High Code, Low Code, or No Code? Choosing the Right Path for Your Project
High code, low code, and no code are all different ways of developing software. High code is traditional software development, where the developer writes individual lines of code to create a program. Low code is a newer development method that uses visual tools to create programs by piecing together pre-built functions and modules. No code is an even newer development model that uses visual tools to create programs without any coding at all.
Each of these models has its own benefits and drawbacks. The best option for your company depends on your specific needs and budget. This article will break down each development path and help you decide which one is the best fit for your project.
Benefits and drawbacks of using high code
The benefits of high code development are as follows:
Reliable user experience. High-code software products have proven track records of performance. Using high code, you can develop software that 100% fits business requirements and customers' needs. Additionally, high-code apps use platform-specific technologies, such as Java, Kotlin, Swift, and Objective-C, which enable a smooth user journey from the time they launch an app to the time they exit it.
Endless customization opportunities. High-code developers can create all possible software solutions. Unlike low-code and no-code developers, they are not limited to software technologies, IT infrastructure, and development environments. There are also many ways to customize the ready product and integrate it with third-party services.
Sustainable quality. Technological progress does not stand still. New software technologies and development methods are constantly emerging and evolving. High-code products remain relevant through the years. They are easy to maintain and upgrade and are a future-proof foundation for your business.
As for the drawbacks of using high code, they are mainly associated with the time and resources needed for project implementation. You will need to put more effort into high-code development compared to low-code or no-code development. The extra effort is needed because high-code developers write the code from scratch rather than use code snippets as in the low-code and no-code development flows.
Benefits and drawbacks of low-code development
The primary benefit of low-code programming is that it can help you achieve short-term business objectives, build apps and prototypes quickly, and significantly reduce costs.
But there are also drawbacks. Low-code platforms typically don't offer the same degree of control as high-code platforms—in terms of customization or scalability. So if you have a complex project that requires a lot of specialized features, then low code might not be ideal for you.
Another potential downside to using a low-code platform is the risk of vendor lock-in—meaning that if you build your product on someone else's platform (as opposed to building it from scratch), then your options for migrating away from that platform are limited. That's why it's important to take the time to evaluate your options and select the right development mode for your needs before committing to any kind of long-term project.
Benefits and drawbacks of using no code
No-code programming is a great choice for those who want to be hands-on with their project, and for those who want to save on development costs. This path requires you to use pre-made templates or widgets and to drag-and-drop or point-and-click your workflows. With the right skill set, this can be the fastest way to develop an app.
The main benefit of no code is that it will cut down on development time immensely. You don’t need a team of developers to build the project out, because it is largely plug-and-play. This makes it easier to build prototypes and proof of concepts very quickly, getting products and features in front of customers faster. But with this speed come certain drawbacks and limitations.
Namely, the structure of no-code technology does not allow for much flexibility—you are limited by the available templates and widgets, so customization is often not possible. In addition, many no-code development platforms require coding skills to use some advanced features that cannot be done with drag-and-drop interfaces.
Finally, there are often limits on how big your project can be: no-code platforms are designed to handle specific types of projects at a certain scale; otherwise they may start to feel slow or even crash due to too many requests or features.
High code vs. low code vs. no code: what you need to know when selecting a coding model
When selecting a coding model, there are a few factors you'll need to consider.
Project complexity. If your project is highly complex with many features and integration, a high-code model will be a better choice. If you need to create something more straightforward, like a few pages-site, going low code or no code could be the right choice.
Budget. Low-code and no-code projects are more affordable compared to high-code products. They can be implemented by less experienced developers, which have more moderate salary expectations.
Timeframe. If you are limited in time to launch a product, choose low code or no code. These approaches will help you get a live product up and running within weeks or even days. Then, if needed, you can rewrite or supplement the product functionality using high code.
No matter which path you choose, it's essential that you choose one that fits your specific needs, budget, and timeframe. Keeping all of this in mind will help ensure that your project is successful from start to finish.
Leveraging the power of low code and no code in high-code projects
In today's business world, it's more important than ever to be able to quickly adapt to changing customer needs and market conditions. Therefore, professional developers should be aware of the latest trends in software development and be able to use specific technologies and tools when needed.
The software development process is all about making the right choices at the right time. Such choices affect the client's budget, user experience, and the quality of the end product. For the sake of project success, it's crucial to be flexible and adaptable and be able to change course when necessary.
Using no–code / low-code development tools in high-code projects can be one decision that brings benefits from the price-quality perspective. With the help of low-code or no-code tools, you can quickly implement specific project functionality that is quite straightforward and does not require non-standard development solutions yet is crucial for project success.
