Modern businesses are facing one major challenge when it comes to developing applications; an extensive backlog of applications and an overwhelmed IT department. The technology world is highly dynamic, and in order to adapt to the changing needs of your company, you have to develop custom applications that also enhance user experience. There’s just one problem; developing applications is costly and often takes a lot of time.

This is where enterprise low-code application platforms come into play. They are a key ingredient in helping your company to adapt to the evolving business environment. Low-code development tools also propel efficiency, enhance productivity and allow you to create custom applications that can transform your internal applications. You’re probably wondering, why should I use low-code platforms instead of traditional coding? Check out our quick guide below!

A Quick Overview of Conventional Coding

Conventional coding, also known as traditional coding, involves your software developers collaborating with the programmers to identify the specific requirements of a project and then manually creating a custom code to meet these needs. Even though this type of coding still gets the job done, it takes a lot of time, especially on complex applications, is expensive, and often results in late deployment of the solution. 

In conventional coding, to complete a project, you’ll need;

  •  Software engineers ( sometimes you have to outsource if the scope of the project is beyond your internal team).
  • Relevant tech stack such as programming languages and databases.
  • Software specifications and requirements
  • Software tools to write and manage the code. 

While you could use an open-source library or purchase off-the-shelf code, you’ll still need a skilled software developer to write the code and transform it into a fully functional app. 

Traditional coding is also prone to coding errors, infrastructural delays, testing challenges and the end result often needs continuous maintenance to keep the application up-to-date and secure. The most frustrating aspect of this type of coding stems from the fact that if the app requires any architectural changes, the software developers have to manually go through the code to make the changes. 

Some of the reasons why some businesses are shifting to low-code tools are because traditional coding has several downsides, such as;

  • This type of coding is very expensive and requires a high budget.
  • You need a full team of developers, designers, QA specialists, etc.
  • It takes a long time to deploy. 
  • Making changes is often difficult and takes a long time. 

In the long run, the cons outweigh the benefits. 

A Quick Overview of Low-Code Development

Low-code development tools, on the other hand, are a more modern and futuristic approach to application development. The software developer uses pre-coded elements from a drag-and-drop interface to build their desired application. Even though some low-code platforms require the developer to create code for some elements so as to customize the app’s functionality, most of the time, the lines of code needed are very few. 

In fact, most low-code development tools require no coding, making it easy for citizen developers to use them. Perhaps one of the main reasons why low-code solutions are gaining popularity is because they are fast. Since you’ll be using pre-built modules using visual modeling tools, it will take you less time to develop an application, allowing you to focus on other important tasks.  

Some of the key features of Low-code platforms that make them a favorite among software developers include;

  • Out-of-the-box functionality: this kind of robust functionality eliminates the need for you to build your applications from scratch. All the core modules are pre-built. 
  • Drag-and-drop-interface: the visual modeling tools allow you to process and manage the required data with ease.
  • Cross-Platform Accessibility: the applications you build are compatible with multiple devices, can run on all core platforms, and integrate with the major operating systems. 
  • Reusability: the app functionalities and the preconfigured modules can be used for various applications and reused on different solutions.
  • Reporting and Monitoring capabilities: you can easily keep track of your applications and make the necessary changes as required. 

Low-Code vs. Conventional Coding: How Do They Compare?

The key differences between low-code and conventional coding include;

  1. Maintenance

Software revisions and maintenance are challenging tasks with traditional coding. For instance, if you need to make updates, implementation will require a 3rd party development team or dedicated in-house IT experts. These teams also have to plan, design, and test the applications, after which they educate the end-user about the new changes. 

Low-code solutions, on the other hand, are run and maintained by the platform owners. They also handle the software improvements and updates, reducing the resources you need for maintenance. This is especially important for small companies that don’t have an established IT department or an extensive budget to outsource their projects. 

  1. Agility

The configuration system in traditional development platforms is usually complicated, which is why they are less agile. Their heavy reliance on complex code also means that you have to invest a lot of time and resources to operate them efficiently. 

Low-code platforms are easy to use and operate as they use visual modeling tools. You also don’t need to write code to develop applications, making them more agile and receptive to a business’s changing needs. 

  1. App Quality

User experience is an important element of app development. For instance, if you develop a very functional app but the end-user is unable to navigate it, your efforts will be in vain. On the other hand, if the application has a beautiful interface but is hard to use, its adoption rate will be low. 

Conventional coding is highly complex & technical and often produces a lot of bugs. This then impacts user experience and app quality. Enterprise low-code applications, in contrast, don’t produce bugs and results in the production of a hassle-free solution that runs smoothly. 

  1. Required Skill Sets

In conventional coding, the developers require multiple functions and a wide range of tools to enable the creation of complex applications. Citizen developers also can’t operate these solutions effectively as they need highly sophisticated and technical development skills. 

In contrast, low-code solutions usually feature a small set of tools and functions that allow developers to build simple and complex applications without a fuss. Since there’s no coding required, citizen developers and non-technical staff can also create solutions with ease.

  1. Cost 

The cost of a project usually depends on the scope of the solution, but conventional coding is typically more expensive than low-code platforms. For starters, you need a team of skilled IT experts, and you’ll have to buy the tech stack that they require. Low-code solutions, on the other hand, are cost-effective as the only cost you incur is for accessing the platform and not for the development aspect. 

Why Are Low-Code Development Platforms Gaining Popularity?

More businesses are leaning towards low-code solutions because they are an effective way of reducing overhead programming costs. They replace the old method of manually typing code by applying visual-based solutions which are easy to use and operate. Low-code is also more agile, easy to maintain, and does not require a wide range of skillets. 

Coreograph’s approach aims to arm end-users with the same power and flexibility as a skilled coder with the use of a visual modeling tools program. It gives you full control of the application development processes and allows you to create simple and complex solutions with ease.Â