Whether it is software ontwikkeling or web or mobile app development, all the development jobs used to be considered as specialized fields of expertise requiring specific programming skills, command over programming practices, and design skills; for example, is building a website traditionally required command on HTML, PHP, JavaScript, and CSS. But then we have Content Management Systems (CMS) like WordPress, Wix, and several others that allow developers to build a website in just an hour.
Similarly, mobile apps can now be developed by using platforms needing no coding. These no-code platforms and tools promise us to build high-engagement apps by utilizing the simple drag and drop or point and click interface and using any of the multitudes of templates as per your design preferences.
What is no-code development?
As evident from the term, no-code development is all about building an app without using any code. Just because it doesn’t involve any coding, one can easily use a preferred template or theme and make the app bit by bit through a point and click or drag and drop interface.
The most significant value proposition of no-code development is faster building time and lower development costs. Just because no programming is involved, you can do away with hiring expert resources versed in critical platform-specific languages and tools.
On the flip side, no-code development involves much less customization. An app project mainly needs to adhere to the only development norms and practices that the respective platform requires. If you need to build a multifaceted and feature-rich app with an ambitious goal, such platforms are limited in scope and efficiency.
Key advantages of no-code development
No-code development has gained huge popularity and traction in recent years simply because of several crucial benefits such as the ones mentioned below. Here we briefly explain the key advantages of no-code development.
Accessibility
Since the demand for mobile apps is growing rapidly and penetrating almost every other industry, this is making no-development highly accessible and subjected to increased demands. Thanks to no-code development platforms, employees with less technical expertise can also develop powerful apps.
Agility
No-code platforms offer a powerful templating engine and easy-to-use user interface, allowing drag and drop and point and click actions to shape an app in no time. Moreover, such platforms offer themes loaded with common building blocks such as forms, menu options, workflows, and different options for data display. All these make no-code development highly agile in performance and output.
Rich user experience
Though No-code development platforms cannot be utilized to build too many features, for the limited features they help create, you can expect a smooth and rich user experience just because they are launched after rigorous testing.
Easy alignment of business logic and IT
No-code development helps integrate the business and IT through a simple, engaging, and robust user interface. When a business needs to create a simple and interactive app by using standalone skills, no-code development comes to the rescue.
Enable citizen development
No one understands business processes and customers better than business-side employees. Including this unique insight in the software development process is invaluable. It’s called citizen development, and no code makes it possible.
How does no-code development work?
When you have just started with no-code development, you must be surprised to know the potential of developing sophisticated apps without writing a single line of code. This is when you begin to doubt the effectiveness of these platforms for app projects.
The fact is, you are still using code or coded elements when using such platforms. Here, the only difference is that the developers already write the code of the platform, and you only need to put together these coded features and ready-to-use elements just as building blocks of a structure.
How does the no-code platform work? To understand this, you need to have a clear idea about the principal ingredients and features that make these platforms. Let’s describe them.
User Interface (UI) Builder
No-code platforms come with the drag-and-drop interface that allows rapidly developing sophisticated apps following clear and detailed specifications. You can build a robust app from the header to the landing pages to the form by using the drag and drop interface.
Visual modeling
No-development frameworks do entirely away with the complex coding to build a robust app with a straightforward and straightforward drag-and-drop interface. You can visually shape the app in steps and incorporate all app data into the app through visually modeling.
Reusable components
The best part is, after building an app using a no-code platform, you can reuse various app features and small app parts in another app project. After creating an app component utilizing the drag and drop interface, you can reuse the same in any other app project.
Easy Integrations
All no-code platforms allow easy and smooth integrations with different web services and social media platforms such as Twitter, Slack, Mollie, or Ideal. In that respect, no-code development fits into all types of app development needs.
Challenges to no-code development
Everything is not rosy with no-code development, and several pain points need to be taken into consideration. Let’s have a look at some of these challenges.
- Skills gap: The absence of several critical development skills such as debugging and testing can even put apps built with no-code platforms in danger.
- Lack of customization: There can be no doubt that compared to custom apps, here, apps built with no-code platforms can offer much less customization.
Conclusion
With the increasing demand for faster app development, no-code platforms seem to coincide with the market sensibility. With so many promises already realized for so many app projects, No-code platforms have a great future ahead.
