Do you have little to no coding skills, or are you finding it difficult to hire a professional developer? Founders are increasingly relying on low-code platforms. What's the reason? Some founders lack a technical background. They may know more about marketing, business, and finance than programming.
What are Low-Code Platforms?
The simplicity and resourcefulness of a low-code platform help non-techie founders make up for their lack of technical coding skills. This happens in two ways.
First, low-code platforms save time by providing a sort of "pick and apply" kit for application development. This differs from traditional platforms that require strenuous writing, testing, and debugging program codes.
Secondly, non-techie entrepreneurs can build and maintain their business applications and web development in-house using zero code. You can save money by not hiring professional programmers or app developers.
Low-code platforms provide reusable code resources, including data models, logic, connectors, and graphical elements. These resources are presented in a visual environment and used to build functioning applications and software.
Low-code platforms are comprehensive. However, their basic design empowers everyone, especially those lacking coding experience, to successfully create, launch, and maintain code-running applications and software. These platforms generally have a simple user interface (UI) and many helpful tips for beginners.
7 Essential Features of Low Code Platforms
Essential features describe what you would see in every low-code platform. There are a number of these features:
1. Drag and Drop User Interface
One of the biggest and most common features of a low-code platform is the drag-and-drop user interface. This makes up the characteristic visual environment for which these platforms are known, such as buttons, text boxes for name or password inputs, and welcome pages in graphical format. They can be selected and then dragged on to anywhere in an application.
2. Build Templates
Templates provide pre-built apps or web pages where users can easily replace or reorganize elements using the drag-and-drop interface.
2. Security
Earlier versions of low-code platforms were criticized for lacking security. However, things have changed with newer iterations. For example, recent versions have valid security certificates, more reliable protocols, and regular updates to provide security patches.
3. Auxiliary
Some low-code platforms come with side features aimed at increasing usability. A good example is the multiple-language function that enables users to select a preferred language for interacting with the platform.
When building an app, two or more developers sometimes work on different aspects to improve the output. These developers could be non-English speakers, so having a multiple-language function will enhance communication, shorten project delivery time, etc.
4. Integration
Integration is one main feature of low-code platforms. It allows users to insert and create any element on their mobile or website applications. Using the integration feature on low-code platforms, you can insert buttons, implement password logins and user prompts, or other more advanced features like payment portals and biometric identification on their business app or software.
5. Reusability
Reusability is the component that makes it possible to use an asset repeatedly. If you're familiar with high or even low-level programming, you will likely remember that program functions and modules possess this same component. Every low-code element, asset, and tool is designed to be reusable.
For example, you can use the button element to insert countless buttons on your application. In addition, low-code users can save an aspect of their website or mobile application over and over when building new applications.
6. Collaboration
Low-code platforms offer collaborative features, allowing team members or individual contributors to work on different aspects of a project. Therefore, two or more developers can build several aspects of a software application and put them all together. Achieving this collaboration means a low-code platform will allow users to log in and build remotely. It will also enable users to assess and test apps remotely and to communicate instructions or leave reviews using a chat feature.
7. Deployment
After creating your application comes the need to deploy it. Using deployment features, you can upload to Google Play Store, Apple's App Store, or even a website. Furthermore, it's possible to develop cross-functional applications that work on tablets and mobile devices. Low or zero-code platforms make it easy for first-time users to get along with app development. Another positive side is that they are freely accessible.
The overall flexibility, speed, and automation advantage are why companies use these platforms to reduce waste, cost, and risk in their digital transformation processes.
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