2021 is the year of Low-Code!
2021 has been designated the year of Low-Code by the developer magazine SDTimes.
What is low-code?
The concept of "low-code" is attributed to a Forrester Research publication in June 2014.
Low-code is an effort to try to minimise the need to write unnecessary code when building applications.
By packaging code into well-defined reusable modules it is possible to create applications and services quickly.
This means that programmers can focus on writing the unique code that needs to be written and avoid spending time writing code to implement features that the low-code platform can manage.
The benefits are that programmers can create more with less effort. Avoid tedious and repetitive code. Write once and reuse.
One thing great programmers have in common is that they do not like to repeat themselves. If the similar code is written 2 or 3 times it is time to package it and reuse.
Using a low-code platform with reusable modules makes it possible to run projects that previous would not have been started because they required to much time to implement.
Types of low-code platforms
Basically there are two kind of platforms. The first kind is used to build user interfaces by e.g. drag and drop interface gadgets. The second kind is more data oriented where modules are combined to retrieve data, output data, manage and manipulate data.
An example of the first kind would be an application that can build mobile applications where users may interact with data using their mobile devices.
An example of the second kind would be a web or micro service API used by other applications like the mobile app in the previous example. The app would get and update data using the API provided by the web services.
When building a software solution like web services, mobil application or data integration there are always parts that are unique to the project and parts that can be managed by 3:rd party providers. Where the boundary between code that needs to be written by the project and other software is depends on each projects needs.
The philosophy behind low-code is that the project only writes the code it needs to.
Another important aspect is to be able to reuse modules. Typically one would develop libraries with modules ready to use. These modules may be combined to build new functions quickly.
Low-code articles
- Why developers should embrace low-code
- Building low-code libraries
- Why there really is no free software
- How to use DataMinder as a low-code platform?
FAQ
Will there still be a need to write code?
We believe that low-code will liberate programmers and allow them to focus on writing the essential unique code that needs to be written.