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This article mainly explains "how to understand the rise of low code". The content of the explanation is simple and clear, and it is easy to learn and understand. let's study and learn "how to understand the rise of low code"!

Low code is a rapid enterprise software development technology and tool that has sprung up in recent years. With the help of low-code users, they can complete the common functions of enterprise applications without coding, and a small amount of coding extends more functions. With the characteristics of low threshold, high efficiency and easy integration, low code is favored by more and more software development teams. Gartner predicts that 3/4 of large enterprises will use at least four low-code development platforms for information-based application development by 2024. At that time, 65% of application development will be done in low code.

In the face of the rise of low code, programmers have several different mentalities: one is the mentality of contempt, thinking that low code technology can not be elegant, but only small tricks for beginners to solve complex technical problems; one is fear that low code will replace professional developers and eliminate the work of most programmers. One is the contradictory mentality that the low-code platform is a black box, very dangerous, there are many unstable factors, and future iterative upgrades cannot be guaranteed; there is also a lost mentality, that with low-code development tools, programmers no longer need to master advanced technology, and have lost their sense of achievement in their work.

As a senior programmer, through my understanding of various low-code platforms over the past two years, I would like to talk about my personal views on the rise of low-code platforms.

The representative companies of low-code platforms include OutSystems and Mendix from abroad, while domestic companies include low-code start-ups such as Ozhe Network (tritium Cloud), ClickPaaS, Simar, Yicuang Technology, Yanhuang Yingxing, Digital Technology, Light flow, Daiyun, Black Payun and other low-code start-ups, as well as startups that extend or transform to low-code fields such as APICloud and Ming Daoyun, as well as business modules of large enterprises, such as Sail soft Jiandaoyun, Ali Yidai, etc. Low-code development platforms can be divided into three categories according to the technology path architecture:

One is based on the form / engine-driven model, through the establishment of multiple forms, the use of process series, the definition of report output mode, the construction of form-like light applications. The technical barrier of this kind of mode is not high, it mainly supports the development of form applications, and the scenario has some limitations. It is more suitable for simple SMS projects and is not suitable for long-term cyclic iterative product development, especially when products have to face diverse requirements and must have high configuration attributes. For example, table display, the same process, different positions see the same form, involving sensitive information can not be displayed differently, can not achieve thousands of people. Such platforms are: light flow, build cloud, Ali's appropriate to build, appropriate to create technology, and so on.

One is based on the aPaaS platform model, including a variety of specific technical means and paths, such as model-driven, code generation, visual programming and so on. The underlying technology involves cloud native, metadata, multi-tenancy and so on. This kind of mode has higher technical barriers, finer granularity, higher complexity and flexibility, can support complex application development in a wide range of scenarios, and has the ability to serve large and small and medium-sized customers. When faced with complex scenarios, such patterns still need to write logic code. Especially for high concurrency application scenarios, a lot of back-end software development is needed. Such platforms are: OutSystems, Mendix, Ozhe Network (tritium Cloud), ClickPaaS, Yan Huang Ying Motion, Digital Technology, Black Payun and so on.

The other is based on the aPaaS+iPaaS platform model, this kind of low-code platform not only has visual model-driven, code compilation and automatic generation, but also can build fine-grained front-end components and back-end business logic to achieve highly complex and flexible application scenarios. The iPaaS part of this kind of platform belongs to the domain-driven design pattern, and its core concepts: domain, sub-domain, domain entity, value object, domain service, domain event and so on are natural graphical expression patterns for solving complex problems. Any complex application scenario can support the visual construction of aPaaS, and can visually integrate a variety of business applications to adapt to any highly concurrent application scenarios. Such platforms are: PaaS.

Each low-code platform has its own value. Although the scope of use of the first type of platform is narrow, programmers should not scoff at it. This kind of platform is especially suitable for business implementers who do not understand software. Be able to quickly respond to the personalized needs of simple business adjustments.

For the application implementation of complex business scenarios, although the second type of platform can build most of the functions through visualization, the construction of many numerical models and business process models is still inseparable from the logic abstraction ability of professional programmers. In particular, a lot of complex algorithm logic and back-end system architecture still need to be implemented by source code.

Even if the third type of platform can completely put aside the source code to build any complex application, by the same token, developers must have object-oriented logical thinking. Build domain entities, value objects, domain services, domain events in a graphical form, and establish the logical relationship of these elements through wiring.

In fact, all these platforms are just tools that solve the following problems for programmers:

1. Provides a large number of commonly used standard components and functions

2. Replace the original computing logic graphically.

3. Establish various data models graphically.

4. Establish various business objects graphically

5. The layout of the interface is realized graphically.

6. establish the association between computing logic and business objects by directed connection.

