Low Code Software Eats the World

Back in 2011 Marc Horowitz wisely proclaimed that “Software Is Eating the World”.? A 2.0 adaptation could be that “Low Code Software” is eating the world.?This seems to be corroborated by tech oracles such as Gartner and Forrester, who both predict a seismic shift to LCAP (aka Low Code Application Platform / Low Code / No Code and its various derivatives) is well underway.

As a veteran of the IT Industry - I know that building, and buying software has its challenges.?It’s sometimes not quite as soft and malleable as its description suggests.?Whether building or buying -?a paradigm shift is required to improve both its time to value and the total cost of ownership predictability. ?

Let’s quickly try to unpack both of those; Moores Law in the Hardware space, unfortunately, had no direct equivalence in Software. ?Why not? ?Perhaps Low code is the first true shift in being able to quickly create UI, logic/flow and data services at speed, scale and securely. ?Professional Programmers can break the ice, creating new complex components, interfaces and patterns and ensuring they are fit-for-purpose. ?Non-professional programmers can follow in their wake and reuse the low-code / no-code components and connectors. This generally leads to a 10x or 20x increase in time to value/delivery.?Outlook; the next tidal wave will be when Generative AI augmentation, creates adaptable run-time systems based on learned or instructed data and constructs.?

Hidden costs and restrictive ecosystems are all part of the jagged edges when handling vendor software.?Even SaaS offerings can still scrape and cut the uninitiated.?Unless it can truly operate in a “headerless” (Cloud and API first) state, then you may become stranded on that app island.?Next, unless you have properly thrashed out the usage, volume and functional pricing with the vendor commercial team upfront - then unbudgeted costs could very well appear at some point.?Low Code scaffolding around such a system (that is designed to be open and extensible) can prove to be extremely valuable.?Adapting the vendor system can be done quickly with an appropriate?LCAP to provide new front-ends (e.g. portals, views and reports etc.).?Extending the system to bridge over to other systems using connectors and visual workflow orchestration can truly transform the digital and customer experience.?All done without having to wait on the vendor to engage, price and deliver, and that’s assuming that they even can.

Tangle can achieve both.?Clients have typically seen 10x to 20x improvement in delivery time, versus traditional high code. ?Successful use cases have been delivered to front-end, bridge and extend systems such as salesforce and internet-facing meeting services, to provide a completely new DX and CX.?

Abe McIntosh