There’s been an evident evolution of app builders throughout the years. Take a look at the very people behind every app in recent history. You’ll find that there’s now a growing number of non-professional coders who are leading the development of software and digital offerings. Gone are the days when all the apps you come across are produced only by engineers and tech moguls.
Naturally, along the evolution of app developers are also the apps themselves. While apps only continue to become more dynamic and engaging, they’ve also been multiple steps easier to make. Through the advent of no-code platforms like bubble.io, more people are empowered to build software on their own.
Just last year, a study predicted that there would be at least a million vacant programming-related positions this year. Fast forward to today, and the pandemic is nearly doubling the forecasted digits. Undeniably so, no-code platforms haven’t just made the app-building process more straightforward, it’s made publishing applications faster, as well.
Not all No-Code is created equal
But as with everything in tech, not all no-code platforms are created equally, and some are better reviewed than the others. The truth is, building anything without having to write code at all is a tall order. But granted how there are reliable tech startups, experts, and an endless sea of videos and podcasts, the development of apps shouldn’t be too unattainable. Most no-code providers specialise in creating apps for one platform (web apps, for instance), if not building only one kind of app at all.
Some developers resort to utilising a simple Google sheet and using it to function as a back-end to a web app, while others can do the same thing to support a hybrid mobile app. The common narrative here is how many people rely on excel for their data, and simply build a UI surrounding it. Whatever the case, one must ascertain what kind of app he or she wants to make before settling for a no-code platform. For example, do I execute my vision best when I choose to build a mobile app or a web app? If at all, do I really need an app or do I only have to automate a process? These questions help you better decide which route to take. There’s a whole set of questions and considerations one should explore to figure out which path is best to take when it comes to building an app. Feel free to check out a previously published article about that here.
The Two Sides of No-Code
There is a flurry of things anyone can build through no-code platforms, but it ultimately comes down to two things.
1. No-Code helps extend apps like Excel and SalesForce
There are two ways to elaborate on this subcategory. Firstly, no-code platforms are superior solutions for automating several tedious processes. For example, Zapier is a popular automation tool that easily connects your favorite apps. That means anyone can automate a workflow, and immediately one app can access another to complete a task. For instance, you can effortlessly save an email directly to your Dropbox without transferring the mail yourself. You can also add new Facebook Lead Ad leads directly to assigned Google Sheet rows without having to do it manually anymore.
In this context, no-code helps simplify processes as it bypasses the need for human intervention to accomplish low-grade, but potentially labor-intensive tasks. Secondly, no-code platforms are also excellent in extending mobile applications and other existing no-code products. Take, for example, SalesForce’s The Lightning App Builder. The cloud-based software company’s no-code offering improves existing SalesForce products by creating screens that help you determine which data is displayed where. It also enables users to add functionalities and filter specific data, so they don’t have to switch between two screens or apps to get a thorough case overview.
In this setting, No-Code improves existing digital set-ups by streamlining what would have been a long process.
2. No-Code builds fully functional applications
It’s no secret how the power and scope of no-code are apparent in thousands of engaging apps we enjoy at present. From Tot Squad to Trently and Supply Chain to Appgyver’s DHL app, the vast selection of no-code products we have access to now seems endless.
With greater reason, the rise of citizen developers will only contribute to the creation of more serviceable applications. Whether for commercial or internal purposes, virtually anyone today can now build apps on and of their own thanks to visual programming platforms.
What’s the point?
The growth and popularity of No-Code are irreversible. To get with the times, one will have to embrace its existence in one way or another. The future is here, and for business leaders, professionals, startup founders, and employers to remain relevant, one can only ignore No-Code for too long. Considering No-Code’s flexibility, versatility, and power, there shouldn’t be any reason to.
If you’re thinking of building an app from scratch or improving an existing software you optimise at present, give us a call. We’d love to help you out.
