costs.
Table of Contents
What is Low Code?
Low-code is a minimum software programming development approach that requires little to no coding to build processes and applications. It allows you to develop applications without requirements or to write lots of code. Moreover, you can employ visual interfaces with drag-and-drop capabilities and basic logic instead of complex programming languages in this development environment.
The popular purpose of this low code is to simplify the development process, making it more accessible for beginners and empowering non-professionals to have their solution for developing a robust application. Moreover, a low code platform can be scalable with its no-code components. The approach can be executed in small and enterprise applications.
What is Low-Code Development?
Low-code development is a smart alternative to custom code with pre-built UI components, integration, visual tools, and scripts. It replaces traditional software development and creates custom applications with Graphical User Interface (GUI) and drag-and-drop tools.
The low code development platforms include no code features like reusable components and models that accelerate the development process. Furthermore, it automates every step of the application development lifecycle, making development easier, faster, and accessible to people without technical expertise; ultimately, it eliminates code writing from scratch.
Advanced tools like drag-and-drop modelers, pre-built templates, and intuitive UI make creating more accessible for developers. They also allow them to design and deploy apps much faster, allowing organizations to scale, be more profitable, and achieve above-average returns.
According to a BusinessWire report, the global market for low-code development platforms is valued at nearly US $15 billion and is expected to quadruple in the next five years.
When to Use Low Code?
- To build applications quickly and streamline the process.
- Works well for developing applications with straightforward functionalities.
- Easily connect with existing systems and automate workflows.
- Low code often requires less coding, potentially reducing development costs.
- Quickly adapt ideas and test features before full-scale development.
Features of Low Code App Development
Gartner predicted that non-developers or citizen developers would build 80% of technology products by 2024. It clearly indicates the marvelous features of low-code app development, like visual user interface, drag-and-drop, and more. It also brings excellent collaboration or sync between businesses and IT.
1. Drag and drop functionality
Drag-and-drop functionality is a critical feature in low-code development that empowers technical and non-technical users to design applications without extensive visual coding. Moreover, its intuitive interface helps you streamline the development process by eliminating manual code, accelerating project delivery, and shortening the time needed to market.
Visual modeling simplifies application development by providing a drag-and-drop interface to create workflows, integrate data sources, and prototype rapidly. Their graphical approach streamlines communication and planning, ensuring the final product aligns with the desired functionality.
3. Scalability
The low-code platform offers scalability and adapts designs to meet growing user demands and workloads. It makes the application future-proof and allows for easy expansion without compromising performance or needing extensive redevelopment, saving time and resources. Moreover, cloud-based platforms further enhance scalability with on-demand adjustments.
4. Integration capabilities
High-productivity development simplifies connecting applications to numerous data sources, APIs, and services. It enables data exchange and automation, which empowers rapid development with readily accessible information, even custom integrations through API protocols.
5. Security
The low code provides built-in security features like reusable components and out-of-the-box tools for easy configuration. It also ensures secure application development across various devices and offers visibility into activities for comprehensive security management.
6. Pre-built and reusable components
A low-code software involves pre-built and reusable components and modules. The pre-built templates and components feature in low-code development provides ready-made libraries and design components that developers can implement into their applications.
The pre-built components include –
- User interface elements: forms, buttons, and menus
- Backend functionalities: database connectors and authentication modules
- Entire application templates for particular uses: e-commerce, finance apps, or project management.
7. Application lifecycle management
From version control to deployment, modern development streamlines your entire application lifecycle. By using centralized tools that simplify management, it helps developers focus on the what instead of the how of building robust applications.
Benefits of Low Code App Development
Decrease cost: With the expertise and elimination of complex code, you can save overall development project costs. A study states that 70% of costs are saved compared to traditional methods in low-code development.
Access to new technologies: Citizen development allows developers to update and enhance systems. With the help of pre-built templates and features, businesses can easily integrate advanced technology like Machine Learning and AI into their applications.
Faster time to market: Another core advantage is its accelerated development and faster delivery, thanks to drag-and-drop functionality, a user-friendly interface, and simple integration.
Boost flexibility: With its pre-built elements and reusable components, you can easily develop a customized and flexible low-code platform. The development environment makes apps more agile, resilient, and responsive to evolving business needs.
Reduce technical debt: Using its custom code, you can prevent technical debt in low-code app development, making it more accessible to modify and maintain apps.
Improve productivity: A low-code development can boost your lifecycle development process by automating tasks and allowing easy modification.
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Who Uses Low Code Development?
Low-code development’s central selling point is that it facilitates software modification while providing increased support for designing powerful applications for professionals without technical experience.
1. Business managers
A business manager and team can develop interactive applications using low-code techniques. With drag-and-drop and a visual interface, it becomes easier for them to build an app without using technical codes. Moreover, it enhances organization-level processes and helps non-technical users contribute their input to the application.
