Low-code app development can help enterprise developers to create valuable micro-solutions faster while driving value to the broader business objectives.
While many enterprise development teams are committed to long-term project roadmaps, finding resources for smaller projects creates a bottleneck that could be solved using low-code software development initiatives, tools and techniques.
Solving business problems using low-code concepts and practices to tackle a wide range of everyday programming chores can also free developer teams to focus on larger and more complex projects.
Low-code app development is a visual and mostly automated approach to software development that allows users to define desired tasks at a high level and then rely on back-end tools to generate much of the underlying code.
Low-Code vs Traditional Software
Traditional software development, requiring developers to write individual lines of code that is organised into functional routines and modules that provide the features and functionality of the software.
Code-driven software development requires the programmer to have a wide range of knowledge across the software development spectrum including software development languages, development environments, compilers, testing and deployment tools, along with the various policies and practices used to handle coding, testing and deployment.
In comparison, low-code platforms usually allow users to select from a range of reusable functionality components using a drag-and-drop visual interface with much of the programming needed to create the software encapsulate in the back end.
Using the low-code visual interface, users can easily add, move or delete functional components in order to develop the process flow. Once the low-code app is created, the low-code platforms also support testing and deployment.
Low-code technology can enable an enterprise to deliver a range of micro-solutions faster and for less money.
There are still many projects that require functions and operations that do not easily fit into the low-code approach, where the amount of work to create and modify the low-code platform to meet those requirements, cannot be justified.
Low-Code vs No-Code
Low-code solutions can simplify and accelerate many everyday business programming tasks; however low-code is not intended to eliminate all coding. Many low-code platforms still require some basic programming knowledge to either modify existing functional components or to create new custom functions.
No-code systems aim to provide all the intended function and features, eliminating any need to add or modify components, meaning that users need no knowledge of application design or programming.
No-code platforms are usually considered to be the more user-friendly, easy-to-use subset of low-code solutions.
Low-Code Development
While low-code development processes contain a high degree of automation, they are not automatic and do not do all the work for you.
It is important to rigorously evaluate, select and use a suitable low-code platform for your enterprise. The time invested to learn a low-code platform features and capabilities will deliver a return on investment in future projects.
Low-code makes it easy to experiment with new or different features and functions, it can still be valuable to have a project plan and roadmap to keep low-code development on-track.
Benefits of Low-Code Development
Low-code development can offer a range of benefits to the enterprise, including:
- Wider staff availability
- Caters to niche projects
- Improved efficiency
- Lower-cost innovation
- Accelerated development speed
Although Low-code platforms can effectively solve some business programming problems, low-code isn’t a fix-all solution. Depending on the use-case, low-code may have difficulty with many complex tasks or require so much customisation and integration that conventional software development approaches and tool sets are the better choice.
Low-Code Use Case Examples
if the technology and business use case align the business goals with enterprise requirements then there are a range of common low-code applications that could be implemented within the enterprise including:
- Business systems
- Business processes
- Micro-service apps
- iOT-based apps
- Web portals
- Mobile apps
There are a wide range of low-code tools and platforms available, and the market continues to evolve. Businesses can choose from various cloud-native and third-party low-code platforms for uses that range from simple websites and mobile apps to enterprise-class application development.
Businesses should evaluate the specific capabilities of the low-code platform before commencing to ensure that packaged models, functionality and components align with the project objectives with a minimal amount of customisation required.
Enterprise low-code app development, if implemented as a solution to solve appropriate use-cases, has the potential to deliver a rapid return on investment.