Low-code platforms enable developers to create applications with a visual interface. It allows users to drag-and-drop applications into existence with no extensive coding. Thus, it shortens the time for developing and testing new applications while reducing costs significantly. 

Through a low-code platform, you can create apps that meet business needs without dealing with the endless headaches of traditional development. Therefore, it provides lots of value to many businesses. So, this blog will teach you all you need to know about low code to make more out of it. Let’s get started.  

Components of Low Code 

There are three major components of a low code development platform: 

• A visual integrated development environment (IDE):

  Low code development platforms have this at their core. Usually, developers use a drag-and-drop interface for designing workflows and configuring logic. They can use it to enter handwritten codes. A developer usually uses an IDE to create most of the app and then writes custom code for the last mile. 

• Connectors:

  Various connectors allow the low code platform to interact with back-end services, databases, and APIs. These connectors offer increased functionality and scalability. Developers ‌prioritize connectors because they link a platform’s usefulness directly to its integrations. In some early low code platforms, connection functionality is lacking, leaving developers with workarounds or missing functionality. 

• Application lifecycle manager:

  Low-code platforms need to offer lifecycle management tools that enable debugging, deployment, and maintenance of code across testing, staging, and production and are necessary to build an app, regardless of the development method. 

Knowing these components can give you an excellent foundation to learn. However, sometimes, it might become complicated. Luckily, low code solutions can come to your rescue.  

Low-Code Development Applications 

By 2024, Gartner predicts ‌people will create 80% of technology products and services outside technology-driven fields. And they’ll use low code development platforms — tools that users can use to build applications and workflows related to this. But, how do they commonly use it? Here are some use cases to consider:  

Internal tools 

Despite not being flashy, internal tools are a substantial portion of developers’ time. According to a 2021 survey, developers spent nearly one-third of their time developing internal tools. Despite the value of internal tools, it may not be how developers or their organizations want them to spend their time. 

Developers can develop internal tools quicker, enable non-developers to build them, democratize data across the organization, and protect their stack from “shadow IT” that creeps in whenever they cannot satisfy all requests for internal tools on time. 

UI design 

You can build an intuitive user interface using drag-and-drop components with many low-code platforms. The feature is ‌helpful for back-end developers who need to develop dashboards but have little knowledge of front-end languages, frameworks, and UX best practices. 

This use case relates to others on the list. For example, sales reps use a dashboard to track deal flow. The sales team may ask a back-end developer to create such a tool, and the back-end developer may ‌handle the data, but you may not present the data intuitively. With low code, back-end developers can easily create a UI on top of the information they retrieve. 

Integration and automation 

Workato, UiPath, and Appian are platforms for integrating apps and automating the interactions among them. Many companies still rely on legacy infrastructures like SAP, Oracle, and Citrix that they can’t rip out and replace. The problem is that agile startups challenge these companies depending on custom-built software, SaaS apps, and APIs.  

To achieve these startup speeds, enterprises can connect and automate their legacy systems with low code. Here, enterprises will be less vulnerable to disruption since they can adapt and iterate as startups can. 

Basic app development 

Without coding expertise, non-developers can create complete web apps using tools like Bubble.io and Memberful. According to Bubble.io’s showcase page, some results include: 

• The Teeming tool facilitates collaboration for remote teams through interactive sessions 
• A platform that lets you find furnished rentals in mid-term (1-11 months) called ResidentStreet 

Low code versus no code is essential in this use case. As your app scales, keep in mind the limitations of no code. 

MVPs and prototypes 

The Minimum Viable Product (MVP) methodology, which startup expert Eric Ries popularized, encourages startups and developers to ship products faster, get feedback earlier, and build products with customers in mind. Low-code MVPs are a great use case for MVPs and prototypes. 

It’s best not to waste many resources on an uncertain app or feature. Building an app from scratch takes a tremendous amount of up-front investment. There are many things to deal with: hosting, the back-end, the front-end, the UI, tracking analytics, maintenance, etc. 

Several distractions available at this early stage take your attention away from the most crucial factor: your users and their needs. The advantage of low code is that you can get close to your final product, test it with your customers, and then, and only then, invest in it if you’re confident it will meet your needs. 

Conclusion 

Low code offers the best solution for businesses to optimize workflows and remain competitive, but implementing it isn’t always easy. It takes a strategy and the right technology. For low-code to be as effective as it can be, you need someone who can deliver on demands and start strongly.