No-Code vs Low-Code vs High-Code: Which One to Choose?

Pros and cons of High Code, Low Code, and No Code

So, no code vs low code vs high code? None of the approaches is flawless and each has its own pros and cons. When it comes to software development, the good news is that you always have a choice and the best choice can be different depending on the specific objectives and business requirements.

High Code: Pros and Cons

High code is well-suited for a code-driven experience that closely aligns with code deployment cycles. It enables the creation of various types of applications, ranging from VR games to enterprise-level powerful applications. By utilizing high code, one can achieve excellence in implementing complex calculation algorithms and creating customized system connectors. However, the main difference between high and low code is that the first one requires more time and comes at the cost of highly skilled software developers.

Pros

1. Unlimited customization opportunities allow developers to create all possible software solutions, regardless of technologies, IT infrastructure, and coding environments. The existing product can be easily customized and integrated with third-party services.
2. With high code, new functions can be added easily as the market evolves, enabling enhanced flexibility and agility.
3. Software developers receive better control of source code behavior.
4. High-code solutions offer enhanced manageability due to their compact nature and simplified processes. The compactness of high code solutions refers to the concise and optimized codebase, resulting in easier maintenance and troubleshooting. With fewer lines of code, it becomes more manageable to identify and eliminate any issues that may arise during the development or maintenance phases.

Cons

1. The code is hand-written so requires more development time.
2. Higher development costs as a result of the need to hire a professional development team.

Low Code: Pros and Cons

Low-code solutions offer significant advantages in terms of speed, agility, and a shallow learning curve, enabling organizations to expedite the onboarding process for new developers.

However, a common issue with many low-code platforms is that while they simplify software development, they often compromise power and creativity. Consequently, complex projects like enterprise-grade applications may not be well-suited for typical low-code platforms.

Pros

1. Low code development allows significantly higher productivity and speed compared to traditional programming. Capgemini, a prominent global digital transformation and technology consultancy firm, carried out an experiment that found that the process of application development using low-code/no-code development tools, specifically SmartBPM, was found to be 5.5 times faster compared to traditional software development using Java and Eclipse IDE.
2. The reduced development time enables frequent software releases, ensuring greater flexibility in response to changing needs.

Cons

1. IDEs that include low-code may face limitations when it comes to applying custom code to specific aspects of your project. This can be observed in scenarios where configuring certain types of UI or navigation functionalities becomes challenging or impossible using the provided low-code tools. In such cases, developers may encounter constraints in achieving their desired level of customization and may need to explore alternative approaches or solutions.
2. Lack of control over source code leads to difficulties in addressing any security flaws. If the platform that the software relies on is liquidated, the business will not be able to fix security issues on its own and run security updates.
3. A business becomes dependent on an individual vendor as it’s quite difficult to switch to a different platform.

No Code: Pros and Cons

No-code solutions are excellent for addressing simple departmental issues on an individual basis, such as updating page content or assets, without disrupting developers' focus on other projects.

Nevertheless, when it comes to driving large-scale innovations or constructing new platforms, no-code tools have inherent limitations. They generally pose challenges in terms of scalability and cost-effectiveness when extended. While they offer quick setup and ease of use, they often lack the desired flexibility and functionality.

1. The development costs are significantly reduced as there is no need for skilled software engineers due to drag-and-drop features.
2. The development process is fast and easy due to minimal coding requirements. Even non-technical users can leverage these platforms as even graphical components like buttons and text can be intuitively assembled using a graphical editor, eliminating the need for extensive coding.

Cons

1. The scenarios where software developers can write are very limited. No-code relies on the built-in functionality of the platforms and plugins, therefore they have limited flexibility if the software requires certain functionality that is not provided by them.
2. Security and compliance issues.

Difference Between High-Code, Low-Code, and No-Code

Comparison of No-Code vs Low-Code

While high and low code are completely different approaches, no code and low code are very similar in various aspects. 

Similarities

Both no-code and low-code platforms are centered around a visual interface, which effectively minimizes the need for manual coding. These platforms facilitate a design-based workflow that streamlines the logical progression of information. Consequently, they offer shared benefits such as:

• The approaches are more cost-effective compared to traditional programming.
• They offer higher design and code consistency.
• Increased time-to-market due to higher speed of development.

Differences

A key distinction between no-code and low-code platforms lies in their level of openness. No-code platforms typically operate within a closed system for development. This means that modifications made to the source code within the no-code platform will not have any impact on other use cases or functionalities.

On the other hand, low-code platforms offer an open system that allows users to incorporate custom code or modifications that directly affect the operations of the application. Low-code platforms provide developers with the flexibility to make changes that influence the functionality of the code and all associated app use cases.

Here are more differentiators:

• No-code targets users with no coding expertise while low-code is used by citizen developers who want to cut down on writing basic codes.
• No-code is a faster development approach than low-code as the latter requires training and onboarding of software engineers while no-code relies on a simple drag-and-drop interface.
• Low-code is more extensible than no-code.

Benefits of High-Code over Low-Code

High code relies on professional developers who are responsible for writing and deploying custom code. Whereas, low-code platforms offer pre-built components (code templates), streamlining and expediting the development process.

The high-code development approach is driven by code and supports the creation of various software and applications. In contrast, the low-code approach emphasizes a visually-driven development process, providing simplicity for developers but with certain limitations on customization.

When businesses require enterprise-grade applications, they often choose the high-code approach over low-code. This preference stems from the need for robust and highly customizable solutions that align with their specific development requirements. Here are more of the advantages of high-code over low-code:

• It offers much better control over development environments.
• Businesses don’t face any restrictions when they need to add new functionality or new advanced features.
• Endless customization possibilities, including the ability to choose technology, API service, etc.
• With high code, developers have more control over the entire software development lifecycle, allowing them to easily incorporate CI/CD pipelines into their workflows. This means that they can automate tasks such as building, testing, and deploying software, leading to faster and more efficient development cycles.

No-code vs. Low-code vs. High-code: Which one to choose for your projects?

There is seldom a “one size fits all” solution. Each approach has its own use cases                

When to use High-Code?

• Enterprise-grade custom applications.
• Your application has a need for customization and the ability to add new features and functionality.
• You need a highly scalable app capable of handling high peak loads.

When to use Low-Code?

• Startups that need fast time to market.
• There is no need for high-level customization.
• An application for data integration.

When to use No-Code?

• A single-page application.
• A prototype for a software product.
• Your business needs internal service APIs.

Summing Up

The low-code/no-code domain is witnessing significant expansion due to the advantages they offer. Ultimately, the choice between using a low code vs high code platform relies on the specific objectives and requirements of each business. 

While some perceive new approaches as a means to bridge the gap between IT and business, others remain loyal to traditional programming. What do you say?