7. Realize the automatic recognition of basic grammar logic.

This frees programmers from code-based logic and shows all Turing's complete mechanisms in a more graphical and intuitive way. It can also automatically recognize most of the syntax logic and reduce the number of BUG. And improve the efficiency of component reuse through the definition of component standard interface. Let the software development efficiency have a revolutionary improvement. Therefore, there is no need to worry that the work of programmers will be eliminated, low code is just a more handy and efficient tool for professional developers.

There is also an attitude that these low-code development platforms are dangerous black boxes, and they cannot afford the risks of developing critical tasks on uncontrollable "black boxes". For example, what to do if the platform is unstable, what to do if there are problems that cannot be solved in more than half of the development progress, what to do if the upgrade iteration cannot be implemented, and so on. First of all, there seems to be nothing wrong with this logic, so I will devote more space to explaining why this conflict is unreasonable.

First of all, the black box of low code runs on the technology stack that developers are familiar with, and these technology stacks themselves, similar to low code, have gone through the process of being gradually recognized, loved, despised and loved again. For example, the low-code development platform uses cased codes for the underlying technical architecture of the backend, NodeJS for the back-end business logic, JavaScript for the front end, and Flutter for Android and Ios. These technology stacks ensure the stability and reliability of the low code development platform itself.

More importantly, all low-code platforms have been repeatedly tested internally and have a large number of application practices, so that they are mature enough to be brought to market.

In fact, we all love "black boxes", especially those that can save us a lot of time. Java and its sister language Scala,Groovy, like other languages, rely on the most popular black box among developers: JVM;, while C# and VB.net run on. Net Framework. So why do we trust JVM and. Net instead of low code? Because time can prove for these platforms.

At the beginning of the 21st century,. Net was also heavily censored by the developer community when it was born. But after seeing it run smoothly year after year, trust has increased. Developers know that C # and. Net will still be around for a long time, and Microsoft will continue to support both. I don't know how Microsoft will execute my client, but I still trust it. Just as I believe that the V8 engine executes my JavaScript,JVM and runs my Java. Of course, I can't forget the other famous black boxes I used to rely on: front-end controls such as Spread, KendoUI, ActiveReport, and so on. It is because of these controls that our efficiency in developing applications has been improved several times. If you have been engaged in the development of program interface, I am sure you will feel the same way with me.

In fact, low code is not a technology that has emerged in the past two years, but it has attracted more media attention in recent years. Over the past decade, there have been too many cases to prove the true strength of this "black box", application scenarios range from MES and ERP to SCM and SCRM, and terminal platforms also support PC browsers, APP, WeCom and nails. So maybe it's time to give low code a little more confidence in this not-so-new black box.

In addition, we programmers also have a lot of technical control, like to delve into a variety of advanced technology, indeed through the accumulation of technology in some aspects can improve the value of technicians. But there are a lot of technologies that have become popular and platform, so programmers don't have to remake wheels, they just need to use them.

Low-code platform is a large platform that shields many complex technologies, such as PaaS system, which implements all the technologies of domain-driven micro-service architecture, including: business flow engine, distributed transaction processing, distributed data interaction, remote multi-active disaster preparedness, high concurrency load balancing, security and authentication mechanism, health detection of micro-services, and so on. Programmers only need to pull, draw and connect, and simple configuration can call the technical interface provided by the platform, and they can easily solve the problems that used to take great efforts from skilled people.

So, with a low-code platform, there is no need for technical talent for development work? This kind of problem does not exist, but the focus of the skilled people will change, and they will no longer focus on the technology of the system side as before, but pay more attention to the abstract ability of the business side, such as how to abstract a set of business requirements into the domain entity tree. define the relationship between domains and subdomains, and the definitions of value objects, domain services, and domain events within each domain entity. The ability to understand business, the accumulation of domain-driven knowledge, the ability to abstract domain entities, and the ability to think logically about algorithms can also bring technological talent into full play. When a technician makes a set of technical drawings for a business system, a system that used to take 996 months to work, you conquered it in just a few weeks after using a low-code platform, just like the chief designer of a skyscraper. In short, skilled people are irreplaceable.

Programmers should not only look down to write code, but also learn to look up and look at the road. With the development of the times, we should not only keep up with the pace of the times, but also need to have a longer-term vision than others, always maintain a curious heart, and keep learning enthusiasm, to explore new things. Instead of resisting or fearing the emergence of new things without thinking or understanding. Most people believe because they see, but only a few see because they believe. Hope that more programmers dare to believe to meet this great change in software productivity.

Start using low-code tools and take advantage of the trend of software development technology to benefit from more efficient development.

Thank you for your reading. the above is the content of "how to understand the rise of low code". After the study of this article, I believe you have a deeper understanding of how to understand the rise of low code. the specific use of the situation also needs to be verified by practice. Here is, the editor will push for you more related knowledge points of the article, welcome to follow!

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