Low-code App Development – Benefits and Drawbacks. Is it for you?
In recent years, organizations globally have used low-code app development as a solution to the developer shortage issue. Low-code development is the practice of building applications using “drag-and-drop” platforms. These platforms don’t require users to be either tech-savvy or code-experienced. The rise of several low-code or no-code platforms allows anyone to create their own websites/applications without even writing a single line of code.
As great as it sounds, low-code app development is not for everyone. There are pros and cons to applying it to your business. Is it for you? Below are some facts that you should know!
A bright future ahead for low-code development
According to a report from Gartner, low-code application development will be responsible for more than 65% of application development activity by 2024. Another prediction is that 70% of new applications developed by enterprises will use low-code or no-code technologies in 2025, compared to less than 25% in 2020.
As reported by Research and Market, the market for low-code development platforms is expected to explode in the next few years. The market, which was at $12.5 billion in 2020, will soar to $190.8 billion by 2030 on a remarkable 31.3% compound annual growth rate.
As you might acknowledge, many big names in the tech industry already have low-code development platforms. Microsoft, Oracle, Google, etc. are all on that list. With high-profile providers like them, even the biggest doubters about the future of low-code will need to reconsider.
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Benefits of low-code app development
Less coding skills required
Low-code tools and platforms allow personnel with almost zero coding skills to create fully working applications. In a time of developer scarcity, this aspect of low-code development makes it even more beneficial. Low-code app development gives non-tech experts the necessary tools to directly contribute to the app-making process. And this leads to the second benefit.
Faster deployment time
Let’s say you are developing an app with a conventional development process. The process will take up a lot of time with constant code-building, reviewing, testing, etc. The dev team will take on the whole coding responsibility, which results in a long waiting time, even in the very early phases. With low-code app development, the platforms will take care of many of those time-intensive steps and make everything faster. Non-tech users can quickly create a minimum viable product before getting “real” developers involved. You can already test this MVP, and if it doesn’t work out, simply ditch it and move on to other quickly-created MVPs. The development process will be faster, and as a result, there will be a quicker deployment time and a better user experience.
More cost-efficiency
Experienced coders are coveted these days. It’s difficult to hire good developers that are suitable for your business. Moreover, they usually come along with hefty salaries. Low-code app development means you need fewer developers and, as a result, spend less money. Compared to traditional app development, using low code is unparalleled and faster, and because time is money, you will save a solid amount of money.
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Drawbacks of low-code app development
Customizability
The biggest flaw of low-code app development is its lack of customizability. The true nature of low-code development is that you pick elements from a fixed library, then connect them accordingly to make your application. If you want to add a feature that the platform doesn’t offer, it will be incredibly complex to patch it in. Starting from scratch would be the ultimate solution. This will certainly raise problems with the user experience, performance, and maintainability of the app.
Originality
Most apps made with low-code development platforms will look and feel quite similar. No matter how much you customize the app, the core structure stays untouched and is commonly used. If you want your app to be original and different from the competition, low-code development isn’t for you.
Last Thoughts
Low-code and no-code development are undoubtedly changing how people create apps. But as long as the need for original and feature-rich applications is still there, conventional development is irreplaceable. If you’re looking for a trusted partner to develop your ideas into apps, DevScout is here to help you out. We are 50+ professional developers with more than 7 years of experience delivering superior products. Contact us through our contact form or send your inquiries to [email protected]!