There’s no shortage of passionate individuals wanting to venture into business. Combine that with the resources available in this day and age and it’s no surprise that we see startups everywhere. One fantastic way startups can boost business is by developing their own app.
In this article we’ll break down some options for mobile app development for startups, as well as their biggest pros and cons.
Traditional App Building
Think of the usual programmer archetype: someone staring at a screen filled with seemingly endless lines of characters. If you’ve ever accidentally pressed ctrl + U on your PC keyboard, you’ll know what we’re talking about. Those lines of commands are called code.
Whether it be a website or a mobile app, conventional app creation requires a programmer to write lines of code to build functions needed in an application. More often than not, very sophisticated and complex mobile applications will be coded manually by a programmer.
Pros
Employing the help of a programmer is ideal if you have the budget and if you want the best customization of your app. You’re ensured that all aspects of your app are taken care of, from user interface to how data is handled.
Programmers can also build in any unique features you want on your app. This allows for more creativity and innovation – things essential for any business.
Cons
One reason why businesses opt for low code or no code app building platforms (we’ll get to this in a bit) is that there is simply a shortage of capable software developers. Coding isn’t an easy task, so developers need intimate knowledge of programming language, development environments, and testing and implementation processes. The supply and demand for programmers is unfortunately disproportional.
In addition, the turnaround time can be quite long depending on how skilled your programmer is and how sophisticated you want your app to be. Mobile app development usually lasts a good few months, so if you don’t have time to spare, this may not be the best option for you.
Low Code and No Code
For startups especially, it may be difficult to employ or outsource programmers. Fortunately, there are alternatives that require little to no help from a developer. First let’s differentiate between low code and no code.
Low code development platforms help make app building easier in that only some coding is needed, as opposed to traditional app development where all of an application needs to be coded manually. If you have some coding capability, you can utilize this method yourself. If you don’t, you’ll still need the help of a programmer, but their work is significantly reduced.
No code, on the other hand, can be utilised by anyone even if they have no knowledge or experience in programming. Think of it as a platform that allows you to build an app using ready-made functionalities.
Pros
Both low code and no code platforms save up on time. These platforms have a drag-and-drop function that allows users to pick what features they want incorporated into their apps.
With this speed comes the ability to make quicker changes to your app. With rapidly changing market demands, startups will need to adapt quickly to stay in the game. App development through low code and no code can aid in this.
Cons
Because features on both platforms are premade, there’s a limit to what your app can do. These programs typically feature basic functions, so you can’t expect your app to be highly sophisticated, which also implies less room for creativity.
There’s also the issue of vendor lock-in. Since you’re building your app from a vendor, you are reliant on them. Some vendors may allow access to your app’s source code, but if you’re someone with little programming knowledge, this won’t be very useful to you, and you’d likely still seek the help of a programmer.
What’s Next?
Mobile app development for startups can be tricky, but it helps to know what your options are. Traditional programming is a fantastic way to develop apps if you have the time and resources. You can end up with a highly customized app that’s sure to function the way you want it. On the other hand, low code and no code apps are great alternatives if you want to put out an application quickly.
If you want to know more about no code apps, give us a call!