At Erbis, we turn to low code and no code to reduce time to market and cut costs while maintaining product quality. In our projects, we use no-code andlow-code tools to:
automate business processes
digitize operations
manage customer requests
manage purchases
manage employee lifecycle
track expenses
plan budget
and more
Launching MVP with low-code / no-code tools
MVP (Minimum Viable Product) is the foundation of your project, and it should be something that can be built quickly, tested, and deployed with ease.
When done right, MVP can give you the confidence to explore the full potential of your idea. It allows you to validate the concept quickly, improve the product, and show investors that you are ready for big things.
With a low-code or no-code web application builder, you can create simple but powerful apps without having to attract a whole team of professional developers. Instead, you can turn to one or two developers who will help you to get your product off the ground and start getting feedback from users.
In addition to speeding up your timeline, using low-code tools can also help you save money. By building your MVP with these tools, you can avoid the need for expensive custom development work.
If you're looking for a fast, affordable way to launch MVP, you should consult with software development experts and ask if low-code or no-code tools may be an option for your project.
Best no-code / low-code tools
There's a lot of buzz around low-code and no-code tools lately. And with good reason! These tools make it easy for anyone to create powerful applications with little to no coding experience.
So, if you're looking for an easy way to get your idea off the ground, or you're struggling with a backlog of coding tasks, check out our list of the best low-code and no-code tools.
Bubble.io. A powerful no-code platform for building web apps and sites with the help of visual programming.
Pricing: up to $475 per month
Code2. A no-code platform for bringing together, managing, and using scattered data to power your apps.
Pricing: up to $139 per month
FlutterFlow. A low-code application for building iOS, Android, and web experiences adaptable to any screen.
Pricing: up to $70 per user per month
Node-RED. A low-code tool for wiring together flows, hardware devices, and APIs.
Pricing: up to $299 per month
Appian. A low-code tool that has native deployment tools and allows for the easy building of BPM (business process management) apps.
Pricing: varies depending on the selected services
Quickbase. A low-code and no-code platform for creating efficient business flows.
Pricing: up to $50 per user per month for medium businesses. For enterprises, the price is discussed individually.
Zoho Creator. A low-code platform equipped with multiple developer tools like APIs, mobile SDKs, schema and relationships, etc. for creating business apps.
Pricing: up to $430 per month
Pega. A Java-based low-code platform providing clients with powerful AI instruments.
Pricing: up to $90 per user per month for the standard edition.
Newgen. A low-code platform for digitizing customers' and employees' journeys as well as enabling personalized communications across channels at scale.
Pricing: discussed individually
Mendix. Alow-code app builder for creating native mobile apps, web apps, customer portals, and IoT-connected solutions.
Pricing: up to $860 for the standard solution
No-code and low-code application development: tracing experience
According to Gartner, 70% of new business apps will be partially or fully built with the help of no-code or low-code technology by 2025. This is because the smart usage of low-code and no-code tools can speed up development and make it less costly compared to pure high-code development.
Some companies are already using no-code and low-code tools to achieve certain business goals. Here are some success stories to consider:
Ticketing app for Garanti BBVA
Garanti BBVA, is Turkey’s second largest bank. In such a big company, it's impossible for everyone to know what's going on at all times. It can be difficult to keep track of who needs to be involved in a decision and what the best way to reach them is. This is where a ticketing system comes in.
Garanti BBVA decided to create a ticketing system using low-code development tools. Within a year, they moved 200 business processes to a new app. As a result, they obtained better communication, timely resolution of issues, and a growing number of happy customers.
Personalized digital channels for Wells Fargo
Wells Fargo is an American multinational financial services company that serves 69 million customers. Understanding the power of personalized communication, they decided to upgrade their digital channels to provide better service to customers. The goal was to create a more seamless experience for customers, where they could feel like the bank knew them and understood their needs.
Wells Fargo decided to create the communication system with the help of low code and never regretted that decision. The solution was implemented within three days, and the company is now piloting it.
Bots for BCBS
BCBS NC (Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina) was seeking a solution to increase business efficiency without hiring extra people and incurring additional costs. Bots seemed to be a great way to automate business tasks and free up the team to work on more important things. The company decided on no-code and low-code tools to implement the project.
In 140 days, they launched a center of excellence that handled the management of human resources, customers, risks, changes, and more. The usage of natural language processing and machine learning tools allowed the company to increase work efficiency and raise customer satisfaction.
Looking to develop great software at a reasonable cost?
Software development isn't just about coding, it's about finding efficient business solutions and making informed decisions. High code vs. low code vs. no code is one such decision that can make a great impact on project cost and speed.
At Erbis, we work closely with our clients to understand their needs and propose the best development approach from the price-quality perspective.
Our team has over 10 years of experience in software development, and we're always up-to-date with the latest trends and technologies. We use cutting-edge tools and techniques to create tailored software perfectly matched to clients' brands and we are passionate about delivering quality software that exceeds our client's expectations.
If you're looking for a reliable partner who can help you achieve your business goals, get in touch with us today!
