Low-Code platforms help companies develop applications faster and potentially reduce the growing need for highly skilled engineers. While Low-Code solutions can be transformative, there are tradeoffs.
Leading Low-Code platforms include:
- Quickbase: Leading low-code platform. Easy to get started and super functional with free trial.
- Coherent: Converts spreadsheets into applications with rules, calculations, complex data models, and ready-to-use APIs .
- ToolJet: Has application templates with desktop and mobile layouts.
- BudiBase: Auto generates screens and forms and connects to any SQL database.
- Convertigo: No-Code development platform used to build iOS and Android applications on the go.
A typical Low-Code development environment consists of these characteristics:
- Drag and drop interfaces allow for easy development processes.
- A visual modelling tool that allows you to create the UIs, data models, and functionality with the option to add in hand-written code when needed.
- Connectors that handle the data structures, retrieval, and storage.
- Out of the box functionality allows you to skip having to build your core modules from scratch, and instead focus on building new code.
- Automated application lifecycle manager that allows for building, deploying, debugging, and the staging and production process. Testing is possible here as well.
Low-Code platforms democratize programming. They accelerate deployment timelines with intuitive, wizard and template-based development that has a low learning curve, enabling business users to develop new functionality. Amidst a tech talent shortage, some companies are using low-code solutions to reduce IT backlogs. Individuals with less formal tech training can develop new automations and technology capabilities.
Low-Code platforms are useful, but there are limitations. Not all capabilities can be built with drag-and-drop:
- Sometimes Low-Code platforms don’t offer all the features you need.
- It can require developer expertise to bridge the gap between Low-Code apps and existing enterprise applications and systems.
- Low-Code doesn’t always offer the level of security required
- Low-Code applications are built for ease of development, not optimized for performance, This can be a challenge thousands, or more users are accessing the application. and even millions of users.
- Low-Code can be inefficient. Since Low-Code development is just a series of configuration decisions built for ease, not speed.
- Often Low-Code apps aren’t “pixel perfect,” and need expert UX design, especially for external use.