High code vs low code development: Understand the nuances and choose the best solution for your business

The pandemic has pressurized organizations across the globe to supercharge their digital transformation initiatives and support a rapidly growing hybrid workforce.

Consequently, organizations are now looking for ways to develop in-house solutions that are collaborative, scalable, quick, and extremely effective. 

Choosing between low code and high code development is a vital decision that organizations have to make while building new business applications. The right solution will depend on requirements, expected development time, and budget. 

That being said, let us explore the differences between low code, high code, and no code development to better understand these approaches and choose the right solutions for your business.

What is low code?

Low code development platforms enable you to build applications even if you lack in-depth coding expertise. 

As opposed to using complex programming languages, you can simply leverage drag and drop editors to develop applications and processes.

You can also harness the power of pre-built functionalities and reusable components to build applications quickly. The benefits of using a low code platform include enhanced collaboration, speed, and customization. 

Low code platforms quite simply allow IT teams to develop applications at lightning speed and with fewer bugs.

As a result, this turbocharges digital transformation initiatives in organizations and reduces costs. Most IT leaders opine that low-code platforms are more cost-effective than traditional development solutions. 

What is high code?

High code refers to traditional programming where experienced developers are responsible for writing code and creating solutions from scratch. Developers will often rely on JavaScript frameworks such as React or Angular while content is made available through a CMS. 

The main advantage of high code is that you can create completely custom business applications that are unique to your business. 

The drawback of this approach is that it implies heavy reliance on your IT team and exclusion of citizen developers and business users. This inability to include business users who will actually be using the application can make it quite difficult to build applications that fulfill the requirements of various teams and departments.

High code also consumes the valuable time of your talented developers, which could otherwise be devoted to innovation. 

What is no code?

No code assembly places marketers and other business users in the driver’s seat. True to its name, this approach eliminates the need to write even a single line of code: instead it relies on forms, configuration, and simple input tools.

No code solutions are excellent for solving individual department issues such as updating content or assets on a page, without distracting developers from other important activities.

While no-code solutions can be leveraged to help scale solutions, they are quite limited in terms of bringing about large-scale innovations or building new platforms. 

Adopting a holistic approach to application development

Now that you understand the three approaches to application development, how do you decide whether to standardize high code, low code, or no code for your business?

Newsflash: you don’t! The key to success is not adhering exclusively to any one approach. As a modern business, you cannot entertain a one-arrow-shoots-all-targets mindset when designing and building your applications. 

Instead, tremendous value can be unlocked by selecting a truly hybrid CMS and building a platform that’s flexible enough to support different users and use cases.

As opposed to forcing developers to completely give up control, adding low-code and no-code capabilities to a high-code method allows for additional support from other teams to design and deliver a full-fledged digital experience. 

An effective approach to application development and content assembly empowers developers through features such as an API-first design and baked-in security features. 

Meanwhile low code or no code applications grant marketers control over the display and layout of their content, ensuring that they feel more connected to the overall digital experience. 

Build a composable platform for all assembly modes

By harnessing the power of a truly hybrid CMS, you can create a holistic platform that accommodates all assembly modes. That being said, how do you determine the right assembly model to use for a particular application?

The answer is quite simple: you just have to figure out who owns the assembly of the experience!

• If it’s a code-driven application where the developer owns the assembly, then you should choose high code. 
• If it’s a content-driven application where the marketer owns the assembly, then you should choose low code.
• If it’s a standardized application following more of a “cookie-cutter†model of assembly, then you should choose no code.

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The boom in low code tools is clearly disruptive. However, developers are quite accustomed to disruption and inevitably the most well-positioned people to deal with it.

Developers have the experience and vision to understand your unique business requirements and the right assembly approach to deliver powerful digital experiences to your users.

If you’re looking to partner with a app development company, Hakuna Matata is your best bet. Our developers have expertise to figure out the best assembly approach for your unique business requirements.

Using our services, you can turbocharge the application development process and develop high-performing applications at reduced costs. 

So, what are you waiting for? Schedule a free consultation with our team right away!