Application development has exploded in the last ten years, and at the same time, businesses have realized that it can’t take forever to get a unique app into the market. Market dynamics and competitive advantage change daily, and that is where a faster, leaner, and time-efficient development cycle can make a significant difference.

Operational inefficiencies and bloated app development processes can’t continue to delay your vision. Brands wish to leverage more viable solutions like low-code and no-code to launch the app if the traditional full-code practices don’t generate optimal returns. But, how do you know which approach serves you best? Well, that is precisely what we are going to look at!

Differences – No-code vs Low-code vs Full-code

Expertise and training required:

A non-technical person (citizen developers) with limited coding experience can get started on a no-code, Platform as a Service (PaaS) solution. Seasoned and professional developers are best suited to full-code and low-code projects, demanding a hands-on approach to writing and optimizing code from scratch. Here are some of the no code applications you might be interested in.

The technical expertise needed to develop an application in no-code is non-existent. No prior knowledge; just get started and get building. However, low-code platforms contain complex tools and provide the option to customize the available code and are only suitable for individuals with development knowledge.

Full-code, a highly demanding coding-centric approach, requires the expertise of software engineers. The applications can be challenging to develop and maintain and is best if left in the hands of experienced professionals with considerable exposure. The same goes for low-code, but the coding requirements would be somewhat less, as it does allow automation of specific mundane tasks.

Time to market:

The visual design tools and drag-and-drop interface in no-code lower the app development time. Full-code requires you to develop from the ground up and takes forever. On the other hand, the low-code solution is a sweet compromise between the two. Therefore, the time it takes is less than full-code and somewhat more than in no-code.

Low-code and full-code require traditional manual coding, which takes up time. The pre-built no-code components only need developers to drag visual blocks into the user interface. When it comes to simple apps and rapid application development, low-code platforms win by a mile, owing to their hands-off approach – making it easier to get the app into the market on time.

No code offers a what-you-see-is-what-you-get interface to speed-up app development. The 100% visual capability with pre-built widgets and zero coding makes it easier to complete the app quicker. Low-code offers you all this and lets you modify the script to augment what you have. The high coding complexity in full-code makes it harder to cut development time.

Incorporating Complex Functionality:

Are you looking to include a whole host of complex business-specific features? If that is the case, a no-code platform may not be a practical approach. The simple automation and streamlined UI in no-code is a trade-off with the inability to build sophisticated apps. You’ll be left to make do with the pre-loaded features on the solution.

Low-code supports extra functionalities, the extensible nature of low-code means you can grow on top of what you have. So, besides utilizing the pre-built APIs, templates, and plug-in modules, developers can also chip in to innovate and add more functionalities with ease. Low-code will serve you well if custom-powerful app development is a concern.

Full-code, as the name suggests, is essentially traditional development from the get-go. Hence, adding complex newer features will not be an issue. You would have a team of skilled experts at your disposal – from tidying up the interface to fixing the performance, security and other issues. Full-code offers a license to add limitless features – as far as the capacity of the team of developers.

Development Process Cost:

No-code application development involves enterprise-scale APIs, web service catalogs, tried-and-tested template galleries, and open data sets to reduce the development complexity. Even amateurs can handle app development in a no-code solution, so you might not need to spend heavily on expert resources.

Fewer resources bring down your per-head expenses. Low-code would need some insight into coding, and getting it right means you’ll have to spend on competent developers. The same goes for Full-code, as writing complex code would require the availability of highly-skilled developer talent that can match your idea from the drawing board to actuality. Senior developers aren’t the most cost-effective.

Custom development to build high-end tailored applications also takes up time. Errors, fixes, re-runs, and constant iterations waste time and money. No-code is budget-friendly, but the costs can skyrocket if your app requires redesign and extra features not already available in the library – leading to a financial situation. In this scenario, low-code serves as the best of both worlds.

Scalability and Customizations:

Full-code allows complex customizations, which isn’t something that no-code can afford. The simplicity and speed come at a cost, as you must make the best of the available templates. Low code, as a compromise between the two, does allow both. Hyper-personalized apps with a ton of features are best suited to full-code.

Low-code and full-code allow these changes to the app, the trade-off being more effort and time. Creating custom integrations empowers developers to build sophisticated and powerful applications. The extensive component library in low-code solutions also permit connection with third-party services like AI, ML, blockchain, and facial recognition.

The lean development methodology of no-code doesn’t offer many possibilities for developers. A locked and restricted package in no-code means your developers can’t get too creative with the application. Whereas, full-code allows a full range of possibilities with no limitations, and low-code does, too, to a certain extent.

Security and Stability:

In no-code, you are entirely at the hands of a third-party tool, and developers aren’t as involved while developing an application in a no-code environment. This could let slip some security vulnerabilities and issues which may compromise the app. Development teams create apps without adequate oversight or scrutiny.

However, low-code and full-code require developer engagement, which can help address all the regulatory challenges and security concerns. Low-code and Full-code solutions allow developers an insight into what’s happening with the code. No-code, even though validated, can come up with security liabilities if not updated on time to the emerging threats.

In low-code and full-code, developers can exercise control over testing, performance, and overall quality – making it easier to ensure adherence to security protocols. Something that no-code vendors have a hard time supporting and might even overlook. So, for absolute peace of mind, a full-code practice involving a team of expert developers works best.

What makes more sense for your business type?

Businesses should look for an approach that eases into their ecosystem, addresses existing problems, scales with rising demands, and handles new challenges easily. The no-code that works now may not serve you well in the future. Although, Gartner predicts that by 2024 65% of all application development activity will be no-code. Thus, have a roadmap with a goal-centric approach.

A small startup can do with a no-code approach that automates application development activities with visual modeling tools in a simple drag-and-drop interface, making achieving your application development goals easier. However, an enterprise can afford to avoid a no-code approach to create a custom, full-fledged app with dedicated in-house developers.

No-code is best for small businesses that lack the infrastructure and resources to write manual code. Low-code is best for mid-size companies with a bit of developer culture to address the complex aspects and can use automation for the standard application elements. Full-code is best for large enterprises with the talent, availability, and working capital to pull off complex application development.

Businesses can also use a hybrid approach, where-in they use a no-code method to get the app development up and running quickly and then shift to low-code or even full-code to customize and scale the application later. Have the following qualifying factors in mind before finalizing the best solution to build your application:

• The overall goal and how you’ll align technology with what you want
• The number of resources you would require to develop the application
• The overall budget you can afford to allocate for the preliminary and variable costs
• Understand the complexity, scope, and scale of the application development project
• A realistic turnaround time to finish the development, from build to deploy
• The amount of sensitive data getting processed and all the security considerations in place

Conclusion – No-code vs Low-code vs Full-code

No-code development accelerates the delivery of applications and reduces time, training, and costs. Low-code will also expedite your development process and allow enough room to upgrade the app through scripts. Full-scale manual coding is a bit daunting and requires attentive dedication to develop an app – taking more time, effort, and dollars.

Whatever the application development protocol, ISHIR has you covered. We are process-agnostic and will only choose the approach that best fits your business specifics after weighing all the perks and pitfalls. Our analysts, consultants, and experts weigh in with you to pick the best approach and complete a top-tier quality application in no time.