No-Code Vs. Traditional Development (Coding)

Quixy Editorial Team

August 11, 2023

It’s the era of visual development! And that is why a war has been waged – no-code vs. traditional development!

Until a couple of years ago, development and coding were synonymous. For almost all companies, app development meant choosing a platform, deciding a relevant language, writing multiple lines of code, and so on. All this consumed a lot of time and money because dedicated developers charge a lot of money!

But now, companies have a choice (finally). They have the freedom to do away with coding altogether and use no-code platforms for customized app development. Both cases’ results are the same – apps suited to business needs. So, how are they different, and why is no-code a better choice?

We shall answer these questions in our article through a thorough comparison.

What is no-code development?

No code is exactly how it sounds – app development without the need for a single line of code. You don’t need to have an IT or programming background to develop an app using a no-code platform. It is a visual development tool that helps you build something from scratch through selections, drag & drop, imports, and other equally simple functions.

Also read: Everything you should know about No-Code Development

Gone are the days when going digital was a matter of choice. Whether we like it or not, we have all been catapulted into digital transformation. This switch has increased the demand for automation within a business and to serve the clientele. If businesses still depend on the IT department, they will have to allocate more budgets to develop and deal with issues such as delays, bottlenecks, and so on. No-code’s feasibility and cost-effectiveness eliminate these troubles once and for all.

Using no-code, businesses can build business applications such as CRMs, help desk management, employee self-service, asset management, workflow automation, HRMS, etc.; mobile applications; and web portals.

What is traditional development? aka custom or bespoke development?

Custom development is the process of developing specific software programs for businesses. These programs are unique and built to satisfy a particular need. It may include bespoke integration, data extraction reports, small plug-ins, and user-friendly screens for the benefit of the user. It is often complicated and time-consuming.

No-Code vs. Traditional Development

This battle may not be as epic as the ones we see in Star Wars, but it is equally interesting! Let’s take a closer look.

Skillset

Traditional development requires dedicated software developers with strong programming skills. It is completely manual because coding needs to be done. It is also quite complicated and puts an entire burden on the IT department. No-code, on the other hand, requires no special skills or even basic programming knowledge. Anyone from any department or user can develop and customize apps.

Edits and upgrades are also easier with no-code app development. Traditionally developed apps require the involvement of programmers for every change – no matter how small.

Time

We believe this is one of the most crucial aspects of comparison, especially today when speed is of paramount importance. No-code apps take only a few hours to develop as opposed to weeks and months. Delays and debugging are no longer points of concern either. It all happens quickly.

KPMG recently reported that 80% of projects are not delivered on time when the traditional route is taken. That’s a huge number; we are sure no business can afford that.

Cost

The costs involved are very high since traditional development requires weeks and months of development effort from experienced professional developers. No-Code platforms, on the other hand, enable business users themselves to build simple to complex custom enterprise-grade applications using visual interfaces up to 10X faster compared to traditional development. Hence the cost involved is much lower compared to traditional development.

Complexity

Traditional development gives businesses the freedom to develop complicated, enterprise-grade apps that exactly fit their requirements. The beauty of code lets them develop whatever they want. This has always been one of the strongest points of custom development.

No-code has been riddled with myths in this case. Many users believe that no-code development is only good for simple apps. The truth is that there are multiple advanced no-code platforms that let you build simple to complex enterprise-grade apps as well. However, restrictive no-code platforms may have limited capability in this area. So you must watch out during your evaluation.

Also read: Myths About Low-Code No-Code Platforms Debunked

Security

Security is another important factor in choosing between no-code vs. traditional development. It depends on the security architecture of the software as well as the hosting infrastructure. It’s important to ascertain both aspects while making the decision. Vendors that give importance to security ensure that they out in place the right security controls in place in all aspects and areas of operations. Certifications like ISO 27001 and SOC2 Type 2 act as evidence that the vendor can be trusted on the security front. So please ensure that these are part of your checklist.

Agility

Traditional apps are not really agile. A change in one step can take days, and the app may not even work while the change is being made. This can sour the customer experience. No-code apps are highly agile, allowing instant changes without interfering with the experience. In fact, they improve it by allowing the addition of features as per need and feedback.

Integration

Integration in no-code platforms can be done using ready-to-use plugins and adapters. On the other hand, integration in traditional development requires coding involving a lot of time and information exchanges between the experts of the two systems being integrated.

Also Read: What do No-Code Platforms do for Traditional Developers?

Innovation

No code makes it very easy to innovate because it frees up time and provides flexibility to think and implement simultaneously. Traditional development is usually rigid and complicated without encouraging innovation.

Maintainance

Maintaining apps in the traditional development process is a major pain, as these updates require an in-house or third-party dedicated development team. On the other hand, no-code apps are mainly run by the company that owns the platform. This simplifies the maintenance process, as upgrades will be handled by the hosting company.

Deployment

Thanks to the built-in features and templates, no-code apps can be quickly developed and put to use in no time. On the contrary, traditional development requires a number of steps to be undertaken before deployment, making the whole process of deployment slow and complex.

No-code vs. traditional development – Verdict

We are positive it is now clear that no code takes the cake! It delivers everything the traditional approach does with a few additional features that make it the need of the hour. Now that businesses finally have an alternative to the painstaking delays and expenses of traditional development, they should definitely go for it!

Quixy – Your no-code destination

Think no-code; think Quixy. We are your answer to everything, no-code, with everything you need to build enterprise-grade apps without problems. Our solutions are designed to work for all industries – small and large.

Get Started Today! Empower your organization with automation and customized app development without coding. 

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