The big future is all about AI, AI, AI... and theoretically nothing else is possible.
Take iVX as an example. It has already made a complete set of visual programming paradigms, which can basically generate the front-end background and database codes of all systems. In other words, its component system and logical expression (not code) are basically complete. In this case, hardware and AI capabilities will be integrated normally.
The first step: the ability of AI. At the beginning, it is to do some API integration, which everyone can do; (that is, to directly give various ready-made AI interface capabilities to the low-code platform)
The second step: AI generation ability, through the low-code platform can directly complete the construction of simple models, generate part of the python code, and can automatically complete the training of some standard models; (this stage is also quite challenging)
Step 3: This is the most important "ultimate trick". If the low-code has already abstracted the components, and the logical expression is "Turing complete", the rest is to automatically generate a complete application, not that kind of "code fragment", no Improve the code and find bugs of various GPTs, but directly generate complete applications. The reason for this possibility is mainly due to the secondary abstraction of components and logic by "low code". The application expression is simplified and unified, which reduces the number of "tokens" and training difficulty by several orders of magnitude. In this way, iVX is trying hard to complete the complete generation of application development within 5000 tokens.
Therefore, everyone should not simply understand that "low code" means writing less code. To a certain extent, it is a complete revolution in the "programming paradigm". Need to wait and see. At least I think low-code has a chance.
Most of the other low-code platforms are for "intra-enterprise rapid application development framework", and the pattern is still small.
Is programming really that hard? How should I learn programming is really distressing. Have no direction to work hard at all?
1. First of all, if you just don’t like to write code, you can try many other programming platforms, such as graphical code generation IDE like iVX, which has no functional limitations and powerful capabilities, and the generated JS and Java codes are also relatively common. The process of programming is also more interesting, just like playing games.
2. If you don't like logical thinking, or think about problems or difficult problems, there is basically no way to do it. It is recommended to give up decisively. Not everyone is good at "logical thinking". The method of judgment mainly depends on your ability in science, especially "mathematics". If you are good at mathematics, it is unlikely that your "logic" is bad in theory. If your logic is not bad, programming will be fine.
3. To have correct expectations, you can go to various training courses, which may help you get started quickly, but you still need to work hard to become a master, and you need some talent to become a first-class one. . If you want to support your family, it's not difficult. Generally speaking, the programming or programmer position is still a relatively high-earning industry, which basically does not depend on birth or qualifications, and is a clean and green industry. If you can really solve problems, the income is usually good.
How low-code has evolved
Let me summarize:
the top one can: code-free rate exceeds 95% + generate full-stack code (readable and exportable) + complete integration of cloud computing
How do you need to analyze different low-code platforms?
(1) Check whether your website and platform are generated through your own low-code/no-code platform
In this regard, iVX should be a role model (I don’t use it myself, how dare others use it?), including various systems within the company (finance, OA, project/task management, performance, college/course/exam/question bank, live broadcast, customer service/worker Forms, time attendance, documents, platform transactions...), all are developed through iVX IDE itself. In this regard, all other low-code platforms are incomparable.
Several problems are explained: 1. iVX is powerful and complete enough, including all parts of the front-end, back-end and database; 2. The application developed by iVX is stable enough (use the medicine on yourself first); 3. Reflected, iVX Enough confidence in their own products.
(2) Ability to generate source code
"Generate source code" here does not mean that the entire system has been adjusted and changed due to configuration and functions. Instead, the source code that can be exported is actually generated. This code can be compiled, and the function and performance of this low-code should be basically equivalent to that of a "programming language".
As far as I know, almost all low-code platforms, including the top foreign "power platforms" Mendix Outsystems... are unable to export source codes. Simply put, they can only be used in the internal environment of the platform, or "locked".
These are all derived from the "logic of enterprise products". All low-code platforms can be understood as "internal development platforms" customized for enterprises. They originally hoped that enterprises could "use it all the time", so they would not have the motivation to do code. For things that are exported, over time, the entire system can only be used within the enterprise, and it is "farther and farther away" from what the "programming language" has to do.
