What exactly is a low-code development platform?
Low-Code Development Platform (full English name: Low-Code Development Platform) is a development platform based on graphical interface and visual programming technology, aiming to improve the efficiency and quality of software development. It can help developers quickly build applications, reduce the workload of manual coding, and lower development thresholds and costs.
If you are not familiar with low-code development platforms, or cannot tell whether the tool you are using is a low-code development platform, it is recommended that you keep in mind several characteristics of low-code platforms before using it:
1. Graphical interface:
Low-code development platforms usually provide a set of visual interfaces and components that users can quickly build applications through drag-and-drop and configuration.
2. Visual programming:
Low-code platforms usually include or support visual programming development environments, allowing users to configure business processes through flowcharts, process designers, etc., thereby reducing the workload of code writing.
3. Componentization:
Most low-code development platforms on the market provide ready-made and reusable component libraries to quickly build applications and improve development efficiency.
4. Custom expansion:
If it is a low-code development platform with slightly stronger underlying capabilities, it usually supports user-defined functions and extensions, such as providing custom components, custom fields, and customization when existing components, fields, and views cannot meet the requirements. Views, custom pages, custom APIs and other functions allow users to expand and customize applications according to their needs.
5. Strong integration capabilities:
Integration capabilities are also one of the features of low-code development platforms. Usually, platforms provide API functions, which support integration with existing systems and databases, and can also connect with third-party online communication such as Enterprise WeChat, DingTalk, and Feishu. The platform replicates the existing organizational structure of the enterprise and improves the enterprise's business processes to achieve data sharing and interaction.
Therefore, overall, the advantages and characteristics of low-code development platforms are also very obvious. The main purpose is to help enterprise users improve development efficiency and quality, reduce development thresholds and costs, and shorten the time to market of applications.
Can people who don’t understand development use low-code development platforms?
People who don’t know much about development can also use low-code development platforms.
The original intention of the low-code development platform is to allow people who do not know how to develop to quickly build applications. Through the visual interface and graphical programming, users can quickly build applications without knowing how to write and run code. In addition, the low-code development platform also provides a series of pre-made templates and components that users can select and configure according to their needs without writing code from scratch. Therefore, people who do not understand development can also use low-code development platforms to build some lightweight applications, such as OA, CRM, task management, performance appraisal, project management, etc.
However, although the low-code development platform allows people who do not understand development to develop applications, it is only limited to simple applications. If it is a slightly complex business scenario, such as ERP, MES, PLM, etc., because the business logic of these systems is complex enough, they still need to rely on professional developers to develop and add appropriate code writing in the form of scripts. Implement specific interactions and functionality. In addition, when it comes to data docking, data migration, etc., professional developers also need to carry out interface development.
Therefore, in summary, low-code support allows business personnel who do not understand development to develop business systems in simple scenarios.
In complex scenarios, professional developers are still required to develop with a small amount of code and ready-to-use standardized components. Improve development efficiency and reduce development time.
Reasonable and effective use of low-code development platforms not only allows us to run our work efficiently, but also ensures the achievement of team goals to the greatest extent. Zhixin Informat's enterprise-level low-code development platform is based on the data model-first design concept and provides a large number of standardized components. It also has built-in automation (a set of self-developed graphical programming), scripts, workflow engines (BPMN2.0), and self- Defining APIs, custom components, custom icons, custom pages, dashboards and other functions can help enterprises build highly complex core business systems. Multiple application scenarios such as ERP, PLM, MES, SCM, WMS, OMS, EMS, projects, and enterprise services can comprehensively help enterprises achieve their strategic goals of digital transformation.