No code (also stylized as no-code) refers to a software development practice that does not require any coding from the end user to build an application. This makes no code programming the foundation of click-and-point interfaces that are built for application development.
However, at its core, no code software development is backed by applications that are built by coding. This means that in order to create a no code programming application, the engineers who are building a no code development platform put plenty of coding at the backend. With it, they also build a graphical user interface (GUI) to aid the end user.
This makes no code software development a front-end service for those users who don’t know how to code, built by programmers who do. After learning the basics of what is no code, you can know more about the approach as well as its pros and cons to end users and programmers alike.
Key Points
- No code development caters to those users who want to build applications but do not know how to code.
- No code development platforms use a point-and-click interface or GUI to make it easy for the end user to build applications from scratch.
- No code development platforms are built by skilled programers who know how to code, but that coding does not show on the front-end to users.
- No code applications are used in different settings such as website, app, and dashboard development.
- No code development applications are often built as software-as-a-service (SaaS) and offered to commercial users for a subscription fee.
What is No Code: How Does a Non-Coding Approach to Development Work?
No code development allows end users to build applications through a GUI, without having to learn to code in a programming language. This opens doors for people with no coding knowledge to build their applications right according to their liking.
No code development is executed via purpose-built platforms that give end users features such as click-and-point and drag-and-drop tools to build their applications.
These platforms themselves are developed by software engineers through the use of coding or programming languages. In turn, “no code” interfaces use blocks of coding integrated by programmers, which end users can stack on top of one another to create their applications.
This means that no code is not a magical route to create software out of no programming languages. Instead, it is simply a way to describe SaaS platforms that give end users a way to build applications without coding.
To put it simply, you may think of the ubiquitous content management system (CMS) that is now available through various website hosting and publishing platforms such as WordPress and Shopify. By using a CMS, you can build your website through a point-and-click GUI without using programming languages such as JavaScript or Python. It is because all the coding at the backend is already done for you by programmers who built the CMS itself.
But instead of stopping at developing a CMS for website creation and design, no code development platforms go a step further and allow you to build fully-fledged apps through them. These apps are mainly deployed on mobile devices as well as their operating systems such as iOS and Android. But some platforms also build applications for the web, which then run through a cloud.
What Are the Benefits of No Code Development?
There are plenty of benefits to learning what is no code development and integrating it into your work practices. These advantages include but are not limited to the following.
Low Costs
Using a no code development platform has less upfront costs than getting a custom application built by professional developers. This makes it a more affordable approach for many end users.
Little to No Learning Curve
Approaches such as traditional software development or low code may require extensive or moderate coding, respectively. In contrast, no code stays true to its name and does not ask for end users to have a knowledge of coding languages.
Faster Deployment
With various coding blocks ready to go, building different applications through a no code development platform takes typically less time than traditional development. This makes no code a faster way to build applications, especially smaller or simpler ones.
Efficient Processing
Tapping a button on a click-and-point GUI is easier than writing a few lines of code for a single action. This leads no code development to deliver more efficient processes for different types of applications.
Customization Options
Traditionally developed custom software or applications can take multiple revisions to transform into the client’s vision. Whereas, no code development platforms put the ball in the client’s or end user’s court.
Extensive Flexibility
The flexibility to build a variety of apps also works in the favor of this approach. This gives end users the option to build software such as websites and mobile apps according to their highly specific needs, without hiring developers.
Who Can Use No Code Development?
Even without learning what is no code, anyone who holds a basic knowledge of modern devices can use no code development. Since the platforms are built with a focus on making development easier, the learning curve for no code solutions is not steep at all. On the contrary, the simpler that a no code application is on the front-end, the better response it receives from its target audience.
Typically, no code development platforms are utilized by the following groups.
Small-business Owners
Business owners with limited resources and budgets may turn to no code development platforms. This lets them customize their application build without having to go back and forth with developers, while also keeping their costs down.
