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LOW CODE OR ZERO CODE: NO PROGRAMMER NEEDED?

Creating a website without any programming skills, making a chat bot, launching an online store or an application, automating a business process without the developer's help – all this is now a reality.

Development methods requiring no code or minimal programmer involvement – Zero-code and Low-code – are one of the most promising areas in the market. 26% of executives name Low-code and Zero-code as today’s priority investments.

The cost of developer labor is rising and finding a good specialist might be a serious challenge. Especially for a small business. So, what is low code? What are its benefits and disadvantages? What is no code? Let’s find out.



WHAT IS LOW CODE?



Low code is a drag-and-drop development method with a visual interface and some manual code elements. Within the low-code development platform, a user collects blocks with ready-made code and shapes a product with the desired functionality.

Ready-made modules in Low code speed up the performance of typical tasks and help eliminate repetitive actions, but for custom solutions, advanced settings and personalization, you will have to write code. Integrations are also supported, due to built-in services.



Low code does not exclude classical development and programmers' processes but greatly speeds up their work. By the way, manual coding is also not always a project from scratch. Moreover, experienced programmers often use templates of their own code to save time.



WHAT ARE THE EXAMPLES OF LOW-CODE PLATFORMS?



  • ELMA 365

A platform that automates and robotizes business processes and CRM. It helps create corporate applications with a minimum code involved.



  • Mendix

A platform where you can choose a no-code environment or an interface for professional developers. It creates applications for iOS and Android, which are deployed in the cloud in one click.



  • WF Core

A platform that manages data from any system, including CRM. The service has graphical and API interfaces for managing all business processes.



WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF LOW CODE?



  • Speed

Ready-made templates and process automation can greatly increase the speed of a digital product creation. No long preparation is needed – a working tool can be designed in a matter of days.



  • Flexibility

The need for code in Low-code applications, on the one hand, complicates the work, on the other, allows for flexibility in creating a product. The standard drag-and-drop constructor is convenient but quite limited when it comes to non-standard tasks. Manual code helps scaling the solution and expanding the functionality of the product.



  • Development cost

There is no need to inflate the staff of developers (whose salaries are constantly growing). A project with Low code will require fewer work hours than coding from scratch, therefore business costs will decrease.



  • Reducing the tech burden

Making a product on a Low code platform can be a lifesaver when the IT department is fully booked. While IT specialists are tasked with priority projects where deep expertise is needed, employees with no programming skills can create, for example, an application for the company's internal purposes.



  • Low risks

Investments in Low-code projects are lower than regular ones. Assembling an MVP on the constructor and failing is not a big deal. While developing for months, investing resources and not getting positive feedback from the market can be painful.



WHAT ARE THE DISADVANTAGES OF LOW CODE?



  1. Programming skills are still needed if the standard functionality of the Low-code platform is not enough. Therefore, this development method is not universal.
  2. Platform dependency. Not all development services provide open source and give free rein to developers.



WHAT IS ZERO CODE?



Zero-code or No-code is a method of creating websites and applications without coding. No code development is suitable for non-professional developers – in fact, ordinary users who do not know how to write code.

Such a zero coder creates a drag-and-drop product within a graphical interface where there is no code at all. Zero coding is as simple as possible. It is enough for the user to understand the future functionality and be able to assemble a solution from ready-made blocks.

Zero coding allows for a wide range of business tasks: creating a landing page, an application, automating processes.



IN A NUTSHELL



Low code is a development platform operating within a visual interface with ready-made code modules, offering the ability to write code manually. At certain stages, it does not require professional knowledge, but for non-standard solutions, it is flexible enough to embrace expert input.

Zero-code or No-code – is a development platform requiring no code or special knowledge. Not flexible for individual solutions, yet simple. Eliminates errors, as there is no manual code in development.

Zero-code and Low-code platforms are sufficient for creating simple websites and mobile applications, automating business processes, testing hypotheses and launching MVP at no additional cost. Nevertheless, experts claim that these platforms cannot compete with the work of a professional programmer. For now.