What is no/low-code concept?

Explore the concept of low-code and no-code development, its origins, evolution, and role in optimizing business processes. Learn how these innovative approaches enhance scalability, drive automation, and improve efficiency, enabling businesses to adapt q
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Written by PLATMA
Updated 1 month ago

The terms “Low-code” and “No-code” describe software development approaches that simplify creating applications and systems by reducing dependence on traditional coding.

In 2014, Forrester defined the term “Low-code” to name development platforms focusing on development simplicity. These platforms allowed developers and users to create applications without solid coding skills.

According to Forrester, the term “low-code development” appeared in 2011 and was mentioned in the report on new productivity platforms for building custom apps.

The next logical step was to implement a “no-code concept.” Yes, the first no-code platform started its journey in 2012. This revolutionary tool brought an idea to simplify application creation on a new level: you can develop an application without being a developer. So, let’s consider the indicated time range as a start of low/no-code epoche.

What is the reason and purpose for the “birth” of the low/no-code concept?

Evolution moves forward, and transformations mean attempts to accept the new reality. The reasons for low/no-code growth were the same as in every successful branch: demand for simple solutions, reduced go-to-market time, lack of professional workforce, need to involve a non-professional workforce for a lower price, scalability, strict limitations in traditional coding, and growing scope of traditional coding languages, that doesn’t solve or cover simple issues. Moreover, we can also mention the following:

Market speed and competition: Markets change very quickly, and businesses need to adapt to these changes by developing new products and responding to customer demands. Competition also increases, requiring companies to maintain competitiveness rapidly.

Technology complexity: Technological progress has made some solutions more complex, demanding developers to possess more knowledge and experience. This can hinder the swift adoption of new technologies and products.

Business processes and operations: Businesses must optimize their processes and operations to stay efficient and reduce costs. Downshifting to lower service rates is no longer a solid competitive benefit.

Changing customer requirements: Customer requirements can change rapidly, and businesses must quickly respond to new needs and preferences. Yes, it’s like a market, and in some cases there are still exclusive niches for luxury goods and services (and such niches don’t change, because people pay for brand as indicator of luxury), but the software is rather casual than “haute couture.”

Quality assurance: With the rash development of products, there is a risk of compromising quality. Therefore, companies must ensure effective quality control in production and development.

Resource shortage: Adequate resources are necessary for rapid and effective development, and these resources may be limited in many companies (workforce, lack of or inadequate hardware, expensive licenses for software packages, etc.).

The indicated reasons for traditional coding can be supplemented, but It doesn’t mean that traditional coding will disappear or that it will have a dangerous competitor. Every line has its value and focus. For sure, traditional coding is still essential and crucial. But thanks to low/no-code, we have opportunities to accelerate development and reduce costs, enable businesses to implement new solutions quickly, facilitate flexible development, and involve a wide range of talented people with fewer skills but a rich ideas portfolio (citizen developers).

Let’s look at the achievements and benefits of the low/no-code approaches.

Optimization: Both approaches allow for increased speed and optimal resource allocation in software development. It means that companies can predict their expenses in combination with “money - time - value.”

Flexibility: Both approaches allow businesses to experiment more with new ideas and innovations as the speed of creating and implementing applications increases and costs decrease.

Faster implementation of new solutions: Low/no-code enables the creation of applications and solutions much quicker than traditional programming. Reducing development time allows companies to respond to changes in market demands and implement features to meet customer needs in shorter terms.

Engagement of a larger pool of resources: Low/no-code allows non-technical collaborators, such as business analysts or department managers, to participate in application development. This expands the development team.

Convenient testing and implementation of changes: The ease of development and changes in low/no-code allow for immediate testing of new ideas and features. This enables companies to implement changes, updates, and improvements more quickly.

Wider accessibility for customers: Companies can focus more on user experience and product tailoring. Increased accessibility and high customization can attract more customers and increase overall satisfaction. Rapid and effective implementation of tailored but simple solutions can provide a competitive advantage.

Cost reduction: Involvement of non-technical collaborators also leads to cost savings in software development and maintenance. Companies can invest more resources in innovation and implementing new features to meet market needs.

Scalability: Low/no-code solutions can be scaled according to market or customer needs without additional resources for QA or maintenance.

All these factors help improve the alignment of products and solutions with market needs, enabling companies to respond faster to changes and offer more effective and competitive solutions.

Here, at PLATMA, we moved even beyond the low/no-code concept. We developed an extreme no-code platform to become not just a tool for citizen developers but also to form a community of mind-mates.

Want to learn more about extreme no-code philosophy from PLATMA? Read and share our next article, “What is PLATMA? The extreme no-code concept at PLATMA? What inspired the creation of PLATMA?

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