No-code development platform

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Flowchart interface for Betty Blocks, a no-code platform Betty Blocks platform.png
Flowchart interface for Betty Blocks, a no-code platform

No-code development platforms (NCDPs) allow creating application software through graphical user interfaces and configuration instead of traditional computer programming. No-code development platforms are closely related to low-code development platforms as both are designed to expedite the application development process. [1] However, unlike low-code, no-code development platforms require no code writing at all, generally offering prebuilt templates that businesses can build apps with. [2] These platforms have both increased in popularity as companies deal with the parallel trends of an increasingly mobile workforce and a limited supply of competent software developers. [3]

Contents

No-code development platforms are closely related to visual programming languages. [4]

Use

NCDPs are used to meet the needs of companies that are seeking to digitize processes through cloud-based mobile applications. No-code tools are often designed with line of business users in mind as opposed to traditional IT. This shift in focus is meant to help accelerate the development cycle by bypassing traditional IT development constraints of time, money, and scarce software development human capital resources to allow teams to align their business strategy with a rapid development process. [5] NCDPs also often leverage enterprise-scale APIs and web service catalogs, open data sets, and tested and proven template galleries, to help integrate existing business systems while adding a practical layer of user functionality. [6]

The transition from traditional enterprise software to a lean development methodology is also changing the role of traditional IT leaders and departments. Whereas IT once provided not only approval of new technology but procurement and development of new tools, IT's role is now increasingly one of governance over line of business who develop niche tools for their work stream. [7]

The potential benefits of utilizing a NCDP include:

Security concerns

Some writers [12] raise concerns over platform security, particularly for apps that handle consumer data. Proponents of NCDP[ who? ] claim that custom code is often a greater security risk than platform code which has been validated by its consistent use across multiple applications. [13] No-code allows platforms to hide what happens behind the scenes from users, allowing users to change or modify a field while mitigating certain errors which could compromise security. [14] [15]

No/low-code platforms may also offer some of the following security features:[ citation needed ]

See also

Related Research Articles

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Mobile app development is the act or process by which a mobile app is developed for one or more mobile devices, which can include personal digital assistants (PDA), enterprise digital assistants (EDA), or mobile phones. Such software applications are specifically designed to run on mobile devices, taking numerous hardware constraints into consideration. Common constraints include CPU architecture and speeds, available memory (RAM), limited data storage capacities, and considerable variation in displays and input methods. These applications can be pre-installed on phones during manufacturing or delivered as web applications, using server-side or client-side processing to provide an "application-like" experience within a web browser.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">SharePoint</span> Web application platform

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">WaveMaker</span> Low-code programming platform

WaveMaker is a Java-based low-code development platform designed for building software applications and platforms. The company, WaveMaker Inc., is based in Mountain View, California. The platform is intended to assist enterprises in speeding up their application development and IT modernization initiatives through low-code capabilities. Additionally, for independent software vendors (ISVs), WaveMaker serves as a customizable low-code component that seamlessly integrates into their products.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parasoft</span> Software testing framework

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A low-code development platform (LCDP) provides a development environment used to create application software, generally through a graphical user interface. A low-coded platform may produce entirely operational applications, or require additional coding for specific situations. Low-code development platforms can reduce the amount of traditional time spent, enabling accelerated delivery of business applications. A common benefit is that a wider range of people can contribute to the application's development—not only those with coding skills but require good governance to be able to adhere to common rules and regulations. LCDPs can also lower the initial cost of setup, training, deployment, and maintenance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Appian Corporation</span> American cloud computing company

Appian Corporation is a cloud computing and enterprise software company headquartered in McLean, Virginia, part of the Dulles Technology Corridor. The company sells a platform as a service (PaaS) for building enterprise software applications. It is focused on low-code development, process mining, business process management, and case management markets in North America, Europe, the Middle East and Southeast Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">UiPath</span> Romanian-American developer of robotic process automation software

UiPath is a global software company that makes robotic process automation (RPA) software. It was founded in Bucharest, Romania, by Daniel Dines and Marius Tîrcă. Its headquarters are in New York City. The company's software monitors user activity to automate repetitive front and back office tasks, including those performed using other business software such as customer relationship management or enterprise resource planning (ERP) software.

AppSheet is an application that provides a no-code development platform for application software, which allows users to create mobile, tablet, and web applications using data sources like Google Drive, DropBox, Office 365, and other cloud-based spreadsheet and database platforms. The platform can be utilized for a broad set of business use cases including project management, customer relationship management, field inspections, and personalized reporting.

Creatio is a global vendor of software to automate workflows and a CRM with no-code development.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Appery.io</span> App-building platform

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Microsoft Power Platform</span> Family of business software products

Microsoft Power Platform is a line of business intelligence, app development, and app connectivity software applications. Microsoft developed the Power Fx low-code programming language for expressing logic across the Power Platform. It also provides integrations with GitHub and Microsoft Teams among other apps.

References

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  2. "Best No-Code Development Platforms". G2.
  3. Rouse, Margaret. "low-code/no-code development platform (LCNC platform)". www.techtarget.com. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  4. "Programming Without Code: The Rise of No-Code Software Development". 11 March 2020.
  5. Satell, Greg (21 April 2018). "The Future of Software Is No-Code". www.inc.com. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  6. Tolido, Ron (11 September 2017). "App Maker Movement". Cap Gemeni. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  7. Weiss, Todd (19 April 2018). "No-Code, Low-Code Development Platforms Help Organizations Meet Growing App Demand". www.itprotoday.com. Retrieved 20 August 2018.
  8. Rivera, Janessa. "Gartner Says By 2018, More Than 50 Percent of Users Will Use a Tablet or Smartphone First for All Online Activities". Gartner. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  9. Harris, Richard. "Low code and no code app development benefits". App Developer Magazine. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  10. Shrivastava, Anubhuti. "How Zero-Code Platforms Are Becoming A Boon For Enterprises". Trend in Tech. Retrieved 28 January 2019.
  11. Lugovsky, Vladimir. "Council Post: A Guide To Low-Code/No-Code Development Platforms In 2021". Forbes. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  12. Daily, Ryan. "Is Low-Code, No-Code a Security Risk to Your Enterprise?". ITProToday. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
  13. Korolov, Maria (2019-06-24). "4 security concerns for low-code and no-code development". CSO Online. Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  14. Rubinstein, David (16 May 2018). "Industry Spotlight: No-code solutions help developers help themselves". SD Times. Retrieved 5 December 2018.
  15. Johannessen, Chris; Davenport, Tom (2021-06-22). "When Low-Code/No-Code Development Works — and When It Doesn't". Harvard Business Review. ISSN   0017-8012 . Retrieved 2022-01-01.
  16. "Why Low Code Shouldn't Mean High Risk for Businesses". CPO Magazine. 2021-01-06. Retrieved 2022-01-01.