Low-code Trends in 2021: The Expert Take

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2021 will be the year of low-code. When you consider how the world has changed over the last 12 months, it just makes sense. Many organizations are now dealing with a remote working environment, and many more have adopted digital ways of interacting with customers.

We have had to adapt. We have had to be flexible. And throughout everything, we have had to maintain control. All the while, the demand for new software gets louder.

This is where low-code makes the difference. However, you don’t need to simply take our word for it.

Richard Marshall has recently published an in-depth article on low-code trends for the coming year.

And with over 30 years of experience in the field of software design and innovation, including over 5 years as a senior analyst for Gartner where he led a team that focused on global application design and development trends, we consider it an expert take.

Here are a few highlights from what he had to say:

The 3rd Generation of Low-code Is Here

“The first generation of low-code tools was the proverbial faster horse – it worked in much the same way as existing developer tools but with a few shortcuts. The next generation tried to let almost anyone build an app quickly, but without consideration of any potential risks: a classic example of the dangers of power without adequate control. 2021 heralds the arrival of the third generation of low-code tools that balance speed and governance to truly transform business software delivery.”

Importance of Intent

“Programming languages capture how to implement a process, not what that process does. This is because they largely evolved from build operating systems. Low- and no-code tools address this by providing visual interfaces that capture the intent of the app, for example Microsoft’s simple PowerApp tools, but most miss the point that you need multiple visual styles to fully define the intent of all but the simplest processes. This has caused many tools to be self-limiting to the same absolutely simplicity to which the professional developers consign them. Directly capturing business intent eliminates the need for developers to translate requirements to code, reducing errors, debugging and rework. Not just cheaper and quicker software but better too.”

Time to Give Governance a Makeover

“While governance is an essential part of delivering solid corporate IT systems, it often slows innovation, restricts access to development, and hampers the adoption of new techniques. It is time for governance to be given a makeover.

Modern low-code tools are building proper deployment pipelines with flexible permissions, configurable approval stages, and multiple deployment environments into the process. Businesspeople can use push-button deployment for simple apps for their teams and use the same button to push updates into pre-production for validation by the professionals.

Want to read more? 

You can download the full article where Richard Marshall talks in greater depth on each of the points above, as well as:

  • Why it will be critical to match development supply to growing demand
  • The low-code conundrum: solved
  • How low-code tools are helping you to focus on what you do best
  • The move to the new world of computing
  • Connecting the real-time world
  • Islands of automation are out, adopting a holistic view is in
  • Low-code for sustainable, collaborative development
Download your copy now
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