3 major low-code app development pitfalls and how to avoid them

Additionally, many low-code tools are designed to solve very different problems. Some platforms power digital process automation, focusing on the various operations of the business. Others, such as those designed for mobile apps, might focus on providing end users with an attractive and intuitive experience. Low-code designed to supplement legacy systems fails more often than not in my experience, because again the requirement of scripting languages to match these systems encumbers development. Consider low-code that has APIs and integrations that allow process owners to maximize their experience where the core capabilities fall short.

Low-code is a visual approach to software development that enables faster delivery of applications through minimal hand-coding. The graphical user interface and the drag-and-drop features of a low-code platform automates aspects of the development process, eliminating dependencies on traditional computer programming approaches. Low-code platforms democratize app development, particularly for the “citizen” developers—i.e.

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What’s New See the latest feature and product updates to the Appian platform. Test for known vulnerabilities to identify possible security flaws in the codebase, though the underlying risks could still be too serious for some organizations and compliance officers to ignore. In this case, the use of a low code platform to produce code that does not adhere to established best practices could violate the organization’s compliance standards, even if the resulting application is indeed secure. Although the advantages are compelling, there are some potential drawbacks and risks of low-code tools that every organization should evaluate.

Cloud-hosted data and applications can use built-in security features to keep cybersecurity controls and patches up to date. Even the best platforms have limitations, and it’s crucial to align their functionality with capabilities properly. They work well in simple cases where the predefined visualized building blocks fit business needs or processes. Complex applications, integrations, data science, or workflows require more than a no-code platform. The main drawback to no-code platforms is that while they can reduce shadow IT, they can also pave the way for it. If business users develop and edit software without any supervision from the IT department, this can create additional workstreams to ensure that performance, security, and compliance standards are met.

Why Choose Full Stack Web Development for Your Business?

But if you’re running low-code projects with old high-code approaches, you’re barely scratching the surface of its potential. With the greatest benefits of Low-Code — its reuse of best practice components, its ease and its speed — some risks come along. When not appropriately applied, the approach could lead to poor user experience, low-quality products or below-par performance. The second and more reasonable option is to have users create their own custom components. This way the platform owners supply the building blocks for making components rather than the components themselves.

To address this need, app-building platforms use custom components to streamline the user experience. Low-code technologies have been disrupting the world of IT for years and are only gaining more traction. However, many question whether there is a place at the low-code table for ISVs and enterprise teams looking to build and modernize complex applications. To answer that, we have to look at the four key functionality gaps found in low-code development and how to address them. Professional coders also sometimes reject low code tools, exacerbating existing divisions within the IT department and deepening the traditional divide between business and technology. The struggle to find highly-skilled developers means that companies are looking elsewhere to solve the talent shortage.

Operational Efficiency Accelerate enterprise performance with hyperautomation. Governance, Risk, and Compliance Gain visibility to prepare for future regulation. Remember that low-code platforms limit versatility or use cases, as they basically translate higher level workflows and ideas into application code. Depending on the platform, some app functionality might be difficult, or even impossible, to implement. If a platform can’t generate the necessary code for a task, a skilled developer might have to create a module, library or other customized code to implement it.

Ways To Incorporate Low-Code Tools

Similar to low-code, a no-code development platform allows users to create enterprise applications through drag-and-drop interfaces instead of traditional hand-coding programming. Both low-code and no-code platforms are built to accelerate process automation as well as achieve scalability across those processes. Low-code platforms are much simpler to use than traditional programming tools. However, it’s wrong to assume that business users with no programming experience can build complex applications after a training session or two. 4 Business users need to learn and practice how different pieces of the low/no-code platform fit together. In addition, users will need to invest time to practice using the platform capabilities to build robust and scalable applications.

A typical modern app should interface with anywhere between five and 10 third-party services. Moreover, when there are bugs or cybersecurity issues, it is hard at times to determine where the problem arose due to the abstract nature of some low-code platforms. The same abstractions that simplify development can complicate troubleshooting. Case Management Manage any type of case work, boost efficiency, and automate exception handling. Customer Service Engage and retain customers with superior service.

• That’s why it’s so important to carefully evaluate tools in the context of what you intend to use them for.
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• The appeal of low-code and no-code tools is simple; individuals and teams that lack software savviness can create complete software, and not need to write thousands — or even tens of thousands — of lines of code.
• The same features make development easier and troubleshooting harder.
• By contrast, integration with a rule-based engine circumvents the need for complex scripting, as citizen developers are able to modify rules without specialized knowledge.
• When not appropriately applied, the approach could lead to poor user experience, low-quality products or below-par performance.

