What is Low Code Development, and What are its Features?

Traditional software development needs highly skilled IT pros. They must know a lot about coding. Therefore, it’s slow and resource-intensive, involves highly skilled labor, and increases operational costs. A solution to these challenges will be a “game changer” in low code development. It will democratize software creation.

The global low code platform market revenue is expected to grow at a CAGR of 26.1% from 2018 to 2024. With intuitive tools, including drag-and-drop interfaces, prebuilt templates, and visual models, working applications can be created by non-technical “citizen developers.”. We explain the key features, benefits, and use cases of low code development in this post.

What is Low Code?

Cutting the software team’s workload speeds up product delivery. Low-code platforms require little to no coding. You can use them to build complex processes and apps. Developers can save time on learning the coding syntax and typing. It saves thier time, which is best spent on building the functionality logic. 

Several low-code platforms use drag-and-drop interfaces and act as WYSWIG (What You See Is What You Get) editors. These tools can help beginners and non-professionals. They must know how to use the app. They can then create product features. There is no need to learn complex programming languages.

It is possible to rapidly develop robust, scalable apps for small and enterprise users. Gartner predicts by the end of 2025, 70% of the applications will use low code technologies.

What is Low code Development?

The low code development already integrates the built-in UI components, scripts, and visual tools. So, developers can use the GUIs and drag-and-drop tools. They can create complex custom applications.

The reusable components speed up development. They automate multiple steps in the app dev cycle. So, developers can build faster, reliable, and scalable apps. They can do this even without the needed technical skills. Low code platforms let organizations build apps without a big IT team.  

A recent survey by Reveal exposed that 90% of developers boosted their productivity using low code tools. As these facilitate cross-platform accessibility, they can work as a single source of truth for the code base as well. Low-code tools can handle all operations crucial for software development. It includes: ideation, prototyping, design, and POC delivery. Also, it includes collaboration, communication, management, development, and testing. 

When to Use Low Code?

Low code usage has been growing in the past few years. The low code platform usage globally has reached 55% in 2024. This has surpassed traditional coding practices. It can be used in various scenarios, saving enterprises costs. Low code becomes mandatory in situations where:

• Applications must be deployed quickly.
• Applications with basic functionalities are needed.
• Applications must connect with existing systems to automate workflows.
• Applications must be developed at a lower cost.
• We need prototypes now, before full-scale development.

You can become a key player in the enterprise application development team with a full stack development course. Now, you don’t need technology experience. Employers need skilled developers for their app development tools. The traditional education is no longer mandatory.

Features of Low Code App Development

Developers prefer low-code platforms over traditional coding. The platforms are feature-rich and ready to use. More importantly, such platforms let non-tech users improve software quality and user experience. Some of the features that make low code tools a favorite are:

1. Drag and drop functionality

Low code tool users can use a drag-and-drop feature to integrate existing components and modules. These tools are revolutionizing code development. They are like the HTML tools that revamped web development. The intuitive interface speeds up software delivery by streamlining development.

1. Visual modeling tools

Use low-code tools with visual modeling to design the UI and ensure it works. Prototypes can be developed rapidly without spending a lot of time on building the interface. The graphical approach to software development ensures the product meets the customer’s needs. It must look and behave as they want. 

1. Scalability

When the applications scale up, the burden on developers increases. Low-code platforms remove this burden. They create future-proof applications. Any new functionality can be added or extended. It won’t harm existing performance. These tools save time and resources for the organization. On-demand changes can be made quickly using cloud-based platforms. The changes will be seamlessly reflected in the final product. 

1. Integration capabilities

Low-code tools can use built-in APIs and integrations. They improve cross-platform compatibility. The software can connect to enterprise apps or third-party tools without custom APIs. These tools automate data exchange. So, rapid development is now possible. Many tools also allow developers to customize the API protocols for specific applications.

• Security

Built-in security protocols make application security easy. The tools can be used out of the box and configured for complex applications to enhance security. Comprehensive security management is the need of the hour for DevOps teams. The low-code tools improve visibility in the software development lifecycle. 

1. Prebuilt and reusable components

Non-technical users can use built-in templates and modules to integrate complex software features. Nothing needs to be developed from scratch. The team can add more reusable components to the platform. This aids development in the future. Some of the most used built-in components are:

• User interface elements
• Backend database connectors and authentication modules
• Enterprise application templates

3. Application lifecycle management

Managing the application lifecycle from ideation, development, and version control to deployment is simplified. The centralized tools allow for collaboration with a single source of truth. The cloud-based platforms are accessible from anywhere. Teams from different branches can unite to build a large app. With easy integration tools, the entire application lifecycle can be shortened. It results in a faster time to market. 

Benefits of Low Code App Development

Unilever used a low-code platform to build a mobile sales application. It improved customer experience and sales operations. The development process took only three weeks. So, Unilever was able to deploy the app and adapt to market dynamics swiftly. Many such global organizations leverage the following benefits of low-code app development:

• Savings in project development costs
• Integrate citizen developers into the software development team.
• Advanced technologies, like AI and ML, are now widely available. They come with integrated APIs.
• Faster product delivery, due to quicker development.
• Customizable built-in templates and reusable modules.
• Ability to build scalable, agile, and responsive business applications.
• Low code tools minimize technical debt for organizations.
• Easily integrate the latest technologies
• Developer productivity is enhanced multifold when building things from scratch is unnecessary.

