Coding can be complicated. For total newcomers (and even established programmers) it can be time-consuming and difficult to make your lines of convoluted code work just right to produce the beautiful, highly functional website or application you’ve been dying to create.
However, as technology has become more advanced, a new way of producing code-based applications and products has emerged: no-code.
What is no-code?
Put simply, no-code refers to technologies or platforms that allow you to produce websites, applications, or software without ever writing a single line of code. These tools and platforms use a variety of accessible, easy-to-use features to make app creation simple, including video tutorials, drag-and-drop interfaces, ready-to-go templates, and AI that does the coding work for you. In a rapidly digitising world that’s held back by a growing global tech skills gap, no-code technology is a giant leap forward: it allows non-technical people to create striking, functional apps without weeks of work, multi-developer teams, and years of learning numerous difficult programming languages.
- The power and potential of no-code tools
For the average person who wants to make cool apps without endless struggle, no-code is a powerful tool. Here are some of the great things about no-code technology:
- No-code saves time and money
The do-it-yourself style of no-code lets you save on costly development by simplifying the whole development process. You can prototype, build, publish, and manage your app or website in days rather than months, because your project is built on modules that already work.
- No-code keeps things simple and small
No-code allows you a quick and easy way to implement a wide range of app features, without needing specialist knowledge or having to build everything from scratch. You don’t need a front-end developer, back end developer, Fintech guru, ICT Security genius, and database wizard just to get your storefront, website, or mobile app up and running.
- No-code improves access and inclusion
Creating apps and software used to be reserved strictly for those who had the time, money, or skills to get them built. With no-code, access to the means of app production is truly democratised: anyone can build anything, without needing to spend years on a computer science course or thousands of dollars on a dev team.
The downsides of no-code
Just like with any other tool in existence, no-code has more than a few downsides that you should keep in mind if you’re considering them over traditional coding techniques and tools. Here are just a few of them:
- No-code tools can often be very limited
Pre-built templates and pre-selected features can severely limit what you can build. After all, drag-and-drop resources and GUIS can’t do it all, and with no-code tools you can often only do what’s already been done.
- No-code doesn’t teach transferable skills
Coding is about more than just writing code. As many programmers will tell you, the act of writing code is usually only a part of the job or problem at hand. Often, more time is spent figuring out what the problems are, determining the best solution, and mapping out what code and tools will be needed to solve the problem. What’s more, what you learn on one no-code platform might not apply on another.
- No-code often requires a data connection to the tool server
Many no-code technologies become a middle man over your program, requiring you to go through them (and have an active subscription and connection to their platform!) to manage and update your app; this layer of “convenience” actually prevents you from having direct and immediate control over your creation. Often, it’s far simpler and less risky to build, publish, host, and manage your software or website yourself – especially when some no-code platforms don’t let you own your source code.
The future of no-code
Of course, the rise of a new, exciting technology cannot happen without some Luddite-style worry that it will destroy industries, take jobs, and replace established professions. You really shouldn’t worry, however: this new tech is more a new tool to assist and simplify coding, rather than an outright replacement.
While no-code solutions will no doubt grow as they become more available and accessible to businesses and new coders looking to save time and money, they aren’t an outright replacement for skilled, informed developer work. No-code is a powerful tool that democratises the access and resources to make your own tech, but even the most advanced and feature-rich examples cannot beat the freedom and limitless possibilities of knowing how to use and write the code that they’re made from.
At its heart, no-code demonstrates the difference between coding and engineering. It simplifies the ability to transfix ideas into digital forms, but they’re no replacement for the innovative problem-solving and solution-oriented perspective of engineers and developers. If you’re a technically minded person, or thinking about learning to code and build your own projects, your best bet is to know how to code proficiently, and how to think like a programmer or engineer. These no-code solutions then become another tool in your already considerable arsenal.
Our bootcamps teach hands-on, job-ready programming and engineering skills, so you can work with data, build complex software applications, and create amazing, high-grade websites from scratch. They’ll also help you have a better understanding of what options are available to you in professional developer work, so that you can develop a wide range of industry-quality programs without wasting any time, effort, or money.
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