The term low-code has appeared in many technology summits recently. It can be said that low-code is another hot topic and term after China-Taiwan.
1. What is a low-code platform?
A low-code platform is a development platform that can quickly generate applications without coding or with a small amount of code . It is also a digital technology tool platform that quickly implements innovative applications in the digital transformation of enterprises in a graphical, drag-and-drop manner, and supports expansion with a small amount of code to meet individual needs .
- Visualization : The low-code platform provides a visual development interface , allowing users to quickly build applications.
- Drag and drop : Users can build applications by dragging and dropping without writing a lot of code.
- Customization : Users can customize to meet individual needs.
- Modularity : The low-code platform adopts a modular design , allowing users to customize applications according to their needs.
- Efficiency : Low-code platforms can build applications quickly and can be developed in a short period of time.
- Security : The low-code platform adopts secure technology to protect user data and ensure user data security.
The basic principle of the low-code platform is to use automatic code generation and visual programming technology to quickly build the required application with a small amount of code. There are two main technical routes for low-code platforms:
- Automatic code generation : The platform provides automatic code generation tools to automatically generate application code according to user needs.
- Visual programming : Users can use visual programming tools to build applications by dragging and dropping components.
The core elements of a low-code platform include code generators , visual programming tools , and developer tools . Developers can use these tools to quickly generate applications without writing a lot of code. The low-code platform can greatly improve development efficiency, reduce development costs, and meet the needs of many developers and business personnel.
2. Classification of low-code platforms
The first type is the business personnel type . This type of platform is usually put together by several SaaS, and mainly serves the scenarios used by business personnel, such as BI, workflow, forms, online forms, etc. These platforms usually have functions such as authority and personnel management, which are convenient for business personnel to use directly, such as Mingdao, Jiandao, Yidao, etc.
The second type is the non- code generation type . This type of platform requires developers to develop within a specified framework, and cannot generate separate application codes and deploy them independently. This kind of platform can help developers quickly develop applications, such as Zoho, Power Platform, movable type, light flow, etc.
The third type is the code generation type . This platform also requires R&D personnel, but it can generate code or various framework codes, and can independently export and deploy a single application to other platforms or servers. This kind of platform can better meet the needs of developers, such as Mendix, iVX , Qingzhou, Lingxi, odoo, Wuyuan, Niu Dao, etc.
In short, low-code/no-code platforms can be classified according to different application scenarios and needs, and users can choose according to their actual situation.
3. Logical expression of low code
Logic is a very old topic, and it's hard to see anything new, especially new ways of expressing it. When analyzing iVX products , I found a new visual "logical expression paradigm (or new method)"
In theory, including "sequential execution", "branch (that is, if)", and "loop (that is, for)" can constitute a "Turing complete" logical expression. In addition to the expression of the program, there are only two modes: one is the "flow chart" mode; the other is the "building block mode" of "Scratch".
And IVX proposes a new graphical logic expression method "panel mode", which is the way iVX IDE expresses logic.
3.1. Atomic components (to ensure the completeness of the language)
What components are needed to construct a general-purpose application? Solving this problem means splitting and abstracting all existing applications and possible application scenarios. It may be okay for an application abstraction, but it is another matter to turn the abstracted components to build various applications. This is similar to an NP problem (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/P_versus_NP_problem), there may never be an optimal solution, but through continuous efforts and attempts, iVX can basically build any application.
The abstraction of components is very long, and the level of abstraction is also very critical. What is the basic component and what is the abstract extension component on top of the basic component (this kind of component is more practical and can often express a certain function immediately). There are concepts of models and modules, above which are templates and template reuse.
Afterwards, all components are object-based packages (including the event itself), and have the expression of "Trinity", which is "object attribute", "trigger condition" and "object function".
The more difficult thing is the background part. There are still some library methods for reference at the front end, and the background abstraction will be more difficult.
3.2. Event panel (logic arrangement capability)
In all program development, the interface and data are discarded, and the rest is logic. Logic becomes the soul of the application, and it is also the most difficult to express with zero code.
iVX has created a "condition-triggered" non-code logic method, and provides an event editing panel for this method, which supports logic editing of the front-end, middle-stage, and back-end.
At the same time, iVX supports all the operation logic of MySQL.