Use Cases of Low Code App

Some of the use cases of low code apps are:

• Web-based customer and employee portals
• Native mobile applications and PWAs
• Integrating IoT applications
• Digital-first new business models
• Replace, migrate, and extend legacy systems
• Microservices for specific business functions
• Workflow automation of manual back-office tasks
• Centralized maintenance platforms
• Supply chain management

The top industries that can benefit from low code development are:

• Education
• Healthcare
• Logistics
• Finance
• Ecommerce and retail

How is Low Code different from No-code application development?

The no-code app environment requires users to enter no code at all. It is perfect for non-technical users to work on business apps with no knowledge of system programming. However, its application is limited to small and mundane business apps due to a complete lack of coding control. 

Here is a quick comparison between low code and no-code development environments:

Feature

Low code Development

No-Code Development

Target Users

Developers, IT professionals, and tech-savvy business users

Non-developers, business users, and non-technical users

Development Complexity

It allows for more customization and flexibility, with little coding.

Drag-and-drop interface with no coding required

Learning Curve

Requires some understanding of programming concepts

Minimal learning curve; easy for anyone to use

Use Cases

Suitable for building complex and enterprise-level applications

Ideal for simple apps like forms, workflows, and dashboards.

Customization

High. Developers can add custom code to enhance functionality.

Limited; confined to prebuilt templates and components

Scalability

Highly scalable, suitable for large-scale applications

Limited scalability, best for small to medium-sized apps

Integration Capabilities

Strong integration with external systems and databases.

Basic integration options with common software and tools

Speed of Development

Fast but may require some coding for specific features

Fastest development speed; instant deployment

Future of Low Code: Predictions and Numbers

A recent Forrester report found that 87% of enterprise developers use low-code platforms for some work. Non-IT users can also create new applications for enterprises. Citizen developers can use mature strategies for code development using low-code platforms. Some of the key trends in low-code solutions are:

• Increased Adoption: Enterprises implement low-code platforms to increase the speed of application development. Businesses can improve their development processes by relying less on traditional IT teams. Thet can quickly adapt to the changing market demand.

• AI and ML Integration: The low-code platform, infused with AI and ML, is more functional. This enables predictive analytics and automates workflows. It makes intelligent decision-making for more efficient and insightful apps.

• Customization and Flexibility: Low-code platforms are now more flexible and configurable. The no-code platforms were constrained to working on pre-built templates. But, low code gave better control to the user for customization to suit business needs.

• Full-stack Development: Low code development helps in building full-stack capabilities. It typically allows developers to manage front-end and backend tasks in one place. Thus, saving time and further reducing the project complexity.

• Citizen Development Expansion: Low code is making waves with citizen developers and nontechnical employees. Now, this ability is being used to end bottlenecks and drive innovation across departments, with little IT involvement.

• As we rely more on low-code platforms, security is now vital. Vendors use strong security and compliance tools. They address concerns in the most regulated industries.

• Closer Collaboration Between IT and Business Teams: Low code development has bridged the gap between these two units by providing a common framework. Teams can work together for designing and developing applications. Thus, improving project efficiency.

• Emergence of Industry Segment Solutions: Industry-focused low code platforms enable building sector-specific solutions for their unique business needs. Healthcare, finance, and retail sectors use templates and components to reduce development time.

Enticing Prediction of Low Code Development

As generative AI is picking up pace and growing by 36%, it would ultimately fuel the growth of the low-code platforms market. AI low-code platforms could grow the market to $50 billion by 2028. This will improve traditional high coding productivity.

In an Evoke survey, 90% experienced the acceleration of application development by low code solutions. About 75% believe that generative AI will boost low-code platforms. Also, 79% said the platform improved collaboration between business and IT teams. Hence, low code tools are of importance to DevOps practices.

Companies that plan to invest in low-code solutions make a difference with a partner. Investing in the right tech and upskilling non-IT users helps organizations reap its benefits. There is a learning curve. Training will enable non-IT staff to build apps at scale.

Conclusion

The reason for the rapid adoption of low code development is pretty straightforward. It can speed up app development with little coding knowledge. Many use cases exist. They include building customer portals and automating workflows. They cut across many industries, such as finance, healthcare, and logistics.

Although still not without its challenges, the future of low code development is citizen development. It increases the effectiveness of both business and IT groups. They can work together to drive outcomes and industry-specific solutions. With proper training and the right tech, organizations can gain huge benefits.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What does a low code developer do?

A low code developer designs applications with minimum manual coding. They use prebuilt components and drag-and-drop tools to build software and deploy it. Visual modeling is part of design, development, and deployment. They can also be tailored and optimized in cooperation with business users.

1. How to become a low code developer?

To become a low-code developer, learn software development basics. Use the best low-code platforms, like Mendix, OutSystems, or Microsoft Power Apps. Get experience in app design, API integration, and business processes. Explore certifications from Edureka that can supplement this learning.

1. What is low in coding?

Low in coding refers to the less amount of manual coding done by the developer within low code platforms. Developers use visual tools and prebuilt modules, not long code. They can quickly build apps that way. 

1. What is the difference between low code and software development?

Low code development involves minimal coding. It has visual interfaces and many pre-configured features. In contrast, traditional software development needs much coding and customization. Use low code for rapid development of simple to medium apps. Use traditional development for highly customized, large-scale software.