Low-code development is a software development method that allows a developer to create applications with little or no code through a visual drag-and-drop interface. Low-code platforms can be used to develop simple applications or complex enterprise systems and often come with a wide range of built-in features and integrations.
A low-code development platform is a type of software that provides a visual interface for the rapid development of applications. It typically includes a graphical user interface that allows a developer to create an application by using drag-and-drop components. This also allows the developer to add business logic without extensive code writing.
Read more about low-code developmentLow-code platforms provide a visual development environment that makes it easy to create applications without writing much code. Most platforms come with a drag-and-drop interface that allows you to add different elements to your application and connect them together.
Most low-code platforms come with a library of prebuilt components that you can use to develop your applications quickly. These components can include everything from user interface elements to back-end services.
Low-code platforms are designed to be scalable, which means they can easily handle increasing amounts of data and users. This can be a major advantage for businesses that want to be able to grow their applications without having to invest in additional infrastructure.
Low-code platforms are typically very flexible, which means they can be customized to meet the specific needs of your business. This can be a major advantage if you want to be able to tailor your applications to your specific business processes.
Low-code platforms enable RAD without the need for coding skills, making them ideal for business users who want to create their own applications.
A low-code solution can improve collaboration between business and IT teams—or developers and non-developers—by providing an easy-to-use platform for developing applications.
Low-code platforms help increase productivity by allowing users to quickly create and deploy applications without having to write code from scratch. This in turn decreases the time it takes to develop and market applications
Low-code platforms help reduce development costs by eliminating the need for expensive coding resources.
Low-code platforms can cater to various industries and use cases. Take a look at how low-code platforms cater to the following industries:
Healthcare organizations can foster seamless, personalized interactions between healthcare professionals and patients and cultivate optimal healthcare management.
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Manufacturing organizations can optimize and supercharge their assembly lines; ship stellar products more quickly, cheaply, and efficiently; and build custom manufacturing software solutions tailored to organizational processes using low-code capabilities.
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From preschools to universities, it is time for educational institutions to adopt solutions that can help them stay on top of the digital wave during these changing times. An organization shouldn't try to force legacy apps to suit its needs; the education environment is better suited to custom school management software tailored to the organization's use cases.
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Logistics organizations can streamline their logistics operations and improve productivity, efficiency, and operational profits. They can also build custom logistics applications easily to digitize their supply chains.
Learn moreLow-code platforms are suitable for a wide range of IT organizations, from small businesses to large enterprises. They can be used for a variety of purposes, including workflow automation, process management, and custom ERP development.
IT leaders are responsible for ensuring that applications are developed and delivered in a way that meets the needs of the business while also adhering to corporate IT standards. Low-code platforms help IT leaders accomplish both of these objectives. These platforms typically offer built-in governance and security controls that help ensure compliance with corporate IT standards. Knowing that applications developed on the platform will not introduce any security risks or compliance issues gives IT leaders peace of mind.
Professional developers are often responsible for building complex applications that require a high degree of customization. Low-code platforms can still be used for these types of projects, but they may require the use of code extensions or customizations to achieve the desired results. That said, low-code platforms can still save professional developers a significant amount of time compared to traditional coding approaches.
Business developers are typically responsible for developing applications that automate business processes or improve customer engagement. Low-code platforms are ideal for these types of projects because they allow business developers to quickly build and deploy custom applications with minimal coding required. What’s more, many low-code platforms offer prebuilt templates and connectors that make it even easier to develop these types of applications. This means that business developers can get started quickly and without needing any prior experience.
One of the main advantages of low-code app development is the fast speed at which apps can be developed. Because low-code platforms provide prebuilt components that can be dragged and dropped into place easily, apps can be built much faster than if they were being coded from scratch. This is a major advantage when time is of the essence.
Another advantage of low-code app development is that it can be significantly cheaper than traditional app development. Because less code needs to be written, fewer work-hours are required, which translates into savings on development costs.
Low-code platforms are designed to be easy to use, even for those with no coding experience. This means that anyone in the organization can build apps without needing to rely on the IT team or developers. This leads to faster app development as well as increased innovation because more people can contribute.
Low-code platforms are generally more flexible than traditional coding approaches. This means that apps can be modified and updated easily as needed without having to go through a lengthy, costly development process. This is a major advantage in today’s ever-changing business landscape.
Finally, low-code platforms tend to be more scalable than traditional coding approaches. This means that they can easily handle increased demand as your business expands. This can save you numerous headaches down the road as your business grows and changes over time.
RAD in low-code development is a method of software development that emphasizes speed and ease in development. Low-code platforms provide a visual drag-and-drop interface for building applications, which drastically reduces the amount of time and effort required to create a working prototype or product.
Learn moreCitizen developers are people who create software without having any formal training in coding or software development. They are typically employees who need a specific application and use their own skills and knowledge to develop it. Organizations that encourage citizen development can benefit from increased innovation and a faster time to market for new solutions.
Learn moreShadow IT is defined as any technology or application used within an organization without the explicit approval of the corporate IT team. In many cases, shadow IT is used by employees who are trying to work around the limitations of their organization’s approved tools.
Learn moreIf you're on the lookout for a suitable low-code platform for your organization, it's best to consider a few factors before opting for one.
The platform should be intuitive and easy to use, with no clunky interfaces. The drag-and-drop builders should be accessible to all users and should be free from clutter. Adopting the "what you see is what you get" principle is paramount as this will let you exactly translate the requirements you have in mind to a functional application.
The size of an organization changes over time. Growth might increase the user base, and periods of lull might dampen growth a little. A low-code platform should be capable of automatically scaling according to the ever-changing user base of an organization because reengineering applications to make them scale is an arduous process.
You need to ensure that the platform you choose is highly secure because the loss of sensitive customer data or your confidential data can lead to huge monetary and reputational losses. The platform should adhere to security standards like the GDPR and CCPA. Your data should ideally be encrypted at rest and during transfers, too.
One of the prime reasons organizations opt for low-code platforms is because of their affordability. When compared to using conventional enterprise software or building a solution from the ground up by hiring software teams, employing a low-code platform is far more affordable. Choose a platform that is affordable but still capable of delivering results according to your requirements.
Gartner predicts that "by 2025, 70% of new applications developed by organizations will use low-code or no-code technologies, up from less than 25% in 2020."
IDC predicts that "the worldwide population of low-code developers will grow with a CAGR of 40.4% from 2021 to 2025. This growth rate for low-code developers is roughly 3.2 times the 12.5% CAGR for the general population of developers worldwide."
Low-code platforms require some coding in order to create applications, while no-code platforms allow users to create applications without any coding. They both have their own pros and cons.
Some development platforms allow users to create applications without having to write code. These no-code platforms tend to offer preset templates that can be manipulated through a graphical interface.
Low-code platforms are typically used by professional developers to create complex applications more quickly and efficiently than via traditional methods. However, anyone can use low-code platforms to create simple applications without any coding skills.
A low-code platform can be beneficial because it allows users to create working prototypes quickly and efficiently without needing to write much code. It can also be used to create complex applications more quickly than traditional programming languages.
Low-code-powered application development is a type of RAD. The core tenets of agile development are ingrained in the application development approaches of most low-code platforms in the industry today. Low-code development functions hand in hand with agile development by supporting your ability to ship faster, prototype more quickly, and deliver functional, cross-platform applications rapidly.
Low-code development will not eliminate coding. It empowers developers with the ability to code a little now and then to granularly customize the applications they are developing on the low-code platform. Low-code platforms empower coders to be more productive and ship faster, but they do not eliminate coding.