Low code platform

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The term low-code platform (also low-code development platform ) describes a development environment for software that enables the development process using visual application designers and other graphical modeling methods instead of using classic text-based programming techniques to create them . This significantly accelerates the development and deployment time for business applications. Because of these advantages, low-code platforms can significantly reduce the costs of planning the project, training employees, and creating and completing the IT application.

Emergence

Low-code platforms can be viewed as successors to fourth generation programming languages and rapid application development tools. Well-known sizes on today's American market include a. Oracle Application Express (APEX), OutSystems, Mendix and Anakeen. German manufacturers are u. a. Scopeland and simplifier. In the open source area, the Eclipse Foundation provided the first freely available platform. It wasn't until June 9, 2014, that the industry analyst Forrester Research assigned the term low code for this special type of application development.

application

Usually, a low-code development is programmed in an integrated development environment, just as with conventional programming by hand . In contrast to conventional programming environments, low-code development platforms only use prefabricated standard software modules instead of individual program codes. These are controlled via intelligent metadata in such a way that the program behavior is almost identical to that of a handwritten application. The development of an application usually takes place in different stages. You need:

conditions

Many companies use low-code platforms to give a broad spectrum of developers the opportunity to develop and implement their own web and mobile applications quickly and without time-consuming coding .

According to Forrester Research, there are four important characteristics of any low-code development platform:

Model-driven development

Low-code platforms offer more intuitive ways to build applications than traditional programming. Model-driven development uses visual models to define data models, business logic, user interfaces, etc. This approach enables power users or professional application developers to visually model complex full-stack web and mobile applications. This can lead to a 10-fold increase in productivity compared to conventional programming.

Reusability

Productivity can be further increased with low-code development platforms , as they provide ready-to-use templates, widgets , plug-ins and components that can be used over and over again. Companies can also integrate a private app store into their low-code platforms , with the help of which company-specific IPs can be distributed to development teams for reuse. In both scenarios, creating apps becomes more of a visual staging of the necessary building blocks, rather than having to reinvent the wheel of every project.

Support beyond the pure development phase

As a rule, most low-code platforms are designed in such a way that they can support the entire life cycle of applications : from design, through deployment and maintenance, to the eventual resumption or continuation of projects. This is an important time-to-market advantage that provides a seamless way to move applications along their lifecycle, especially with regard to their deployment.

Cloud-based deployment

Some low-code development platforms offer the flexibility to deploy and manage applications in the preferred cloud or even on-site. The automated provision in connection with a cloud-native, stateless architecture enables immediate availability and the support of extensive implementations, especially in the corporate context

market

The high level of customer interest in low-code development platforms has resulted in a dynamic market landscape. These are characterized by increasing sales, high growth rates and broader acceptance by companies.

This growth is fueled by the increasing appreciation of low-code platforms as tools for developing new technologies and existing technologies in large companies. Complex problems such as nationwide product recalls, working with end customers to create customized applications or managing insurance lines are made easier by using low-code platforms. As a rule, it is possible to integrate low-code applications into back-office systems without completely replacing them.

By the end of the year, the market research institute Forrester assumes that IBM and SAP will also be represented on the platform market. Dell, Microsoft and Oracle have also expanded their portfolios around low-code platforms (status: 07.2017). This development by the major providers helps to legitimize the category for corporate customers - even if their products lag behind the market leaders.

reception

Research firm Forrester estimates that the total market for low-code platforms will grow to $ 15.5 billion by 2020.

The enormous market growth of low-code developments is due to their flexibility and ease. Low-code platforms shift the focus to the general purpose of applications, with the ability to add custom code if needed or desired. One of the driving factors in using low-code platforms is their mobile availability: Developers no longer have to spend time creating software for multiple devices, because low-code applications usually have the feature standard. This means that the software created can be easily ported to different end devices. Due to a minimum of programming knowledge required, low-code application developments can be learned more quickly than common programming languages that have to be learned and understood as a whole. The use of features such as drag & drop interfaces , which enable the application to be visualized, significantly accelerate the construction times of an application. Forrester also assumes that low-code platforms will play a key role in the future digitalization of many business processes: "Low-Code Development Platforms Are Accelerating Digital Transformation at Scale.", Forrester 2017

criticism

Some IT experts doubt that low-code development platforms are suitable for developing scalable and business-critical applications. Others doubt the prospect of cost savings and simplifications in development. Some CIOs have also expressed concern that the introduction of low-code development platforms could lead to an increase in unsupported applications in shadow IT .

literature

Individual evidence

  1. ^ A b New Development Platforms Emerge For Customer-Facing Applications
  2. ^ Oracle Corporation: Oracle Application Express. Retrieved April 5, 2018 .
  3. ↑ https://www.outsystems.com/1/low-code-platform-de/
  4. ↑ https://www.mendix.com/low-code-platform/
  5. ↑ Expert Digitization & Low-Code Platform HTML5 - Anakeen. Retrieved January 10, 2018 (fr-fr).
  6. ↑ http://www.scopeland.de/technologie
  7. ↑ https://www.simplifier.io
  8. ↑ https://www.eclipse.org/osbp/index.html
  9. ↑ https://www.simplifier.io/low-code-plattformen/
  10. ↑ https://www.outsystems.com/blog/low-code-development-platform.html
  11. ↑ The increasingly connected state of IT infrastructure
  12. ↑ https://www.forrester.com/report/Vendor+Landscape+A+Fork+In+The+Road+For+LowCode+Development+Platforms/-/E-RES137578
  13. ↑ https://www.forrester.com/report/Vendor+Landscape+A+Fork+In+The+Road+For+LowCode+Development+Platforms/-/E-RES137578
  14. ↑ http://informationsecurity.report/Resources/Whitepapers/0eb07c59-b01c-4399-9022-dfc297487060_Forrester%20Vendor%20Landscape%20The%20Fractured,%20Fertile%20Terrain.pdf
  15. ↑ https://www.cio.com/article/2845378/development-tools/use-low-code-platforms-to-develop-the-apps-customers-want.html
  16. ↑ https://sdtimes.com/low-code-development-seeks-accelerate-software-delivery/
  17. ↑ https://www.pcmag.com/article/345661/building-an-app-with-no-coding-myth-or-reality
  18. ↑ http://informationsecurity.report/Resources/Whitepapers/0eb07c59-b01c-4399-9022-dfc297487060_Forrester%20Vendor%20Landscape%20The%20Fractured,%20Fertile%20Terrain.pdf
  19. ↑ https://www.forrester.com/report/The+Forrester+Wave+LowCode+Development+Platforms+For+ADD+Pros+Q4+2017/-/E-RES137262
  20. ^ John Rymer: Low-Code Platforms Deliver Customer Facing Apps Fast, But Can They Scale Up? . Forrester Research. Retrieved January 22, 2016.
  21. ↑ Bob Reselman: Why the promise of low-code software platforms is deceiving . TechTarget. Accessed May 1, 2019.
  22. ^ Joel Shore: How no-code development tools can benefit IT . TechTarget Magazine. July 31, 2015. Accessed January 22, 2017.