Enterprise Employees
Enterprise employees with little to no knowledge of coding may use no code development. This lets them quickly build applications that would otherwise require a development team to create, refine, and deploy through multiple departments.
Programming Students
Programming students who want to create quick applications for the purpose of study or practical can use no code development platforms to bring their ideas to fruition. This may also help new apps come to the surface before they are refined using direct coding.
Professional Programmers
Professional software engineers may also use no code development platforms in order to carry out processes with more efficiency. This allows for the creation of apps with a lesser timeframe and costs, without compromising their output or quality.
How Does No Code Affect Professional Programmers?
After learning what is no code, it is usual to wonder how the approach affects professional programmers who depend on building new apps for their clients. This is where no code development acts as a double-edged sword for developers who know how to code.
On one hand, it gives these developers the opportunity to build no code development platforms that give their end-users GUIs to create their own applications. This opens doors for a new branch of work for these developers, who can focus on creating, updating, and refining these platforms as a SaaS hub for their clients.
On the other hand, it takes away work from many developers, especially those who focus on catering to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) or small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). With the opportunity to create their own applications, the heads and employees of such organizations do not reach out to developers as they usually would.
With that being said, no code has become a highly popular approach due to the flexibility, ease of use, and adoption of technology that it brings to the table. This is also causing more no code development platforms to emerge at an impressive rate in what is to become a highly competitive market.
How Can You Start Building on No Code Platforms?
In order to start reaping the rewards of a no code development platform, you simply need to find a vendor that offers these solutions. From there, you can sign up with their services and start building your application right off the bat.
Once you become acquainted with what is no code and how does it work, it becomes easier for you to identify platforms with an impressive value proposition.
This also helps you steer clear of many platforms that charge excessive prices or do not stay in line with the no code approach by requiring you to know coding languages to use their platforms.
This enables you to use no code development platforms for the following purposes.
- Website Development. This is one of the most popular uses of no code. You can choose between a variety of different platforms that operate with their own version of a content management system.
- Mobile App Development. This is a rapidly emerging use case of no code. Through this approach, you can build your own mobile apps by stacking blocks of code and features atop each other.
- Web App Development. This use case includes cloud-based applications such as dashboards that are consumer or employee facing. The complexity of these applications can vary, depending upon the no code platform that is used to create them.
- Integration Development. This allows you to build extensions for existing applications or websites. This is a popular approach for established developers who want to build quick applications without coding.
There are many other instances where no code can be used to deliver stellar results. But since the approach is still testing its abilities while developing its larger utilization, the use cases mentioned above remain some of the most popular examples of no code development at the moment.
By trying out one of the no code development platforms available in the market, you can also determine if the approach works for you. This can open doors for you to build your own applications, fast track your customization, or deliver more services to your own target audience.
Improve Business Processes with No-Code Tools
Innovative individuals and businesses are always looking to find out how they can use existing templates, API options, and tools with simple drag-and-drop interface features to help simplify the development process.
Corporations and small to medium sized businesses have turned to low-code development platforms in the past and are likely to migrate to no code app development systems to meet their business needs.
These tools can help to unlock creativity and solutions while allowing a respective IT department to focus on other aspects of digital transformation. As these tools allow general business users to produce solutions without coding skills, it can help to boost productivity in the organization. These tools can help to spur new web applications and help more people to excel in their creative endeavors.
Further, in a contracting economic environment, more businesses will seek to streamline and optimize their IT teams as they seek to remain competitive in the rapidly changing business environment. These tools and software applications can be even more beneficial for a startup that must continue to operate in a lean fashion as it pursues its singular objective.
Indeed, being able to ship products without the need for a single line of code is a tremendous opportunity as it opens the door for production and more scalability due to rapid application development.
Simplicity is important when it comes to shipping products that users will love. When thinking about having the right form of automation, functionality, and workflows, it is essential to look at the rise of no-code solutions and its potential opportunities for an organization.