Low-Code / No-Code
Development platforms with visual building blocks instead of code. Enable fast prototypes and simple applications without developer expertise.
Low-code and no-code put app building in the hands of more people. Instead of months of development, business users can create apps in days with drag-and-drop and visual workflows. From internal tools and customer portals to mobile apps, platforms like OutSystems, Mendix and Power Apps speed up digital change. They have limits and don’t replace professional development everywhere.
What is Low-Code / No-Code?
Low-code platforms let you build software with minimal coding: visual editors, drag-and-drop and prebuilt components replace most hand-written code; you can add code for complex logic. No-code goes further: no programming at all. Citizen developers – staff from the business – build their own apps. Examples: Microsoft Power Apps (low-code, Microsoft ecosystem), OutSystems and Mendix (enterprise low-code), Bubble (no-code web apps), Airtable and Notion (no-code data/tools), Retool (low-code internal tools), n8n and Make (no-code automation).
How does Low-Code / No-Code work?
Low-code provides a visual editor: you place UI components (forms, tables, charts), connect data sources (DB, API, Excel) by configuration, define logic with visual workflows or simple expressions, and deploy with one click. The platform generates and runs the code and handles hosting, scaling and security. Enterprise platforms add versioning, CI/CD, governance, roles and integration (e.g. SAP, Salesforce).
Practical Examples
Power Apps + SharePoint: HR builds a leave request app in 2 days – forms, approval flow and dashboard without IT.
Bubble e-commerce MVP: A startup builds a working marketplace prototype in 2 weeks to validate the idea before custom development.
Retool admin panel: Developers build an internal admin UI in hours, talking directly to production DB – instead of weeks of custom UI.
n8n automation: Marketing connects CRM, email and social via visual workflows without writing code.
Typical Use Cases
Internal tools: Admin panels, approval workflows and dashboards
Prototyping: Quick validation and user feedback before full development
Automation: Connect systems and automate processes without developers
Citizen development: Business-built apps under IT governance
MVP: Working product to test the market with minimal investment
Advantages and Disadvantages
Advantages
- Speed: 5–10× faster for suitable use cases than traditional development
- Democratization: Business can build solutions without waiting for IT
- Cost: No full-time developers needed for simple internal apps
- Maintenance: Platform handles hosting, updates and security
- Prototyping: Validate ideas before investing in custom build
Disadvantages
- Vendor lock-in: Moving to another platform or custom code is very costly
- Scaling limits: Complexity can outgrow what the platform supports
- Performance: Generated code is rarely as fast as hand-optimized code
- Cost at scale: Enterprise low-code can be expensive per user/month
- Governance: Uncontrolled citizen development can create shadow IT and risk
Frequently Asked Questions about Low-Code / No-Code
Does low-code replace professional development?
Which low-code platform is right?
What does low-code cost?
Related Terms
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