In this
field, iVX is also at the forefront. It can be regarded as a product directly used by programmers, a fast code generator/paradigm.
(3) Visual logical arrangement
Most of the logic layout now refers to the "flowchart" layout mode of "Mendix" "Outsystems". In fact, this itself has some problems (complex logic is difficult to express, such as loops, etc.), so there is "low code "This concept is not that they don't want to kill the code, but the flaw of this logical expression, which leads to the need for code treatment to express complex logic.
This
can be regarded as another innovation of iVX. There is only one company in the world that expresses this logic (patented).
(4) Future development direction
It is AI programming, which is the most important "ultimate trick". If the low-code has already abstracted the components and the logical expression is "Turing complete", the rest is to automatically generate a complete application, not that kind of "code fragment", no Improve the code and find bugs of various GPTs, but directly generate complete applications. The reason for this possibility is mainly due to the secondary abstraction of components and logic by "low code". The application expression is simplified and unified, which reduces the number of "tokens" and training difficulty by several orders of magnitude. In this way, iVX is trying hard to complete the complete generation of application development within 5000 tokens.
The first hardware product of the low-code platform - iVX programming box
Why does iVX make hardware?
Obviously iVX is developed as a programming system and is a typical software system. Why did it launch hardware products? Isn't this the opposite? In fact, the iVX programming box just integrates "core capabilities into a hardware product, and provides it to enterprises and developers through the most cost-effective service".
Therefore, the hardware is only the carrier of the iVX core system, and the service content and quality provided have not changed.
In addition, this kind of hardware provides software system service mode, which is also just combined with "iVX's own characteristics of its own products".
What are the characteristics of iVX itself?
Strictly speaking, "iVX visual programming platform" (code generation platform) is not a typical service platform "customized for enterprises", but a platform "served for developers", that is to say, its design goal is "for programs Server-based", similar to a new programming language (or "graphical development paradigm").
Its main manifestation is "to generate full-stack code", and it is as flexible as a programming language. This is different from "low-code platforms" that are "all designed for the enterprise". All existing low-code platforms, including PowerPlatforms Mendix Outsystems, etc. and low-code open source platforms, all need to install a "runtime" system inside the enterprise, and then develop or configure this "runtime", that is, "development and run" is one. This is very convenient for some simple configurations, but it also directly limits the flexibility of the entire system. Its biggest feature is that it cannot generate application code that can be exported and deployed, and "locks" the operating environment of these applications to some extent. . Simply put, "these applications can only be inside this runtime" and cannot be exported, which means that once a low-code platform is selected, it almost needs to be "used for life". If the low-code platform has a unified standard protocol, the application of one platform can be exported to another platform, and this problem may be solved, but this is almost impossible.
Since iVX itself generates code, and it uses popular languages JS/Java and popular frameworks React/vue, etc., it can achieve unity and compatibility with the current development system at the "code level".
Therefore, for iVX, it is possible to package the "productivity" of the code generation platform as a whole. (Other runtimes cannot do this, because runtimes are related to backend resources)
Therefore, there is the idea of developing "iVX programming box".
Why is it made into the current hardware box (mini host)?
This is mainly to better adapt to the internal scenarios of the enterprise. It can be said that this box is specially built for small and medium-sized enterprises and development teams.
For enterprises, more "safe"
This box is completely inside the enterprise, which can support intranet development and ensure that all development data and test data are not exposed to the outside world. It should be a development model that "enterprises" can accept.
In addition, for code safety backup, we now provide a mechanical hard disk (backup is safer) for automatic backup, and in the future, we can also increase the mode of online automatic backup to ensure the absolute safety of code.
For development, more "convenient"
This small box, only about 500 grams, is very convenient to carry. You can put it in the computer room, you can put it in the office, or you can follow the outsourcing team to develop on-site. Just imagine "an outsourcing team goes to the bank to develop internally, with a small box, plug and play, carry the development/debugging environment with you, and after the development is completed, directly deliver the code or deploy the system, what a cool outsourcing development experience."
