No Code vs Traditional Development

No Code Development vs Traditional Development

The rise of no-code tools has equipped many citizen developers with the tools to create robust and complex applications without needing prior traditional coding knowledge. However, there are still notable differences between app development.

No-code development is the use of no-code tools to create robust mobile and web apps. These no-code tools are derivatives of traditional development tools, simplified through the use of drag-and-drop builders and simplified menus. Traditional development can be defined as the creation of applications through front-end and back-end coding on the programming language needed for the project.

The main differences between no-code development and traditional development are typically within the capabilities, support and time requirements on the two platforms. Traditional development will always have more functionality and customizable options when building out apps due to the limitless potential of programming languages. No-code development acts as a subvert of traditional coding and will always be limited by the platform in terms of capabilities and scope of the project.

Additionally, traditional development-based projects will be easier to higher for, given the large amount of software developers that are familiar with the programming language of your choice. This does come at a caveat, however, because traditional coding development will always be more expensive to hire for. For no-code development, you need to find no-code developers familiar with the tool or platform you want to build on.

Lastly, traditional development will always have a longer duration to completion vs. no-code development. It is important to consider all factors before committing to building an application. We will highlight and dive deeper into the major differences between no-code development and traditional development below, to help you determine which pathways you should choose for your next project you are looking to develop.

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No-Code Capabilities Overview

As detailed above, no-code platforms are simplified, visual builders of traditional programming languages. Because of this, no-code app builders can typically be seen as "visual programming languages" that help users un-familiar with technical coding knowledge to create applications. Because these no-code platforms are built off of traditional coding programming languages, their capabilities are limited when compared to traditional development. Although popular no-code tools in the market have evolved to become proficient substitutes, they still lack the full customization that is provided with typical programming languages. Despite this, however, many no-code platforms allow you to interject your own custom code into their platform, however, this can be seen as a more advanced feature for users with a technical background.

For users with no prior technical experience, we recommend using the Bubble platform for building customized web apps for your projects. Their platform offers all the typical customization and logic functions you need to create most application types on the market. For those coming from a technical background, FlutterFlow is a great tool that translates well from traditional coding knowledge. Additionally, FlutterFlow functions as a "low code" option, allowing advanced users to code additional features that would not have been possible on the native platform. Lastly, FlutterFlow allows you to export code of your projects, allowing you to migrate between platforms, rather than getting permanently stuck on the FlutterFlow platform. For both these platforms, we recommend checking out No Code Pathway's Complete Bubble Course and Complete FlutterFlow Course to learn everything you need to know about the two no-code tools to help you develop your next web app or mobile app.

No-Code Developers vs Traditional Software Developers

No-code developers and traditional software developers will vary when it comes to delivering a final application product. To begin, no-code developers will typically have less technical skills due to the easier learning curve of most typical platforms. In fact, in many cases it may be easier to learn how to develop these applications yourself using no-code platforms. Despite this, there are still talented no-code developers that excel in their no-code tool of choice. Software developers, however, are typically very technical and proficient due to the steep learning curve and time required to master programming languages. However, one important aspect to consider is the cost and time needed for traditional coding methods. Software developers are typically very expensive to hire and will require a notable amount of time to finish the project. This is typically because of the advanced nature of building out code on traditional programming languages. If you have sufficient funds and are looking for a highly customized application, traditional coding will serve you well for that purpose. If you are looking for an MVP-type prototype or less advanced application, no-code platforms are more than sufficient to help you with your next project.

No-Code vs Coding

As we explained above, there are many nuances between choosing to go a more traditional coding route or using a no-code tool to build out your next project. As a general rule of thumb, no-code platforms are great for quick and simple validation of market ideas, in the form of MVPs. Additionally, most popular no-code tools and platforms have sufficient enough capabilities to host a fully customized application that has most, if not all, features you are looking for within your project. In many cases, no-code can be seen as a time and cost-efficient way to quickly bring a product onto the market! For more advanced and customized projects, traditional coding will be more than enough to help you build any type of project you are looking for. A common pipeline we have found within our clients is to produce an MVP through Bubble or FlutterFlow for quick market validation. Following site visits and gaining attention, teams will then typically look into the scope of the project to see if it can be fully built natively using Bubble or FlutterFlow. If not, this is when they would be able to transition to a traditional coding method, while already having the central building blocks put in place by these no-code tools. No-code tools are a great asset that can be used in any cycle of the product development timeline. As always, we recommend finding experts in the respective field that has proper certification and education to build applications with no major hurdles.