Still, the platform’s ability to impose standards and track code provides a common and auditable environment. Developers can access the various projects and intervene when an application needs fixes, optimizations and other support. Low/no-code solutions require minimal or no coding expertise and empower users to maintain and configure applications. The low-code option delivers, but conditions apply Yes, low-code tools look easy to use. And among those platforms there are various modus operandi, each apt for different apps.

Both citizen and professional developers benefit from core capabilities, such as a visual integrated development environment , built-in data connectors and/or APIs, and code templates. All of this functionality of low-code tools improves the DevOps process, allowing more time for innovation. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the business need to automate processes and prioritize digital transformation initiatives. Low-code platforms address this need, helping streamline workflows and accelerate automation projects. According to Gartner, the global market for low-code development technologies is expected to increase by22.6%, reaching USD 13.8 billion, in 2021. Then, by 2023, they anticipate that over 50% of medium to large companies will adopt a low code application platform according to their latestMagic Quadrant Report.

Low-Code: benefits or pitfalls?

But whether an organization is able to realize the benefits of low-code depends on how they approach this concept and invest in it. With an expanded market comes choice, and different providers have approached low-code development in different ways to varying degrees of success. Platforms that rely on scripting languages, for instance, will still require specialized programmers, and those programmers will have to remain with the company in order to maintain the platform. By contrast, integration with a rule-based engine circumvents the need for complex scripting, as citizen developers are able to modify rules without specialized knowledge. Low-code developers often want to use the same UI components, the same screens, and the same logic across different applications.

Inexperienced developers can work with the template to build a working application without too much trouble. Typically, software is written, tested, and then moved into production. Capabilities that identify or even highlight underlying errors often help developers in resolving these issues more efficiently, and in turn avoid defect leakage. Complex applications add value by turning disparate data sources into knowledge, insight and action. Servoy allows you to mix data from virtually any source and navigate complex relationships in just a few clicks. When building technologies with low-code tools, moving applications, and data to the cloud will help increase scalability and reduce cyber risk.

Easy development

A typical modern application interacts with many third-party services. End-users and customers should sign in to mobile apps with Google or Facebook, integrate Google maps, get data from the web, etc. Developers need to know how to work with and debug the application if the base case doesn’t meet the business needs. The most common problem with no- or low-code platforms is that they are not suitable for building complex programs. Design, build and run automation applications and services on any cloud using preintegrated automation technologies in a single flexible package. With the latest update, Acceldata is adding low-code/no-code options to its data reliability solution, which automates and scales to handle the most complex data quality and operational intelligence use cases.

The low-code option delivers, but conditions apply

Generally, apps will notify end users that the data is outdated, but everybody can agree that showing yesterday’s data is preferable to showing a depressing greyed-out broken link. Eric has more than 35 years of industry experience spanning a variety of senior roles in the tech and financial industries. In his current role, he is responsible for driving WSO2’s technical vision and helping to promote the adoption of products and projects, with a focus on enterprise customers.

What Is Low-Code Development?

Programmers understand that there are lots of ways to accomplish various tasks, and hand coding provides a simple, elegant answer for many coding problems. Hand-coded initiatives can create functionality in the shortest, most efficient way possible, which reduces the overall size of the finished application and can substantially enhance performance substantially. Developers can spend as much time coding in and around the platform as building a solution from scratch. The developer must study the principles of building and operating the application. Platforms that require this approach are unprofitable for businesses.

To mitigate the other risks, we have carefully defined our ‘Develop’ phase. In this phase, we initiate the development with a development plan and a technical foundation plan. Our future articles will dive into these topics and describe how they help us to seize the great benefits of Low-Code. First, to make configuring the app simple and painless, low-code platform owners can hide all the configuration complexity from their users. In its place, they can put a setup wizard or other tools that help developers navigate each configuration step.

Multiple aspects of system development can be powered by low-code to eliminate redundancy and cost. Through low-code, developers are no longer required to individually code every UI, workflow or procedure of a new application. Systems can be built with less risk of coding, and the most experienced and resourceful developers can focus on more difficult tasks. The quick, no-fuss attributes of low-code tools let users build applications much more efficiently than with traditional development practices. As most organizations know well, developers are in short supply, and their time must be directed at the highest-priority projects.

The appeal of low-code and no-code tools is simple; individuals and teams that lack software savviness can create complete software, and not need to write thousands — or even tens of thousands — of lines of code. The low-code low-code Aapp development pitfalls approach comes with some pros and cons, but at the end of the day it’s a powerful means to an end. Low-code allows developers to build functioning applications quickly, efficiently, and with comparatively low expertise.