Software development is complex. It can take years of practice to become an experienced developer. But the good news is that you can build many applications without ever learning to code.
Low-code/no-code development is the practice of using a visual interface and drag-and-drop elements to build applications for business processes without coding.
These types of tools can be used by non-technical users to build many types of applications; these can then be integrated with other software systems. By learning low-code/no-code development, you will be able to create software for yourself or your business much faster than if you were to learn how to code the traditional way.
In this post, we’ll cover why you should learn no-code development, along with some great learning resources and communities you can join to get started with low-code and no-code development.
Low-Code/No-Code is Gaining Popularity
The internet is a very different place today than it was even a short 10 years ago. In the past, websites simply aggregated information to an audience on the web. Today, websites are designed to engage and encourage visitors to take action, from filling out sales forms to education and training to shopping and scheduling appointments.
Fortunately, the tools available on the market today have made it possible for individuals without coding experience to build beautiful websites, useful business applications and productivity and automation enhancements to workflows using no-code tools. In fact, 26% of executives say that no-code, low-code development platforms are their most vital automation investment.
Forrester Research believed that by 2022, the market for no-code and low-code development platforms will increase to $21.2 billion. Another report from Gartner estimated that by 2024, 65% of application development activity will be credited to no-code development.
No-Code is For Everyone
While there is still a place for code and professional developers, no-code development gives individuals a way to build applications and boost their productivity and their effectiveness faster, cheaper and better than ever before. In addition, it relieves the burden on IT, software development and DevOps teams who can offload the work of creating applications to the actual users of those applications.
No-code also allows for collaboration of citizen developers with other cross-functional teams in the business, while developing apps that can solve for their unique challenges.
Better Agility
No-code can also accelerate digital transformation. The most important advantage of no-code development is speed. On average, it takes a few minutes to build a simple app or a website using no-code tools. When you’re developing more complex projects such as an entire business management system, this speed can be a major competitive advantage. It lets you quickly test your ideas and iterate until you get the results you want.
Since most development is done with a drag-and-drop interface that is built visually using pre-built modules, you can create apps faster. Usually, even testing is automated, which further speeds up development time. In fact, no-code platforms can reduce development time by 90%.
Reduced Cost
Forrester reported that when one company passed up hiring two IT developers and implemented low-code tools instead, they saw an increase of about $4.4 million in business value from the resulting apps over three years. Naturally, since low-code/no-code technology removes the need for and additional cost of developers, it helps you cut those costs as well.
Increased Productivity
People who make the switch from traditional coding to no-code development often say that it feels like a new world. It’s fast, easy and efficient—and you can create beautiful results with relatively little effort.
It is estimated that 71% of organizations that leverage citizen development could speed up app development by at least 50%. And 29% of companies noticed delivery speed doubled. These numbers suggest that citizen development and no-code development can increase productivity tremendously.
No-Code Apps Are Customizable and Scalable
If a company wants to add a new feature or change existing ones, many no-code apps are flexible enough to adapt. The majority of no-code app development platforms allow you to add new features and customize your app. Low-code apps, on the other hand, are slightly less flexible and often have predefined components that make it difficult to customize the app.
Plus, because of the drag-and-drop elements, no-code app development platforms allow you to build an app quickly. You don’t need coding skills to create an app. Instead, you will rely on prebuilt modules and templates.
Getting Started With Low-Code/No-Code
There are lots of great resources out there to help you learn how to build your apps and workflows without code. Here are some of our favorite places to start!
1. No Code HQ
No Code HQ is a great resource for learning how to build your website or app without the need to code.
It is a community of no-code builders, where they showcase their newest projects, share news and experiences and engage with and learn from each other. You will get tutorials about no-code development, templates and tools to start your no-code project.
2. Nucode
This community has more than 5,000 no-code builders and experts. They learn and share experiences and showcase the progress of creating no-code products.
3. No-Code Makers
This forum is for no-code experts to learn, interact, share and collaborate with other no-code community members and creators. They regularly update the community with news about no-code tools and experiences.
4. Nocoders Academy
This is another space for no-coders that arms you with valuable information. You will find many tutorials, learning materials and over 200 free resources on various tools. Soon, the site said there will be a formal traning academy with mentors and tutors.
5. NoCode.Tech
This is a directory of over 200 tools and strategies implemented by developers and no-code makers. Even a novice can learn how to build no-code software and receive community support.
The idea of learning to code can be overwhelming, even for experienced designers. This is why no-code is so appealing to so many people—it is essentially instantaneous, which allows you to create projects without worrying about the coding process. Have fun!