"Lowest" cost, "highest efficiency"
The iVX programming box supports 50 developer accounts, which means that 50 developers can use it at the same time for multi-person collaborative development. Moreover, it is a permanent authorization. On average, the lifetime authorization fee for a developer is only 300 yuan. Compared with iVX itself, which can improve the development efficiency of personnel by nearly 10 times, this is a very low price.
Moreover, this development structure itself is also very reasonable. The box itself uses an 8-core 16G configuration. Only the box computing resources will be used when previewing/compiling, and developers open the IDE through the browser for development (resources are consumed locally. ), therefore, there is no pressure to support 50 developers (a version to support more developers will be launched in the future).
The internal system of the box will install services such as mysql\redis by default, so the preview and debugging are also performed locally, which minimizes the use of cloud computing resources and further saves costs.
Due to the high-speed connection of the local area network, the stability of the network and higher development and debugging efficiency are guaranteed.
Services included with the programming box
(1) Developer performance system
This system can count the "complexity" and "development time" output by each developer every 5 minutes; the complexity can be understood as the effective operation on the iVX IDE, and even mark "which Edited by yourself, which ones are copied, which ones are modified, and which ones are in the form of code". It is very easy to quantify the working status and actual output of developers, which is of great help to R&D management.
(2) Demo system
Hundreds of demos are attached to facilitate learning and research. It also supports uploading and sharing within the enterprise.
(3) Doc file system
(4) Free video teaching resources
If you have any questions, please consult or consult the official website: ivx.cn.
The difference between iVX and other low-code platforms
Really just one sentence:
What iVX does is "development mode", drag and drop to generate full-stack code; other low-code platforms do "runtime", configure and generate applications.
"Do you want to generate application source code?" summarizes the fundamental difference in "technical route", and contains a lot of information at the same time:
Reversible vs. Locking
Code generation means "technically you can choose to retreat", and one day in the future you may need to continue to use code development, or technically it can be better directly used or docked with all current "code programming" paradigms.
The vast majority of "low-code platforms", including foreign Mendix Outsystems PowerApps, etc., without exception, install a runtime (aPaaS) for customers (enterprises), and all configured applications must be inside this "runtime" "run". Even if files can be exported (such as Mendix exporting mpk files), they can only run within the Mendix system environment, which means that this technical route cannot be "rolled back". And accumulation will be "in vain."
To put it simply: iVX is a new code "generation" model. Since the code for the front-end (react/vue), background (Java/node) and database is directly generated, it is technically "reversible" and there are almost no what risk. If you choose the "runtime" platform, you are basically "locked" to this platform.
For Developers vs. For Enterprise Services
Although many companies choose to use the iVX system for development and code generation, iVX is not specifically tailored for "enterprises", and it can also be said that iVX is not dedicated to "enterprise services".
iVX is oriented to "developers", and has both "programming language" and "IDE" attributes. For this reason, iVX adopts a completely free model in the cloud, including the generation and export of application codes. Only cloud computing charges).
The vast majority of "low-code platforms" are for "enterprise services", installing systems within enterprises, and constantly upgrading and maintaining this system, and their charging models are also enterprise-oriented.
"Turing complete" programming system vs. business combination system combined with code
iVX has the "Turing complete" logical expression ability (the event panel method, there is a new book about this "iVX: Universal Codeless Programming"), so in theory, any complex logic expression can be completed without a single line of code; plus The relatively complete "layered component" system on the Internet makes it more suitable for expressing various complex business and data processing logic.
Most of the current low-code platforms are called "low-code" because some code logic cannot be expressed, and the business must be expressed by means of code. Here it seems embarrassing "Low code still needs code? –> Write code or need programmers? –> Low code platform still need programmers to write code? –> Programmers also need to learn low code platform and its architecture before writing code ? And there are quite a lot of restrictions? –> Is it really cost-effective? Can business people really use it directly?” These are all questions.