3.3. Form a complete intermediate language (support AST abstract syntax tree)
Generally speaking, iVX began to research and evolve from WebApp, and more popular technologies of Web front-end and back-end are used.
The iVX front-end uses React, and the generated front-end code is also the Core of React. The middle platform uses Node.js to directly parse the JS code. The background is connected to the cloud infrastructure, and Go is used for the architecture, which is more efficient and stable.
Intermediate language refers to the intermediate code generated after dragging components and configuring events through the front end, similar to descriptive language. This language must be constructed by ourselves, similar to the need to accumulate a dictionary, and then edit each application into an "article" through this "dictionary".
This process is cumbersome and has many details, so I won't expand it here.
Through comparison, it is found that the "panel mode" has higher development efficiency, although the number of clicks and operations is less, the development efficiency is 5 to 10 times that of the "Scratch building block mode"; and because the "panel mode" can be expanded vertically downward, there is no design limitation , plus it is easier to express complex logic such as "loop" and "branch", so it is easier to operate and control than the "flowchart" mode.
4. The openness of the low-code platform itself
In order to strengthen the openness of iVX itself, code programmers can add their own code in the following parts:
Custom Components iVX supports custom front-end components. If programmers feel that the existing hundreds of components cannot meet the needs, they can customize their own front-end components according to the documents provided by iVX (a map format) and integrate them into iVX. component window.
Custom function In iVX, there is a component called custom function, which can facilitate writing Javascript code, both front-end and back-end can be written. Used for various operations such as processing data.
Paste JSON code (general variable)
Write SQL syntax (DBO) in iVX, it supports mysql, ES (full-text search), nosql (table database AWS DynamoDB) the best, and can directly generate various syntax programs supported by the database through AST (abstract syntax tree).
For databases such as Oracle and SQLServer, iVX provides a dedicated DBO component for control and management (the DBO layer requires users to write SQL syntax by themselves). In the future, we will strive to integrate common databases such as Oracle and SQLServer into AST, so that we don't need to write SQL syntax, and the operation will be easier.
Finally, I would like to point out that in fact, many low-code platforms have not figured out the relationship with "code". In this regard, iVX has a clear definition: the relationship between iVX and code is "sufficient but not necessary"! That is to say, "anything can be realized without code, and all codes can be used", and the code generated by iVX can be directly used by other codes. This is the "relationship and positioning" that low-code platforms and codes should have.
In the industry, only iVX can do this.
Free experience on the official website: https://www.ivx.cn/
Recommended books in this issue
Title: "Unity Mobile Game Development: From Construction to Release and Launch"
Direct Purchase Link: https://item.jd.com/13557443.html
【Introduction】
Combining 9 years of game development experience and 3 years of practical teaching experience in colleges and universities, the senior master of the game manufacturer has studied hundreds of mobile game cases, summed up his own growth path from beginner to technical director, and created a new one for Unity beginners. The whole-process practice route helps beginners develop and launch open-world mobile games that meet the standards. Comes with 8 teaching videos and 3GB multi-case project source files. This book will take the practice process of an open world game as the main line, presenting to readers the practice route of launching a game from scratch, the development model of the game engine Unity, and the core framework of game development.
【Outline Introduction】
This book is divided into 3 parts, the first part is about scene construction, the second part is about script development, and the third part is about publishing and launching. Part 1 includes Chapter 1 and Chapter 2, mainly introducing how to create a game project in Unity, how to build a game scene and interface. The second part includes chapters 3 to 5, mainly introducing the core modules of a game, namely game control, character animation and core gameplay, and at the same time practicing the complete development process of a game "Little Pig Kiki". The third part includes chapters 6 to 8, mainly introducing the release process of the game on the mobile terminal. At the same time, the game is tested and improved, and finally the game case in the book is made into a game that meets the online standards.
【About the Author】
Wang Jie , with 9 years of experience in game development, once served as the main program of Linekong Games and the technical director of LeTV VR. Since 2018, he has been the CEO of Beijing Mitang Technology Co., Ltd. and has been focusing on game development and VR related fields. He usually works in Beijing Information Technology Co., Ltd. University, Beijing Institute of Information Technology, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture and other universities teach Unity-related courses.
【activity description】
Comment any comment in the comment area such as: [Low-code platform yyds! 】
One student will be selected to send a physical book of "Unity Mobile Game Development: From Building to Publishing and Going Online", with free shipping!