As the ongoing tech boom fuels the need for high-skill software developers, businesses are looking for creative ways around the problem. The rise of no-code development platforms in recent years has opened up the world of coding to people of all demographics and enabled the creation of advanced apps all without needing to know how to actually write a single line of code
How is it possible to create programs with advanced features without actually knowing how to code anything? Put simply, no-code platforms are graphical user interfaces (GUIs) that allow the user to drag and drop various elements into place to create functioning experiences. From a complete user interface to data management and business logic, virtually any aspect of a website or app can be pieced together with no-code. Need a submission form for your website so visitors can send in their contact information? Simply browse the list of available pre-built submission forms, select the style, format, and theme that best fits your site, drag and drop it to the spot you need it, and click ‘publish’. It’s that easy.
While no-code platforms have exploded in popularity in recent years, they aren’t exactly something new. Take, for example, the classic Microsoft Excel, first released back in 1985. Mastery of Excel is an extremely common skill requirement for job listings in the tech industry. Writing cell-based formulas, utilizing the Visual Basic Application, and building models are relatively common skills which allow users to essentially create without actually requiring any programming knowledge. Despite being one of the earliest and most rudimentary forms of no-code development, the overlap between Excel and modern no-code platforms is clear.
More modern examples of no-code platforms include process management (PM) and customer relationship management (CRM) tools such as Creatio or Zoho, retail and point-of-sale platforms such as Shopify, or website development platforms such as Wix or Webflow. There are also platforms such as Adalo and Bubble which allow users to create complete apps from scratch. Learning curves, features and optimization vary from platform to platform, but at the very least users are able to create functional prototypes, proof-of-concept apps, or moderately complex websites.
While a product created with no-code development may not be as polished and professional as one written from scratch by a seasoned industry veteran, the no-code development process has numerous benefits:
It’s clear that no-code has several upsides, particularly for people with zero experience in coding. However, that’s not to say that no-code does not have a number of downsides as well:
While no-code apps can be practical in certain circumstances, they are most useful in specific scenarios. Businesses that favor simplicity and agility with a rapid development period would likely get the most use out of no-code. Usually these would be small businesses, but that’s not to say there aren’t major companies employing no-code technology. DoorDash, Spotify, and Liberty Mutual are just a few of the bigger businesses utilizing no-code internally. As the technology matures and no-code platforms continue to expand their options and features, no-code development is certainly something to keep an eye on in the coming years.
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