Much like in the film “The Matrix,” where the main character had to choose between two pills, businesses have traditionally been faced with only two paths for software development: purchasing pre-made products from external providers or crafting and adapting applications with professional developers. However, this axiom has evolved with the emergence of terms such as Low-code, No-code, and occasionally, even the enigmatic acronym LCNC. Let’s explore what these are and whether these technologies truly allow everyone to become a developer.
Is Everyone a Programmer Now?
Low-code and No-code indeed offer a revolutionary approach to programming. They involve the use of alternative development methods with intuitive graphical interfaces. Simply put, users can quickly create applications and automate work processes without any programming experience. The integration of straightforward and accessible Low-code and No-code tools expands users’ capabilities and speeds up the innovation process for non-professional developers.
I’ll provide an example from my own experience. At one point, we needed to conduct a survey. Upon reviewing the scope of work, we realized we needed to gather more data about users among an audience of over 1 million people. Initially, we thought to use Typeform, but their service costs 89 euros, and at most, they cover 10,000 participants. Beyond that, we would have had to pay considerably more. Therefore, we decided to stay local, and literally within 20 minutes, I crafted my survey form on a Low-code platform. As a result, we saved 600% in both money and time.
What Are the Prospects?
The shift to Low-code and No-code platforms has immense potential, as it simplifies development processes for a wide range of users and relieves IT departments. According to forecasts by the international marketing research firm Research And Markets, the global market for low-code platforms has been growing exponentially in recent years. In 2023, it was valued at 31.54 billion USD, and it’s expected to increase to 40.41 billion USD in 2024, growing at an average annual rate of 28.1%.
Similarities and Differences
Since these two terms are very similar, let’s quickly understand what Low-code and No-code are and what their main differences entail. Low-code is known for enabling software application creation using graphical tools and embedded functions, significantly reducing the need for programming, but not completely eliminating it. No-code, on the other hand, completely removes the need for programming, allowing business users to create applications without coding skills. The main distinction between them lies in the level of technical knowledge required: Low-code demands a basic skill level, whereas No-code requires no programming knowledge at all.
How Do These Tools Work?
Traditional application development usually requires the participation of highly qualified specialists and risks becoming “an expensive pleasure.” Conversely, Low-code and No-code platforms are based on modeling, automatic code generation, and visual programming, allowing users to create applications even if they are not professional programmers in the field. These platforms can use model-purpose for automatic code generation, using structural blocks or templates.
Visual tools enable users to drag and drop interface elements, and construct program logic through a graphical interface instead of manually writing code. When it comes to specific tools, it’s worth mentioning:
Microsoft Power Apps:
- Power Apps is a platform for rapid application development, enabling the creation of applications for mobile devices and web portals without programming.
- Users can drag and drop various interface elements, such as texts, buttons, lists, etc., and configure their properties without programming.
- Logic is created using built-in functions and queries that handle events, calculate values, interact with databases, etc.
Google App Maker:
- App Maker is a development tool from Google that allows for corporate app creation with minimal coding.
- Users can create an app interface by dragging and dropping various elements and customizing their interaction through a graphical interface.
- Apps can be linked to other Google services, like Google Sheets or Google Drive, to automate business processes.
Appery.io:
- Appery.io is a no-code web application development tool enabling the creation of complex applications with various functionalities.
- Users can create interfaces by dragging and dropping different elements and customizing their properties and interaction logic through an integrated editor.
- Appery.io automatically generates code for application creation, allowing users to avoid manually writing code.
These platforms use algorithms and templates for automatic software code creation, assisting in the swift and efficient creation of applications without deep technical knowledge. This approach not only expands the capabilities of non-technical specialists in development but also brings them closer to the level of professional developers.
The Potential of Non-Developers
This approach has even coined a new term — non-developers, which, although may sound odd, accurately conveys the essence of the process. It’s quite expected that the ability to teach programming to those far removed from it has piqued business interest. Gartner predicts that by 2025, 70% of new applications will be created on Low/No-Code platforms, reducing development time by 90%. Furthermore, the global market for Low/No-Code is expected to nearly reach 65 billion USD by 2027.
Gartner also forecasts that the popularity of Low/No-Code will only strengthen in the coming years, with an increase in the number and qualifications of citizen developers. This seems quite logical, as users increasingly realize the benefits of quick and painless app development. It’s simply easier for people to make a simple program on their own than to look for programmers, set tasks, and wait for results. And importantly — the universality. Low-code and No-code cater to just about any business problem. For instance, logistics managers can use these tools to solve issues related to supply delays, pandemics, trade restrictions, border blockades, or even climate change. The potential here is boundless.
Main Advantages
The popularity of Low-code and No-code platforms is due to several advantages they offer businesses, including:
- Ease of use: development doesn’t start from scratch, simplifying the process and allowing focus on user needs and requirements.
- Accelerated development: users can quickly customize and adapt key elements and source code of their application.
- Increased automation: users can control working processes using basic decision-making rules.
- Reduced costs: decreased development time saves money and resources.
- Flexibility: quick and simple development allows for prompt and flexible response to new requirements and problems.
- Improved user experience: the ability to keep applications and work processes up-to-date, reacting quickly to user feedback, enhances the quality of the user experience and strengthens customer loyalty.
Main Concerns
Naturally, there are certain apprehensions related to many employees taking on the work of programmers. For example, the active use of Low-code and No-code platforms can lead to the emergence of “shadow IT projects.” These are projects implemented without the knowledge of the IT department. Not to mention, applications created by non-specialists may scale poorly and become obsolete quickly.
To avoid the emergence of “shadow IT projects” and minimize risks associated with the use of Low-code and No-code platforms, the following measures help:
- Implementing a centralized version control system and access control: setting up a version control system to track changes in software code and limiting access to projects and resources only to authorized users.
- Implementing procedures and project management processes: establishing work standards with projects, including regular checks, risk assessments, and implementing feedback mechanisms for regular monitoring of project status.
- Developing security and code quality standards: setting internal security and code quality standards to ensure the stability, scalability, and security of software products developed on Low-code and No-code platforms.
- Organizing training programs and regular training: conducting training for platform users to teach them best practices in software development, as well as the use of tools for version control and project management.
- Establishing centers of excellence and knowledge sharing: creating specialized teams and centers of excellence responsible for developing and supporting projects on Low-code and No-code platforms, as well as exchanging experience and knowledge between different teams.
The world is changing rapidly. Bursting into our lives, ChatGPT quickly became the fastest-growing application, reaching an audience of 100 million users within two months. In this context, Low/No-Code software development looks incredibly promising. These technologies can change company structures and, who knows, maybe eventually transform the profession of a programmer into an anachronism, similar to “elevator operators,” who were replaced by buttons and automation.
Conclusion
Though we are still some distance from this reality, the future of Low/No-Code promises to change software development. New platforms are already providing a wide range of built-in functions and tools for creating sophisticated applications without deep programming knowledge. Advanced capabilities include integration with various services and APIs, automation of development processes, and deployment of applications in the cloud environment, allowing for minimal effort.
As someone with skills in writing programs in many low-level languages, I can say that the future for this technology is not only ahead, it is here. Previously, one could spend 5 hours creating a registration form, but now it only takes 5 minutes. And there are countless examples like this.