Low-code and no-code considerations

Low-code and no-code development platforms have been a hot topic in the IT world for a while now. Experts in related fields are speculating on how low-code and no-code will change the future of the industry. There are predictions that traditional IT will gradually decline as low-code and no-code products continue to refresh new avenues for solution development. However, before discussing the subsequent evolution of low-code and no-code, we need to know what these terms really mean.

What is low-code/no-code?

Low-code and no-code tools facilitate software scaling and maximize software delivery. The following figure lists the relevant explanations, definitions and differences between low-code tools and no-code tools.

It is important to note that the two concepts cannot be confused as they target different business goals and target different audiences. To better understand the evolution of these technologies, it is necessary to understand the caveats of these types of tools and how they have evolved.

The evolution of low-code and programming languages

Evaluating the continued evolution and future of low-code frameworks from a historical perspective is best understood. The daunting tasks of simplification and automation have been around since the beginning of the information technology industry. The first was the change from numerical machine code to assembly notation, which exponentially increased programmer productivity. The next leap followed, with the first high-level language (HLL) shortcodes (or short-command codes) a year later. Fast-forward 60 years later, and there is an endless stream of HLLs and countless useful frameworks, all designed to simplify or automate development tasks as much as possible.

Therefore, at this time, in many cases writing a custom HLL solution is redundant, and it is much more efficient to use an existing cloud service or an existing tool. While customization using traditional coding is still possible through Script Tasks, developers can rely more on predefined functions and work faster with a more convenient graphical interface. This ability to automatically generate code while also introducing lower-level customizations as needed is the main difference between low-code and no-code.

No Code Considerations and Issues

As the use of no-code platforms continues to increase in the industry, it becomes even more important to fully understand the benefits that no-code can provide and what to watch out for along the way:

dependency

Like any other service provided by a third party, a company's no-code platform may eventually evolve from a "partnership" to a rigid "dependency." Maintain a "vendor neutral" approach wherever possible and avoid relying on a single supplier.

safety

You need to know how well the platform protects company data, and whether any suppliers disclose company data. However, sometimes, the biggest threat to data security comes from unfamiliarity with platform settings by internal staff, resulting in accidental disclosure of information.

Scalability

A platform that can grow with business needs needs to support a large amount of data, accommodate more customers, and have stronger processing and execution capabilities.

price

Choose a subscription level or payment plan that matches your current processing volume, while also taking into account the future growth of your company. Don't be forced to incur high costs to increase resources.

predefined functions

The no-code approach intentionally limits customization in order to flatten the learning curve and reduce development time and cost. Therefore, if the no-code platform performs functions beyond its intended scope, it is likely to cause the application to become unstable or unsupportable.

similar product

Many companies are exploring fast-to-market, low-cost options that don't require a lot of human resources expenditures. This same pursuit of goals results in products on the same platform having a similar look.

Summarize

While the issue has been debated within the IT industry, it is widely agreed that in the short to medium term, low-code will retain its dominance of the market for "automated" solutions. No-code platforms are not yet mature enough to achieve both the simplicity of product development and the complexity of functionality. On the other hand, there is good evidence that some IT companies and professionals are starting to shift their focus from traditional HLL development to low-code frameworks. If this trend continues, we may soon witness another leap in software development, similar to the transition from machine code to assembly code.