One necessity in fighting the current pandemic has been the ability to react rapidly to changing circumstances, which, in the case of software, has meant the trend towards low-code or no-code development could not have been better timed.
No-code means what it says: not a line of code is required to build an application. Instead, a graphical user interface allows reusable components to be dragged and dropped in, or a form can be filled out to create a feature. Last March, New York City used Unqork’s no-code tools to create Covid-related apps such as tracking, donation and food distribution systems in just 3 days for each one. Low-code is very similar, but the term acknowledges that some coding may be needed for integration with other applications or particular customisations.
The trend is suited to remote-working “citizen developers” — non-IT professionals — creating useful apps at speed for their departments and companies. It has also been leapt upon by cloud companies offering low-code tools as a service.