What is a Low Code/No Code platform?
Low Code/No Code platforms are development environments that allow users to create applications with minimal or no coding knowledge. They typically feature drag-and-drop interfaces, pre-built components, and integrations, making it easier for developers and non-developers alike to build and deploy applications quickly.
The main difference is that no-code platforms are designed for users with zero coding experience, while low-code platforms allow for more customization with limited coding for professional developers.
Key features
Visual development: Use visual interfaces with drag-and-drop tools to build applications instead of writing extensive code.
Pre-built components: Utilize pre-built templates and components to accelerate the development process.
Simplified deployment: Streamline the process of building and deploying applications.
Integration: Connect applications with other services and systems more easily.
Model-driven design: Build applications based on visual models that automatically generate code in the background.
How do low-code and no-code tools work?
Conventional application development requires the use of highly skilled code-writing practitioners and often involves getting in a long queue in the IT department to get new applications developed or updated.
Low-code development platforms (LCDPs) and no-code development platforms (NCDPs) are based on the principles of model-driven design, automatic code generation, and visual programming. These platforms are intentionally designed to target users that are familiar with processes and workflows within their business department, regardless of their coding experience. And once again, not only does this empower non-technical users, it matches them with experienced developers.
Below are some of the fundamental steps in the LCNC development journey:
Define your needs and the desired outcome: Whether you are working on a customer-facing application or an internal business process, it’s essential to identify the business needs and the desired outcomes of your project at the outset. What is the problem this app needs to solve? Who will be using it? What information and data will it need to function?
Draw a business process or workflow: Using LCNC business process management (BPM) and development tools, users specify and document the desired processes and workflows. This is often achieved by identifying modules – by purpose – within the application and developing them as independent entities. For example, some modules may gather data, others may trigger an action or event. At this stage, the citizen developer can first build, then integrate the modules to achieve the desired outcome.
Test and deploy your project as an LCNC application: With a couple of clicks, the LCNC platform resolves all the back-end complexity of the process for users. When it is ready, IT specialists and/or beta testers can evaluate the application, and once their recommendations are implemented, the app can be deployed for general use.
Open-source low-code/no-code platforms:
Budibase, Appsmith, and Tooljet, which are popular for building internal tools, dashboards, and applications with minimal coding. They feature visual, drag-and-drop interfaces, allow connections to various databases and APIs, and offer both cloud and self-hosted deployment options. NocoBase is another option, better suited for data-heavy applications due to its data model-driven approach.
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