2. Enterprise
The low code tool can assist enterprise professionals in executing their plans quickly and efficiently. It allows you to transform workflows with the help of pre-built connectors and integration abilities to make tech stack modernization easier.
3. IT leaders
A low code can assist IT leaders and managers in having their teams deploy and develop applications without writing them from scratch. It will help you save resources and enable your IT team to concentrate on strategic tasks for business growth.
4. Professional developers
Professional developers are known as those with technical knowledge and years of experience. Because low-code tools are more accessible, they help developers save time by automating repetitive tasks and eliminating manual operations. Moreover, they enable developers to enhance code quality with robust templates and code snippets.
5. Citizen developers
If we have to pick one element that showcases why low code is so popular, it must be the utilization of citizen developers. These developers need to gain coding knowledge and want to develop applications without going through the technical process.
Use Cases of Low Code App
- Prototypes and proofs of concept
- Marketing budget management
- Automating business processes
- Mobile application
- Microservices
- IT bug and incident management
- Sales lead management
- Cloud deployment
- Data integration and business intelligence
Which Industries Can Utilize Low Code?
- Healthcare
- Finance
- SaaS (Software as a Solution)
- Insurance
- Retail
- Education
- Manufacturing
- Media and Advertising
- Public sector
When Not to Prefer Low Code?
- Complex cases
- Data privacy
- Extensive customization
- Limited portability
How is Low-code Different From No-code Application Development?
No code is designed for citizen developers, and low-code development is for developers and non-professional developers. However, if minimal low code is good, no code must be great, right? Not really, as the development process is different for every organization.
Factor
| Low Code is Best for | No Code is Best For |
---|
Applications | Enterprise and small applications | Small applications |
Functionality | Advance functionality | Limited functionality |
Coding | Some basic or little coding is required | No coding is required |
Target User | Developers and IT professionals | Citizen developers and business owners |
Real-life examples | Mendix, OutSystems, Power Apps | Wix, Squarespace, Zapier, Airtable |
Future of Low Code: Predictions and Numbers
Low-code and modern enterprises go hand in hand; hence, low-code provides businesses with numerous advantages and out-of-the-box solutions. Here are some interesting facts and predictions about low code that indicate the promising future of application development.
AI Integration
Several low-code platforms are beginning to utilize generative artificial intelligence (AI) advancements. AI algorithms automatically generate code or suggest code snippets based on the developer’s requirements and context, making app development more accessible and efficient.
Integration with DevOps and Agile
Another future low code architecture development trend is the seamless integration of tools with DevOps and Agile for robust security and development. The integration will enable you to release faster, more rapid iterations and efficiently use resources.
Integration with Data Analytics and Business Intelligence tools
Several platforms have adopted business intelligence and data analytics tools with built-in functionality into their business to make low-code applications that include real-time data. The integration helps them monitor performance, identify valuable insights, and make data-driven decisions.
Enticing Prediction of Low-Code Development
- Composability and hyper-automation will propel the adoption of low-code technology by 2026.
- Low-code allows the creation of cloud-native applications with 70% fewer resources.
- By 2024, 80% of non-IT professionals will develop IT products and services, with over 65% using low-code/no-code tools.
- Low-code platforms can decrease development time by up to 90%.
- An average business can increase in value by $4.4M using low-code applications.
- According to a report by the Gartner Research Board, by 2024, low-code application development will be responsible for more than 65% of application development activity.
- TCO (total cost of ownership) of low code application platforms is 54% more than traditional development.
- The global low code development platform market was valued at $7.61 billion in 2021 and is expected to reach $36.43 billion by 2027.
Conclusion
It’s now clear that the future of software development is headed toward low-code solutions. And let’s not deny the fact that who doesn’t love a good shortcut? With low-code tools, businesses can streamline their development process and empower non-technical professionals to develop applications.
Utilizing low-code development for every project can be demanding, but its potential to transform software development is undeniable. Also, for customized and performance-critical applications, you can contact a prominent Full Stack development company that offers robust solutions and developers to meet your exceptional essentials.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here is how a low-code app development process functions-
Define the process information
Create user-friendly forms
Develop fully-functional applications
Implement and test the app
Deploy the application
To become a low-code developer, you don’t require a qualification or have to be a professional developer. All you need is a basic understanding of coding and knowledge about developing applications. It will help you choose available templates for app customization.
Like every coin has two sides, even if there are scalable advantages, you might come across a few challenges or limitations during low code environment development:
Vendor lock-in
Security concerns
Integration complexity
Limited customization
Here is the list of crucial principles of low code platform development:
Scalability
Automation
Flexibility
Governance
Visual development
Integration
Agility
Security
The following companies have seen a surge in their application using low-code tools.
Zoho Creator
Salesforce lightning
Mendix
OutSystems
Microsoft PowerApps