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You do not necessarily need a ton of time, money, or a team of developers to create complex apps anymore. Extensive coding knowledge is not a must, either, as long as you use one of these low-code or even no-code development platforms.
What Is A Low-Code Development Platform?
As its name suggests, a low-code development platform lets you create apps with little need for coding skills. Instead of having to start from scratch and write never-ending lines of code, these platforms opt for a graphical user interface that employs drag-and-drop functionality that almost anyone can use.
If you seek the easiest app-building solution of them all, then a no-code development platform would be up your alley. With one, you could create an app without having to write a single line of code.
Just how popular are low-code or no-code development platforms nowadays? So popular that Forrester predicts their market will exceed $21 billion in value over the next five years.
Read: Low-Code and No-Code: Is It Really That Easy?
Reasons To Use A Low-Code Development Platform
If you need to get busy building apps, there are several reasons why you should take the low-code route:
- Incredibly fast build times – Without the need for extensive coding (or any coding at all), these automation-packed platforms can help you build and launch apps in a matter of days or even hours. According to Forbes, you can create an app 10 times faster with these platforms versus coding by hand.
- Lower costs – Since low-code development platforms make it easy to create apps on your own, you will not need to hire expensive, experienced developers. You can also avoid the high costs of tools that many developers use to make their lives easier.
- Simplified compliance – It can be tough to keep up with constantly-changing regulations.
- However, if you use a low-code development platform, it can help you comply with regulations on the fly.
- Levels the playing field – Instead of having to learn complex programming languages and gain extensive expertise in coding, low-code dev platforms let beginners convert ideas into a wide variety of apps that only developers could do in the past.
- Fewer mistakes – By taking complex coding out of the equation, low-code development platforms can lead to fewer errors and easier debugging.
What are the Top Low-Code Development Platforms?
Now that you know what a low-code or no-code development platform is and the benefits it can provide, here are some of the best of the bunch that you can use to start creating amazing apps today.
Zoho Creator
Here is a low-code development platform that makes the app creation process swift, simple, and secure. Whether you need to develop a simple call log app or a complex ERP application, you can do so with Zoho Creator and its pre-built templates (logistics, vendor management, inventory management, etc.), visual builders, easy-to-use code editors, simplified automation, and more.
As long as you understand business logic, you can create an app that meets your organization’s needs – no coding necessary.
Read: Professional Developers Are Driving Low-Code Tool Adoption
Appian Low-Code Tool
According to its website, Appian can help you create apps 10 times faster than coding by hand while slashing your development costs in half. How can it do this? By simplifying the app-building process and letting you quickly create solutions by drawing a workflow diagram.
With Appian, you get drag-and-drop coding, robust platform security, and real-time process monitoring. The low-code development platform is easy to customize, simplifies debugging, and has a superb user interface that can make the app production process much more enjoyable than usual.
Visual LANSA
You can use Visual LANSA to create web and desktop applications with ease. It offers you all of the tools you need in one IDE so you can streamline the app development process to create entire enterprise applications.
While other low-code platforms may require workarounds and some knowledge of other development languages, Visual LANSA does not, as it adopts a hybrid low-code approach and seamless integration with other services. By letting any dev create an app from start to finish, this platform can save you time and money by eliminating the need to find both frontend and backend developers to get the job done. Add in tons of extensibility and limitless functionality, and it is easy to see why organizations like Honda and Allianz use Visual LANSA to convert their concepts into working apps quickly.
Knack
No code is needed to quickly build business apps with Knack. Its clean and concise interface lets you dive into the app-building process, and you can customize your creations by adding logos, colors, and the like.
Knack specializes in transforming data into a robust online database. It makes it simple to structure data with types, such as names and emails, and you can connect data by linking related records, plus extend it via formulas, equations, and other special options.
Use Knack to create a custom interface that matches your business’ needs so you can view and update your data. Add forms, search, maps, calendars, reports, and logins. Then, once finished, manage and share your data with popular services like Zapier.
Quickbase
Quickbase is a low-code development platform that brings IT and business teams together. You can be from any technical background, have no coding experience, and use this platform to create the app you desire. Not only does Quickbase accelerate the app creation process, but it also makes it less expensive by eliminating the need to pay for traditional deployment, development, or maintenance.
Quickbase’s features include end-to-end process automation, centralized data, and multiple payment levels. It is known to work well as a CRM solution, offers automated data management, is fast, has live updates, and has solid support. A common gripe with Quickbase is that some claim it is not entirely optimized for mobile, so keep that in mind before giving it a try.
Mendix
You can go simple or complex with Mendix. Use it to create a nifty tool to save time or an enterprise-grade app to boost a factory’s efficiency. Either way, little to no coding will be involved, as this low-code development platform pledges that “Anyone with an idea can make powerful apps.”
Multiple industries can use Mendix to build apps fast to boost their business. Here are just some examples of apps that Mendix users have created in the past, all of which showcase the platform’s flexibility:
- AI smart banking
- Analytics and reporting
- Delivery management
- Digital insurance solutions
- Face recognition
- Logistics tracking
- Plant equipment maintenance
- SAP supply chain processes
And since Mendix eliminates the need for complex coding, it evens the playing field between developers and businesses looking to create such solutions.
Some of this platform’s strong points include analytics, source control, collaboration tools, excellent security, solid support, and compatibility testing.
Read: Mendix Named a Leader in Low-Code Development Platforms
OutSystems
OutSystems is a Rapid App Development (RAD) platform that is easy to deploy and use. Unlike some of the other selections in this list, OutSystems may require some coding experience, so if you are a beginner with limited knowledge in that field, you may seek something less hands-on.
Developers can use OutSystems to create and manage their apps via various features, such as single-click deployment, scalable architecture, real-time monitoring, full-stack visual development, in-app feedback, templates, block-based coding, versatile integrations, and more.
