Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not simpler.
Albert Einstein
What is non-code development?
Language is a tool for expressing ideas; it allows information to be transmitted from one person to another. As a transmission channel, people use speech or writing, which is a more reliable method of transmission due to the formalization of recording language structures in the form of symbols. There are many different transmission tools available, from pencil and paper to computers and smartphones.
Programming languages are created in order to transfer information from a person to a computer system, and a special program is used as a tool – a development environment. In the process of the evolution of abstractions in the language of communication between man and computer, tools have been improved, the purpose of which is to simplify the process of translating plans into reality. Currently, development technologies make it possible to use systems that do not require the use of a programming language in the form of a sequence of instructions and commands, and the process of creating a software product comes down to manipulating graphic objects on the screen and setting object properties in simple editors. This technology is called non-code programming and is gaining popularity among developers, as it has a low entry barrier and high productivity.
Who can become a non-code developer?
The threshold for entering the non-code developer profession is very low, so almost any person with basic knowledge of computer science and logic can master this specialty. However, to create effective programs that work with data, it is necessary to have an understanding of relational theory and the application development process. Perhaps in the future all non-code development systems will be more interactive and include elements of educational systems, but until then you will need some basic concepts and theoretical knowledge, as well as user guides with examples.
Limitations of non-code technology
At its core, non-code technology is a set of templates that allow you to achieve a certain finite number of results. But, since such tools are developed using statistical data analysis, for 90% of cases this will be enough (the indicated percentage is approximate and depends on the quality of the design of a particular development environment) to solve target problems.
However, in some cases, there is a need for functionality that is not provided by template solutions of non-code systems. This may be due to both the appearance of the program and its functionality. Therefore, it is necessary to clearly understand the scope of application of the non-code system and the business problems that the software you are developing must solve in order to switch to low-code or full-power development if necessary.
In the next chapter we will look at the capabilities of the selected development environment, including for creating non-code programs.