Low Code App Builder

Low Code App Builder

What is low code development, and why is it important? Low code is a phrase that describes a rapidly developing approach to designing applications and software. As the name implies, low code is a process that relies very little on raw coding skills. It empowers developers who are not software engineers or computer scientists to build apps and tools that solve problems they see without requiring an extensive knowledge of programming and programming languages.

One of the best ways to distinguish the low code philosophy is to compare it to no code app building. A low code app builder will still allow users to write raw functions if they choose to do so. A no code builder does not have the means to implement raw code and the new functions that can provide. In other words, a no code builder will be drag and drop only (or whatever interface is available). Meanwhile, a low code integration platform has the added ability of being able to support original development ideas.

The incorporation of new code is particularly strong in low code platforms for developers. You still want an efficient solution that allows developers of varying expertise, but the low code design enables those developers to import code from open source libraries. That dramatically expands the total number of options for developers.

Lumavate is a no code platform that has been used by businesses to make powerful apps. A pair of low code examples include the Indianapolis Motor Speedway and the Warren Rupp app. The Speedway app connects fans to the venue, improving engagement. The Warren Rupp app helps customers find products they need directly from the manufacturer.

Each app was developed entirely with Lumavate and without the need for external app developers and experts. When you consider Lumavate pricing, it’s easy to see how it is much more affordable than paying for a direct team of app builders, many of whom will be paid six figures annually.

Appian

When comparing low code platforms, it’s hard to overlook Appian. It’s a staple in the business, and Appian low code has been used by many developers. At its core, Appian is designed for people who understand coding but want to save time. It’s a platform for devoted app developers that adds efficiency to the process.

This is reflected in the Appian low code guide. While it is a useful resource, it is insufficient for a truly novice developer to find success without additional resources.

On the plus side is Appian low code pricing. Since the platform has fewer assistance resources, it costs less than many alternatives. At $90 per user per month, it’s towards the bottom in terms of the total cost. Of course, it doesn’t fully handle app deployment and instead partners with Amazon, Azure and Google for that aspect.

Lumavate is different because it isn’t designed for traditional app developers. It’s designed to allow marketers to handle the entire development process themselves. This makes it much easier to use, and it’s why Appian has such low scores among citizen developers in the latest Gartner Magic Quadrant.

Additionally, Lumavate focuses on PWAs, which makes hosting and deployment much easier, especially for new developers.

Outsystems Low Code

Outsystems low code is another prime example of a low code developer platform. It has been around for roughly 20 years (longer than mobile apps themselves), and it has been used by countless developers to make some high-profile apps. Outsystems prides itself on powerful developer tools and empowering established developers with a more streamlined resource for creating apps.

This is probably best seen in the Outsystems tutorial. More specifically, they don’t have one. Instead, they have a community approach to help and support. You can connect with other developers to solve problems and learn, but you won’t find an all-encompassing tutorial that spells out the fundamentals of the platform.

In fact, this is a common theme in Outsystems reviews. While the platform is beloved for its streamlining of app management, the common resounding complaint is support. Education is hard to find, and many users find that the company differs too much from the online community for support.

This is unlike Lumavate that has a heavy emphasis on user support. There are also tutorial options and robust beginner assistance tools that help the learning curve. With Lumavate, you don’t have to be a seasoned developer who is looking for resources to improve efficiency. It’s a great place to start when building your first app.

Google App Builder

When it comes to developing apps, many would put their trust in one of the most recognizable tech brands on the planet. Google App Maker was made by the same company that owns and controls Android. There has to be at least some advantage in that connection, and there is. 

App Maker is a genuinely low code platform. It’s built on G Suite, which is Google's underlying low code environment. It’s designed for developing enterprise apps, and much of the architecture focuses on speeding up app development while providing tools that improve functionality and quality. All of this sounds great. What are the downsides?

Many who have used the app consider the guides and tutorials to be a major downside. Now, unlike other platforms, these tutorials do exist; they aren’t just community resources. That said, the Google tutorial system is not intuitive, and reviews suggest that it does a poor job of answering common questions that strike newcomers to the platform.

There’s a second problem with App Maker. It is planned for obsolescence. Support for new application creation is scheduled to end on April 15, 2020. The editor and user apps will become completely unavailable in January of 2021. This shelf life is definitely a problem.

If you want a platform that can develop PWAs reliably, Lumavate is that solution.

Gartner Low Code 2019

Any discussion of low code platforms will eventually turn to Gartner. Let’s avoid confusion. The Gartner low code 2019 list is not a new platform. Instead, it’s a resource that analyzes and reviews platforms to help developers gauge which would be best for their project.

The Gartner low code Magic Quadrant is a compilation of results. It helps to identify where leading platforms place in the total space of app development. The Quadrant rates platforms by whether they are challengers, leaders, niche players or visionaries. The metrics used to provide these ratings are complicated, but there are a few conclusions that Gartner has drawn that are worth discussing.

The first is PWAs. Gartner is consistently enthralled with emerging companies that focus on PWAs. This is largely because they are seen as the way of the future for app development. While native apps will continue to be a thing for a while, PWAs allow developers to hit all major platforms with a lot less investment. A single PWA is accessible on every platform without being rewritten in native code for every operating system. PWAs are also impressive in their offline functionality, efficient use of limited connectivity, ease of deployment and overall control given to the app developers for hosting.

PWA platforms are fast dominating the Gartner magic quadrant, and it’s vital to understand why.

App Maker App

An app maker app would be the ultimate experience. You could build an app for your mobile device, from your mobile device. While the premise is enticing, there are no major app building apps that are making waves. The most trusted and respected app builders out there still utilize external systems to make the process work. That said, many cloud-based development platforms are accessible from mobile devices.

As for Android itself, the leading development platform is still Google App Maker. It’s the Android development resource made by the people who make Android. That’s pretty substantial.

Conversely, for Amazon Web Services (AWS), you have options like Agilepoint on the AWS Marketplace. These third-party apps can offer low code solutions to working with AWS.

Further generating competition is the market for free no code application development platforms. Few are completely free, but many offer limited resources or trials that can allow for free app development, at least to a point. 

In the end, what matters most is mobile outreach. Mobile devices dominate the internet and communication, and all successful business interactions understand this. With Lumavate, you can tap into any mobile market, and that is vital to success.