Word of the Day: low-code/no-code development platform

Word of the Day Daily updates on the latest technology terms | August 30, 2018 low-code/no-code development platform A low-code/no-code (LCNC) development platform is a visual integrated development environment (IDE) that allows allows citizen developers to drag-and-drop application components, connect them together and create a mobile or web app. This modular approach allows business analysts, office administrators, small-business owners and other people who are not software developers to build and test applications quickly. An LCNC platform frees the app's creator from having to know anything about traditional programming languages or the development work that has gone into building the platform's configurable components. All the citizen developer sees is a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) that allows components and third-party application program interfaces (APIs) to be hooked together and tested. Modules can be rearranged and repeatedly tested until app works as expected. The line between no-code and low-cost isn't always clear. Generally speaking, no-code platforms are a specialized type of low-code cloud platform in which the required visual components address industry-specific functions, a specific line of business (LOB) or support a specific company's corporate branding. Low-code platforms, on the other hand, may require the assistance of in-house developers to make small changes to back-end code so the new app will be compatible with other business software. The growth of low- and no-code platforms has proliferated due to a lack of skilled software developers and the need to improve turn-around time for development projects so business problems can be solved quickly. Analysts at Forrester Research forecast that the low-code market will reach $15 billion by 2020. Dozens of mainstream and niche software vendors offer low- or no-code platforms, many of which are cloud-based. Popular LCNC platforms include: Force.com - allows developers and nontechnical users to create apps and websites and deploy them quickly to Force.com?s multi-tenant servers.   FileMaker - allows developers and nontechnical users to quickly add Web database publishing capabilities to their Web site or company intranet with one click.   Mendix - allows developers and nontechnical users to build web and mobile applications with ready-made themes, navigation layouts, page templates and design elements.   Microsoft PowerApps - allows developers and nontechnical users to build mobile applications from selectable templates without having to know code.   OutSystems - allows developers and nontechnical users to quickly define business logic, workflow processes and UIs for mobile and Web apps. Quote of the Day "A lot of low-code/no-code platforms allow you to get on and build an app but then if you want to take it further, you'll see users wanting to move to something else." - Ray Wang Trending Terms citizen development GUI NoOps build your own app Scratch mobile application development platform Learning Center No-code and low-code tools seek ways to stand out in a crowd No-code and low-code platform providers differentiate their tools to woo users in a hot market. Companies such as Skuid have new templates or ready-made apps that users can customize, while Quick Base offers Kanban reports, and OutSystems plans to add AI to its tools. Mitigate low-code/no-code platform security risks Low-code/no-code platforms simplify app development, but also come with inherent security risks. Use these best practices to address these issues head-on. Pros and cons of a low-code platform for mobile A low-code platform is like a double-edged sword; it makes mobile app development easy -- but it also makes development accessible to non-developers. Explore the advantages and challenges of this emerging development trend. Low-code platform leaders for business users push usability, AI A recent Forrester Research study spotlights Microsoft, AppSheet and Betty Blocks among a dozen low-code platform providers for business users who wish to create mobile applications without writing code. Low-code platforms have become popular tools to help companies overcome the developer talent gap. No-code/low-code app development evolves from loathed to loved Forward-thinking CIOs have turned a corner and come to use no-code/low-code app development tools for better business project success. Quiz Yourself A citizen developer can help companies ________ to changing business needs by creating simple solutions with minimal involvement from IT. A. adopt B. adapt Answer Stay in Touch For feedback about any of our definitions or to suggest a new definition, please contact me at: mrouse@techtarget.com Visit the Word of the Day Archives and catch up on what you've missed! FOLLOW US About This E-Newsletter This e-newsletter is published by the TechTarget network. To unsubscribe from Whatis.com, click here. Please note, this will not affect any other subscriptions you have signed up for. TechTarget, Whatis, 275 Grove Street, Newton, MA 02466. Contact: webmaster@techtarget.com Copyright 2018 TechTarget. All rights reserved.