No-code, which allows users to build an app without coding, has burst onto the scene promising to make software development (which is typically really hard and expensive) faster and cheaper by a 10x margin. In response, many companies are now flocking to no-code to create apps from scratch, causing rapid growth and hype in the space.
The key questions everyone asks when they approach us to help them create an app without code are, Where’s the catch? What are the limitations? This seems too good to be true – will it serve my use case?
In our experience, no-code software is actually the best approach for most web applications, but it’s not right for every case. Sometimes, traditional programming is a better fit depending on the specific product and team needs.
Below, we’ll explain how we think about the full-code vs. no-code question – and when it makes sense to use a no-code tool like Bubble – so that you can determine if it might be right for your project.
So how did IDC arrive at their predictions when there is not enough expert talent to create that many applications and digital products effectively? According to Low Code history, the answer dates back to 2014 with Gartner's introduction of the term Low Code.
Low Code development platforms came in as the resource to bridge the gap, enabling business IT teams to create apps more efficiently and quickly. Along with that came No Code platforms, which are not much different from Low Code but primarily target everyday users as opposed to IT specialists.
With these technologies came a broader spectrum of options for software development; the big question now is, which level of code is best for building your desired software?
Full code vs. no-code: What’s the difference?
Both full code and no-code represent two distinct, but valid, approaches to creating an app. Each of these two building options has its own pros and cons. Below we review a few major differences.
What is full code development?
Most of us have seen coders typing colorful gibberish into a black screen – this is the process of developing software using a conventional coding language (i.e. full code development). This involves writing lines of instructions to the computer to perform various tasks using commands written in a specific syntactic form called a programming language.
Each of these languages (e.g. Python, Java, Javascript, C, C#, etc.) have a vast array of commands, including their own grammar and vocabulary. This allows them to cover virtually any use case for what the software should be able to do, giving the developer maximum control over the application build.
What is no-code?
Unlike custom programming, no-code platforms allow you to build software applications through a drag-and-drop interface instead of writing lines of code. The end result is the same as with traditional coding: a fully-functional web application that users interact with (unaware of how it was made). But by using a more intuitive visual building interface, no-code tools make software development faster and more accessible to people without coding experience.
What this means is that no-code tools have lowered the technical barriers that have historically prevented entrepreneurs and businesses from building their own apps. If you have a clear vision and goal for your app/solution, you no longer need the deep technical expertise and training to execute it.
Today, there are a growing number of different no-code platforms. Each has its own editing environment (i.e. programming language), capabilities, and limitations. Examples of popular tools to make apps without coding include Webflow for landing pages, Airtable for databases, Zapier for workflow automations, and Bubble for full-stack app development.
Refer to our What is no-code? guide for a full overview on building apps without code.
When should you build apps without code?
Thanks to the hundreds (if not thousands) of no-code tools available, you can now truly build just about any app a consumer or business might need with no-code. Because of this, you should consider building an app without code whenever possible to save time and money.
Common types of apps, features, and functionality that people are turning to no-code tools to build include:
Marketplaces and e-commerce sites: i.e. platforms that connect buyers and sellers of goods or services with each other and provide the infrastructure for the transaction.
Social networks: i.e. an app that incorporates social features that allow people to connect or engage with other users. See how we built a Twitter clone using no-code!
Internal tools: i.e. apps for internal users in an organization to run business operations and performs various actions. Learn what types of business tools you can build using no-code in our article Should my business build a custom internal tool with no-code?
User logins and permissions: i.e. graphical interfaces that replace time/resource consuming hard-coded changes to the user login process
Complex workflow automations: i.e. apps that streamline essential business processes, like communications and documents
Dashboards and analytics: i.e. apps for visually tracking statistics and data in your industry/business
Connections to 3rd-party APIs: i.e. ability to pull in data from external services, such as Stripe for building in payment systems for your app
When should you create an app from scratch using full code?
Because custom code is slower to build and requires more ongoing maintenance effort than fully-hosted no-code platforms, it’s best reserved for cases where no-code tools can't achieve what you need. In other words, traditional code should be used on an "as-needed" basis.
Common reasons for bypassing no-code and instead needing code include:
Novel technology (e.g. machine learning algorithms)
Huge scale (e.g. app needs to support millions of daily users)
Custom visual interface (e.g. create something like Photoshop or iMovie within app)
Team capabilities (e.g. you have existing developers who need to stay busy)
When can you take a hybrid building approach?
Sometimes the full code vs. no-code dilemma isn’t an all-or-nothing question. At times you’ll find that there are a number of different ways to use both approaches for different parts of your build. Examples of hybrid builds include:
Embedding a code-based tool into a no-code application
Using an API to have a no-code tool send requests to a code-based algorithm or service
Using single-sign-on (SSO) to allow users to link between different parts of an app built with code/no-code
Having a no-code user-facing tool connect to a custom code backend database
Creating workflow automations in a no-code tool, that get triggered by code-based tools in your existing stack
What is the most customizable no-code tool?
Since you’re reading this article, it’s clear that you want to limit your risk of hitting a wall during and after app development. Now, you might be asking: What tool for building an app without code has the most capabilities and customizability? Which app builders can actually handle the feature sets and scale that I need?
As a no-code development agency that’s built hundreds of different custom apps for clients, we’ve chosen Bubble as our preferred solution. It allows us to field the widest array of client requests, without fear of hitting a limitation several iterations into a build.
Sometimes we will recommend our clients use other no-code tools, like Shopify if they’re creating a standard e-commerce site or Webflow if they’re making a website without complex functionality. But when it comes to building unique, complex software, Bubble offers us the closest alternative to custom code.
Need a no-code development agency to help build your app fast?
While Bubble is still faster and easier than traditional development, it has a higher learning curve than some off-the-shelf no-code tools. That's why many businesses are choosing outside Bubble developers or no-code Bubble agencies, such as Boglex, to help. We can make sure your custom app gets build fast and professionally.
If you need to launch a custom, production-grade app fast, contact us about your project today!
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