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Introduction to low-code development

8
Min.
Web Development
Cedrik Dudek

Low-code development is becoming increasingly important and is taking up more and more space in the reality of many companies. We'll show you what low-code development is all about, what the future prospects are and what career opportunities this area offers.

What is low-code development anyway?

The term low-code development means the use of tools that do the work of programming. The user can use a graphical interface to implement software solutions, web applications and similar things, among other things. The application itself will convert the user's input into readable code, so that many projects can be completed even by laymen. Many of the applications on the market are able to significantly simplify many complex tasks and thus offer even less qualified people the opportunity to achieve the desired results quickly and relatively easily. The range of options always depends on two factors. On the one hand, from the capabilities of the platform itself, which is usually limited by the manufacturer. However, it should be said that most providers regularly update their software and equip it with new functions.

The second limiting factor is usually in front of the screen. Because if such software also has a graphical interface and is therefore actually intuitive to use, it can take considerable effort to fully explore the possibilities of such software. Fortunately, there are specialized providers on the market for most solutions who are able to quickly remedy this situation. In addition, there must be a difference between No-code and low-code Dealing with development. Because low-code development also means, among other things, that it may be necessary to manually check the code or add it manually. This means, among other things, that people with the appropriate knowledge should at least be involved in the projects in order to tap into their full potential.

The benefits of low-code development at a glance

The low-code approach offers a huge number of advantages, which is why these tools will usually prevail. First of all, the financial benefit must be mentioned. Instead of supervising external programmers with a task and spending a lot of money on it, most low-code tools can be used at moderate prices. In addition, these tools can be used by your own employees, which further minimizes costs. In addition, the low-code sector always produces very easy to read code, which can be extended by specialists and programmers, among other things.

Above all, however, the low-code approach lowers the inhibition threshold and thus ensures that many people from different areas can work on a project. This makes it possible, among other things, to avoid operational blindness, which can become a problem with many expert projects.

Overall, the low-code approach is definitely preferable, as it minimizes many limits and makes access easier. In combination with the low prices, even small and medium-sized companies can push ahead with their own digitization without having to unduly burden their own budget.

Low-code benefits at a glance

Which training courses or courses of study are eligible?

The main advantage of low-code development is that even people who are not specially trained can program and develop many areas. Yet it is not a no-code development. Therefore, it is usually still useful if you can monitor and understand the produced code. For this reason, there are still many programmers working in low-code development, who, among other things, can optimize and accelerate their own work processes through low-code development.

In addition to studying computer science, however, training in this area is also an option. Among other things, training as an IT specialist for application development is frequently in demand. The significantly more practice-oriented approach to training courses can be hugely beneficial in direct development, among other things. However, experience shows that interdisciplinary teams work much more efficiently. Thanks to low-code development, part of the staff can be saved, which makes processes even more efficient.

Supporting agencies can be helpful in low-code development

The main advantage of low-code development is that many tasks can be carried out directly by the company itself. However, even low-code development does not make expert help unnecessary. Because there are still areas that cannot be covered by the various tools and which require special explanation. For this reason, it is important that you as a company best contact an agency that is familiar with the various low-code developer tools and supports you with your project.

This also has the advantage that you can quickly ask questions in case of doubt and thus improve your own skills. We generally recommend agencies rather than individual freelancers, as your project in an agency will usually provide you with much more competent support. However, make sure that the agency is also familiar with your favorite low-code tools and uses them regularly. From the outset, most agencies specify which tools are used and in which areas the experience is insufficient. If you also take a look at the references, you are usually well advised.

Overview of various low-code tools

The range of tools for low-code development has increased significantly in recent years. Some tools have already established themselves very strongly on the national and international market and are impressive due to their ease of use and many features. At this point, we would like to briefly introduce you to three of the tools and thus illustrate in which areas low-code development has now arrived.

Webflow - web development and CMS in one

Webflow combines the advantages of complete developer software with the advantages of a complete content management system. In this way, a wide variety of websites with all possible functions can be implemented easily and without your own code knowledge. This also offers small and medium-sized companies in particular the advantage that they can advance their own digitization and presence on the Internet much more easily. The contrast is particularly obvious when Webflow is compared with other solutions. Among other things, we once had the Differences between Webflow and WordPress worked out. You'll quickly understand the benefits Webflow can offer companies.

Bubble - web app development for various occasions

The low-code tool Bubble was developed primarily for the development of web apps and helps to quickly and easily develop highly functional websites for mobile devices and conventional desktop computers. Bubble also uses a simple graphical interface and can cover a wide range of functions on the market. In particular, the very intuitive use makes Bubble the simplest tools to start with, although Bubble lacks a bit of complexity in some areas.

Integromat - app automation and workflow optimization

Integromat is a special variant of low-code development, because with this tool, workflow work in particular can be optimally optimized. In this way, different automations can be added to different apps without the need for the work of a programmer. At first glance, this doesn't sound particularly exciting, but it can lead to significant improvements, particularly in various industries. Among other things, individual routines can be developed, making employees work more efficiently and therefore more economical. Integromat is an enormous asset, especially for repetitive work without great productivity.

The number of low-code development solutions continues to grow

We now only have the three most well-known and very frequently used in Germany Low-code development tools revealed. However, these are by no means the only solutions on the market. On the contrary, the number of low-code tools is increasing almost daily. This is because the technology is now so advanced that more and more specialized areas can fall back on the low-code approach. Among other things, this also means that sooner or later there will be many more different and highly specialized tools. Nevertheless, it will probably remain the case that the above-mentioned market leaders are unlikely to disappear. Since these tools are also being continuously developed and also remain available for small and medium-sized companies, almost every company will sooner or later deal with one of these tools.

Career opportunities in low-code development

Regardless of one's own education, the area of low-code development also offers significant career opportunities. Anyone who specializes in one of the tools mentioned above, such as Webflow, can build a successful company. Because as easy as these tools may be to use, mastering them is still a challenge and costs time and energy. Choosing one of the programs as a specialist, for example in a digital agency, and mastering it, can significantly increase your own market value. Especially when you assume that low-code development is just in its infancy and is constantly being developed.

Since more and more companies will rely on the low-code approach in the future and will need help with this, the career opportunities in this area are excellent. Both in the area of direct application and in the area of professional training and education. From our position, we can only advise anyone interested to take a closer look at low-code tools and master them. Getting started is usually easy, although the learning curve quickly increases significantly. Anyone who has the energy and works with the tools will not be able to complain about a lack of orders in the future. Because in any case, the low-code sector will not disappear in the near future, but will rather go through the roof. Experts for low-code development will therefore remain in demand.

Conclusion: The future belongs to low-code development

Looking at Germany alone, the digitization of companies is far from complete. Experts worldwide assume that even so far only around 40 percent of companies have even embarked on their own digitization. The low-code development approach can help enormously here, as the costs and effort of digitization can be significantly reduced. Among other things, this also lowers the financial barrier that has separated small and medium-sized companies in particular from these options. However, it must be said that the no-code approach is not a magic box that can fulfill all wishes directly and easily. For this reason, it is important to contact specialized agencies that accompany and support these processes. This ensures that the high requirements can be met and that the goals are achieved. However, the low-code approach can generally significantly minimize the costs of support and implementation. In addition, this will enable companies to make necessary changes themselves in the future and thus position themselves even more optimally on the market.