Overview
Low Code Development is one of the fastest emerging software development approaches. It makes the whole process swift and easy. Therefore, many app development businesses are adopting this method. In this article, you will learn about the low code software development approach, its benefits, and features, and how you can select the best platform for you. So, read till the end.
What is Low Code Development?
Low code app development is a software development approach in which the coding part is reduced to a significant extent. This method makes the complete app development process faster, easier, and more efficient.
This approach employs a simple drag-and-drop feature for designing layout and adding functionalities. Moreover, you can add custom features designed using manual coding. It is analogous to a CMS like WordPress which had minimized the requirement of conventional coding but still left some room for customization.
Low Code v/s No Code
As their names suggest, low code development needs minimal coding to design software. Whereas, in the no-code development, the coding part is completely eliminated. It is ideal for a beginner or non-tech person.
Benefits of using Low Code App Development
Low code software development approach has numerous benefits. It delivers high productivity and efficiency with less time and errors. Some of the notable benefits of using this approach are listed below:
#1. Reduced Development Time: The first and most considerable benefit of using a low code development approach is that it significantly reduces the time to market an application. This makes the method most suitable for businesses where a continuous supply of product is required.
#2. Easier than Conventional Coding: As this method does not require coding the entire software, it makes software development easy. Although you need not write complete code, you must have a good grasp of the coding concepts to better use this method.
#3. Better Collaboration: Different departments can collaborate and actively participate in the software development process. Thus, the end software is more aligned with the customer’s requirements. Also, it is possible for different departments to track the development status and share their inputs.
#4. Agility and Scalability:- Its ability to quickly update software according to the new market requirements is incomparable. Along with that, it is not necessary that only developers can create software, even the non-developers can contribute to the app development process with this approach. Both these benefits help in delivering more enhanced and innovative software.
#5. Enhanced User Experience:- Developers can respond to customer feedback by adding the desired functionalities and removing glitches. This quick response delivers an enhanced user experience.
Features of Low Code Development
Low code development simplifies the complete app development procedure because of its remarkable features. Let us discuss some prominent characteristics of this approach which make it different from others.
#1. Visual Modeling:- Visual modeling refers to the ability to regulate an application’s design and functionality through visual mapping. It makes it easier for a non-tech user to understand and modify the application.
#2. Drag and Drop Feature:- Adding an element into the application just by drag and drop makes this approach easier and faster for both tech and non-tech developers. For any change you make, the coding is done by the platform. Therefore, you need not worry about how to code to make a certain change in the final design.
#3. Predefined Templates and Reusable Components:- A wide range of pre-built templates are available to ease out the application development process. Templates are designed as per the requirements, like for e-commerce applications, food-delivering apps, etc. You can choose any desired template.
The code blocks used in this approach are reusable which means you can use them as many times as you need. It does not disrupt the integrity of your overall software integrity.
#4. Cross Platform:- Developing applications that work on different platforms is possible via low code software development method. It provides numerous features that streamline and automate the process and design a software that runs on multiple platforms for a single codebase.
#5. Data Integrity:- Data integration means collecting data from different sources (APIs, files, connectors, databases, etc.) and presenting them into a comprehensible format. This feature is crucial for real-time information. Low code approach enables designing an app with data integration.
Challenges in Low-Code Development
Along with features and benefits, the low code app development method has some drawbacks that must be addressed to better understand the topic. It is important to learn the cons of an approach because it helps to choose the best platform.
#1. Limited Customization:- As the software development largely relies on pre-built templates creating something with unique features and design is a challenge. Customization is restricted. Therefore, prior to initiating the process, it is mandatory to identify if the selected software development platform can meet the business requirements.
#2. Scalability Issue:- Because of limited customization, it becomes challenging to integrate additional functionalities to meet the growing business requirements. Sometimes, scaling the application with new features causes performance issues and software failure.
#3. Security and Data Privacy Concerns:- Software developed using this approach is vulnerable to data breach because of the lack of an enhanced data protection system. With a high demand for software and the involvement of citizen developers without any proper data security training, the chances of sensitive data theft are high.
#4. Maintenance and Debugging:- Issue arises because of customization in predefined templates. It is difficult to identify and resolve the bugs. Moreover, with a large number of applications developed in a short span of time, it is quite challenging to manage and govern all the applications.
Debugging is crucial for optimizing performance and user experience. Only experts can debug the software built on the low code software development approach.
#5. Vendor Lock-In:- You have to depend on a third-party vendor to use the platform which leads to vendor lock-in. It becomes very difficult and sometimes even costly to switch to another platform. Hence, it is recommended to select the platform that enables swift data migration and supports standard data formats.
Key Parameters to Choose a Low Code Development Platform
Numerous low code platforms are available in the market. Choosing the vendor that best suits your requirements could be tough. We are sharing a few parameters that you must consider, apart from budget, before selecting a platform for app development.
#1. Business Objective:- The first and most crucial step is to identify your requirements and goals. What kind of applications do you want to develop with these platforms, is it an e-commerce application or something else? It helps you filter the undesired options and choose the most specific one.
#2. Workability:- Another most important parameter while choosing a low-code development platform is workability. It means how user-friendly the UI of the platform is. Anyone with or without technical expertise can easily develop software and understand the various features and options when the low code development platforms have good workability.
#3. Customization Capabilities and Integration:- Most often, you have to add additional functionalities that are out of pre-built templates. In such a case, you have to ensure that the vendor provides adequate customization options. Moreover, it is also mandatory to consider the integration of the platform with the existing infrastructure of the organization.
#4. Scalability Scope:- The requirements and features of the software need to be updated with the growth of the business. Therefore, considering the scalability scope of the platform is crucial. It should be capable of managing the increasing number of users and their requirements without compromising application performance and efficiency.
#5. Security and Privacy:- Businesses do not want an application that is insecure and susceptible to data breach. Therefore, it is imperative that you consider the security and privacy parameters. While shortlisting a low-code platform, a robust and reliable system for data encryption and protection is mandatory.
Conclusion
Low code software development method is an advanced approach to software development where citizen developers can also contribute in the process. It has numerous advantages over the conventional coding method like fast app development, less time to market, better collaboration, etc. However, while selecting a low code development platform, one should consider a few parameters to choose the best platform as per their needs.
