What is Low Code?
Low code is the development of apps and processes via a visual drag-drop interface. It offers pre-built UI controls, data connectors, query builders, event handlers, and the flexibility to add your custom code to design fully functional apps and tools at accelerated speeds.
Both professional developers and citizen developers (semi-technical to non-technical) can use low code tools to build software solutions of varying complexity for a range of purposes, such as internal tools, mobile apps, web portals, and automations.
What is low code development?
The primary goal of low code development is to reduce the amount of custom code that needs to be written and increase the amount of reusable code and components. Low code provides users with the basic elements - reusable UI controls, frontend logic builder, data and API connectors - that abstract away much of the boilerplate coding, speeding up the process of getting an application to production.
How is Low Code different from No Code
Why you should be paying attention to Low Code?
Low code is the natural extension from code. It helps developers move faster by allowing them to build intuitive user interfaces from drag-and-drop components. Developers can also make their own controls, functions and connectors that can be reused across all the solutions they build.
App development teams are better equipped to adapt faster, respond quickly to rapidly changing business requirements and push solutions out of the door within days.
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Who can use low code?
Low code development offers benefits to CIOs, IT Heads, Developers, business heads, citizen developers, saving them from traditional development hassles.
Professional Developers
Low code gives professional developers the complete toolkit that allows them to ship digital solutions fast. Then be the app to extend existing apps, consume data from multiple sources, build mobile apps, or automate operational tasks. It helps professional developers improve their ability to tackle more complex development tasks by reducing the time consumed in tackling the simpler development challenges.
“With low code, the speed of development has gone up to 20x and I am finding more breathing room to work. Being able to create and deploy a front-end for the database within a week? I am not turning back from this.” – Software Engineering Manager at a Threat Prevention Company
Citizen Developers
Instead of depending on developers/engineering teams are themselves finding solutions to automate or manage tasks. Citizen developers can build apps on an IT-sanctioned platform that gives IT the control and visibility needed to maintain app quality & security. Low code gives the power of innovation in the hands of the “local experts” who are the frontline workers with some sound knowledge of the business processes they are associated with and have some technical skills to create their own business solutions.
“It is a powerful experience, being able to turn an idea into a working prototype to a production-grade app that can be instantly deployed to all users. The ability to build, deploy, test, iterate is immensely powerful for us.“ – Sales Innovation Lead at a large CPG Company
Low Code App Development Features
Low code development dramatically reduces the amount of time required to build and launch cutting-edge internal tools and apps.
While some are more akin to database front-end, others focus on niches like BPM, Inspection Management.
Explore the value low-code can create for your business.
Learn how enterprise leaders choose their low-code vendors.
Discover how low-code has helped IT and Business Leaders.
Digital business tools are crucial for any customer-facing business. Whether it is a CRM, an admin panel, a website, a dashboard, or a full-blown employee onboarding and training system. These tools increase the productivity of teams, allowing them to better handle their data, streamline operational process flows, and in turn deliver optimum customer experience.
The pressure on developers to deliver innovative mobile and web solutions keeps magnifying. However, only a small group of top-tier companies have the resources to meet the market demand for speed with traditional development.
With low code, a UI/UX designer can do front-end development and a back-end developer can prototype consumer apps.
Developers get more done as they spend more time creating and building and less time on repetitive work.
The Speed of Low Code – A Quick Study
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From business-facing applications to integrations with third-party solutions. Users can create several types of internal tools and apps
Low code Integration & Automation Apps
Low code development provides means to connect to databases and apps and anything with a REST, GraphQL or gRPC API without worrying about handling errors.
Read data from PostgreSQL, present it over an admin panel, join the data to MongoDB or Airtable, send out customer communication via Twilio, and push results to Stripe. Developers only need to configure what is custom to the app, like data transformation rules.
Automate how data flows between them, update databases, fetch customer information and present on a front-end, send reminder emails and messages.
Difference between Low-code and Business Process Management
BPM software suites were designed to systematically improve each business process, and subsequently improve the efficiency of the organization itself. These software suites made it easy to automate, model, monitor, and streamline everyday business processes.
Low-code development platforms aren’t a replacement for BPMs. They are a technological approach that changes the way BPM services are deployed. Instead of bloated and complicated software suites, platforms like DronaHQ offer configurable tools, resources and components that you can use to whip up your own BPM solutions in a relatively short period, with very little coding knowledge.
Instead of depending on costly and time-consuming manual coding, you can create your own industry- and organization-specific applications with minimal effort. Another great thing—we have API integration abilities with 3rd party SaaS solutions.
Traditional Application Development Process vs Low-Code Development Process
The traditional development approach is more about exploring and finding the best UI libraries, stitching together data sources, handling errors, saving query results, managing environments, hosting and user access permissions and repeating the same cycle time and again for every new development.
In comparison, low-code platforms are much easier to use and operate due to their drag and drop features. Further, unlike custom development, you do not have to write codes here for developing the applications, as you can simply use the drawing methods to do the same.
What is low code automation?
Forrester Research describes low code automation platforms as “Application development platforms that enable rapid application delivery with minimal hand-coding, and quick setup and deployment.” Low code automation unifies the most important capabilities to automate workflows across the organization.
• Automate routine tasks in a workflow and integrate systems without APIs
• Design, execute, manage, and optimize complex processes
• Quickly define simple to complex business logic and execute it automatically
Benefits of low-code development
Low code solves the fundamental disconnect between what the business needs and what software was delivered. But like any technology, companies need to use it correctly to get value out of it.
DronaHQ is constantly adding support so that users can achieve customization with little to no code required. For custom UI controls, DronaHQ Designer allows users to drag, drop and design controls that can be reused across multiple apps. Using a Control Editor, developers can code and create custom widgets and newer UI components.
What About Low Code Databases?
Low code database solutions allow you to create your own databases, add or remove data, modify fields, and keep track of all your data, all without having to learn a query language.
It works in the same principle as low-code development platforms. You can visually create databases as you would low-code apps. Instead of learning query commands and scripts, the functions you need are already programmed into low-code database solutions.
This saves you from having to employ an entire team for database management. Buying low-code databases are much less expensive than having to constantly have a team on staff.
How low code can impact UI/UX?
The traditional development approach is more about exploring and finding the best UI libraries, stitching together data sources, handling errors, saving query results, managing environments, hosting and user access permissions and repeating the same cycle time and again for every new development.
One area where low code can have a significant impact is in the user interface and user experience (UI/UX) of the application. By leveraging pre-built UI components and templates, low code platforms can create consistent and intuitive interfaces that can be easily customized to meet the specific needs of the application. This can help developers focus more on designing engaging experiences for users, rather than spending time on writing code for each individual UI element.
Another way low code can impact UI/UX is by enabling rapid prototyping and iteration. Because low code platforms allow developers to quickly create and modify applications, it is easier to test and refine the user experience. This can result in applications that are better tailored to the needs of users and can improve overall engagement and satisfaction.