Custom Code vs No-Code: Don't Underestimate the Power of Hard Code

The rise of no-code platforms has made it easier for people with little to no programming experience to build and launch applications. However, with the ease of use of these platforms comes a false sense of security and a tendency to underestimate the power and benefits of custom code.

What is the Custom code exactly?

Custom code tech (Hard code) - when you create a code of the program without any additional UI functionality besides editor.

Currently a lot of startups started to embrace power of hard-code thinking that they will turn into that with a proper technical team down the line of their progress. Obviously, it makes sense, but there are lots of cases when people should've started with custom code in the first place.

In these article, I'm not talking about some complex tech like AI or Blockchain, but I want to dive a bit more into regular examples and benefits.

Custom code provides greater flexibility and control over the look, feel, and functionality of an application. This allows developers to create unique and tailored solutions that are specific to the needs of their users. Custom code also enables better performance optimization, as well as the ability to integrate with other systems and APIs.

Still when people compare Low-code/No-code frameworks directly, when always losing to Custom code while we are talking about adaptability, performance, customization, community, bug fixing and support. People usually benefit from the speed of development and cost efficiency directly connected to it.

Is no-code truly cost efficient and faster than code?

Well, it's true and not true at the same time. If we are talking about some small MVP which can be done with basic templates, no-code can actually be faster. But no-code sucks if we would discuss some scale and long-term distance of application.

Talking about costs for simple MVPs, the pricing for it and speed is different for 30% in case you can use some basic frameworks and libraries to make your life easier. (like jQuery, Flutter and other stuff)

However, in the long-term perspective you will pay more and spend more time by spending extra efforts on moving from no-code to custom code or low-code platforms. Overall, no-code makes sense only if you are bootstrapped, don't have a dev team, and want to make your product faster

So, why should I use No-code?

Platforms that do not require coding offer a limited set of features and functionality and may not always be able to provide the level of customization that is desired. Furthermore, pre-built templates and modules can result in a generic appearance and a lack of uniqueness, making it harder to stand out.

It is pretty easy to create an MVP with no-code, but scaling it requires more time and money than with custom code. Nevertheless, these applications won't perform the same as native hard code applications.

Maintenance can be easier with no-code, since you can change anything you want without diving into the technical details and without a tech team.

For example, with Webflow you can constantly create A/B testing and try new hypos for your website to increase conversion, so they will get more customers.

My clients usually start with No-code tools, like Webflow to set a simple landing page, but create an application with Custom code to let it scale and get more data out of it.

In spite of this, low-code development should not be ignored. You can achieve your goals by using tools such as Flutterflow, Teta, Outsystems, 8base, and many others.

I will explore the frameworks in further articles and explain why they are essentially the same tool as Low-code tech, but without UI.

Conclusion

Custom code offers greater control and efficiency during development. Additionally, custom code can be scaled and optimized over time, providing a more long-term solution.

No-code platforms are useful tools for quick and easy application development, but custom code cannot be overlooked. With custom code, you can achieve greater control, flexibility, and performance, which leads to a better product and a more sustainable solution. When developing an application, it is important to weigh the costs and benefits of approach and choose the right strategy.

Whenever I make consultations, we try to create a long-term strategy for our customers to understand whenever they need to start with no-code or is it better to start with Custom code from the day one and keep scaling it later on.