As technology advances and the world shifts online, the use of low or no code is increasing rapidly. Perhaps because of the high pressure on meeting deadlines and delivering products quickly. However, while no and low code platforms can help at the moment, they can pose a severe problem for the quality of your products in the long run.
What is no-code?
No code refers to a simple, drag and drops visual platform for creating basic applications with limited functionality. While this type of platform can work for a small company, it might cause issues for larger organizations. No-code platforms are also harder to scale and have limited integration capabilities. However, they are extremely easy to use and can be a great solution for people with no coding skills.
What is a low-code?
Low code platforms can be considered as a middle ground between no-code and rigorous coding solutions. They are relatively flexible and can have visual elements similar to their no-code counterparts. Moreover, they are also more scalable and allow for easy quality and performance testing. Generally, low code solutions are preferred over no-code ones since developers can utilize the drag and drop features along with the flexibility to code.
Also read: Automation is a Game Changer, Not a Job Killer
Similarities
No and low-code platforms allow the developers to build applications without the need to write programs. They remove the requirements of having programming knowledge, allowing the non-tech savvy people to play around with software development as well.
Microsoft Power Apps is one of the well-known Low-code or No-code platforms that many businesses can efficiently utilize through Microsoft Office 365 Online or Dynamics 365 Online services. Read this article to learn more about the Microsoft Power Platform: Streamlining, Automating, and Transforming processes with Microsoft.
Building Applications
While no and low code platforms might seem attractive and easy to use, they come with their fair share of drawbacks as well. Especially if you have a large organization, using such a platform for your application development can cause severe issues in the future. They inhibit scalability and flexibility, hence hindering your growth.
Initially, developers did not even consider no or low code platforms as viable options for software development. However, it is pretty evident that the software industry is expensive. Therefore, hiring an experienced software developer can be an issue, especially for start-ups with minimum funding. Here is where no and low code platforms come into play. They can come in extremely handy for small businesses that want to save costs while also being accessible to the public.
To consider why you should not use such easy to use platforms for your application development:
Limited Scalability
One of the most significant drawbacks of using drag and drop platforms is scalability. Your business is prone to growth. As your customers increase, you might require additional resources to cater to their needs. With such platforms, you get limited functionality that is very difficult to extend or mold into new functions. Further, these platforms also offer limited integration capabilities. That is, your solution might not be able to work with some commonly used applications.
On the other hand, if you get an application or website made solely for your business, you get a lot of freedom to implement functions according to your needs. That is, since the application is built for you, you have total control over its working. Moreover, in case your company grows or partners up with other businesses, you can easily modify your application to cater to your new requirements.
Security Issues
Security is a big issue that companies face today. Especially due to the increase in big data, everything is at a greater risk of hacking attempts and malware attacks. Notably, in the case of mission-critical applications, businesses need to make sure that their data is secure.
No or low code platforms generally offer lower security as compared to custom-built applications. There are some default security settings; however, usually, these measures are not enough, especially if you work in a big organization. As companies expand, applications become more capable. However, a simple issue that allows one user to access the data of another user can cause serious legal issues. Therefore, custom-built applications can be much more useful and secure.
Conclusion
Software development is a growing industry. Having a website or application is an excellent way of increasing accessibility and reaching the public. However, it is crucial to ensure that your service is secure and scalable. No or low code platforms are usually not the answer to these requirements since they do not offer specific functionality. Therefore, you should consider custom software development, especially for the services being accessible to the public.