Understanding the Low-Code Movement

This is part 2 of a 10-part series of articles examining low-code automation platforms. This instalment delves into the history of low-code platforms, discussing how they have evolved over time and the reasons for their growing popularity.

Understanding the Low-Code Movement

The low-code movement is a response to the increasing demand for digital transformation and the need for faster, more agile software development. These platforms have evolved over time to support a wide range of use cases, including process automation, customer experience, and data integration.

"Low-code platforms are a game-changer for the world of software development, enabling organizations to build applications that meet their specific needs, with minimal coding." - CIO Dive.

A History Lesson

Low-code platforms were first introduced in the early 2000s, but they have gained popularity in recent years due to their ability to help organizations build applications faster and more efficiently. These platforms have emerged as a response to the growing demand for digital transformation, which requires organizations to build and deploy software applications quickly and effectively.

LCAP has roots in the early days of software development, when visual development tools such as Visual Basic and PowerBuilder were introduced in the 1990s. These tools enabled developers to build applications using a visual interface, rather than writing code from scratch. While these early tools were limited in their capabilities, they paved the way for the emergence of low-code platforms in the early 2000s.

The first generation of low-code platforms were focused on enabling developers to build web-based applications quickly and easily. These platforms typically included a visual interface builder, a back-end platform for handling logic and workflows, and pre-built connectors and integrations for connecting to external systems.

As low-code platforms evolved, they began to support a wider range of use cases, including mobile application development, process automation, and customer experience. The introduction of cloud-based low-code platforms in the mid-2000s further expanded the capabilities of these platforms, enabling developers to build and deploy applications faster and more efficiently.

Today, low-code platforms continue to evolve, with new features and capabilities being introduced on a regular basis. Many low-code platforms now include artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities, enabling developers to build more intelligent and responsive applications. As the demand for digital transformation continues to grow, low-code platforms are likely to play an increasingly important role in enabling organizations to build applications faster and more efficiently

How do LCAPs work?

Low-code platforms are designed to simplify the application development process by providing a graphical user interface (GUI) that enables developers to build applications with minimal coding. The visual interface builder is the primary tool used by developers to build applications. It typically includes a drag-and-drop interface that allows developers to select and place pre-built components such as buttons, fields, and dropdown menus onto a canvas. Developers can then configure these components using a set of visual properties that define the component's behavior and appearance.

The back-end platform is responsible for handling the logic and workflows of the application. Low-code platforms typically include a range of pre-built connectors and integrations that enable developers to connect to external systems, databases, and APIs. These connectors allow developers to build applications that are highly scalable and adaptable to changing business requirements.

Why the popularity?

The rise of low-code platforms is driven by a number of factors, including the need for faster time-to-market, the increasing demand for digital transformation, and the growing shortage of skilled developers. Low-code platforms enable organizations to build applications quickly and efficiently, reducing the amount of time and resources required for development. This can result in significant cost savings, especially for organizations that are looking to build multiple applications.

Another factor driving the popularity of low-code platforms is their ability to support a wide range of use cases. Low-code platforms can be used to build applications for process automation, customer experience, data integration, and more. This versatility makes low-code platforms a valuable tool for organizations that need to build a variety of applications to meet different business requirements.

Low-code platforms also offer benefits in terms of collaboration between IT and business teams. Business users can contribute to application development by providing input and feedback on the GUI, enabling them to shape the application to meet their specific needs. This can result in better-designed applications that are more closely aligned with business requirements.

In conclusion?

Low-code platforms have evolved to become a critical tool for organizations that need to build applications quickly and efficiently. The growing demand for digital transformation, the need for faster time-to-market, and the shortage of skilled developers have all contributed to the popularity of these platforms. Low-code platforms are highly versatile and can be used to build applications for a wide range of use cases. As the demand for digital transformation continues to grow, low-code platforms will continue to play a critical role in enabling organizations to build applications faster and more efficiently.