Low Code Development
Coding without Code: How to Build an App without Programming
Rano Salieva
February 14, 2025
In a nutshell
Picture a scenario where anyone can develop software without needing to code. You provide verbal commands, and the computer builds software from scratch.
The possibility of coding without code has been a part of discussions in the programming circles for a while. In 2019, the city of New York released an app that allowed people to share their information during the COVID-19 pandemic. A no-code platform was used to build and launch the app. This example demonstrates that, during an emergency, even government bodies are willing to test new ideas to find solutions.
But can you build software without a single line of code?
A few years ago, coding without actually coding was not possible. Now, there are many alternatives to traditional coding. In this article, we explore the possibility of development without code. We explore what concepts or tools are implied when talking about coding without code and examine platforms that make building applications without code possible. Lastly, we talk about the limitations and challenges of this approach.
Programming without code: definitions and overview
When talking about coding without code, several concepts come to mind:
- No-code and low-code platforms
- AI that helps generate code
- A convergence of no-code/low-code platforms and AI
No-code development is a way to create and launch applications completely without coding. No-code development uses readily available drag-and-drop modules, visual interface, and pre-built components to speed up development. No-code platforms are usually aimed at business users or people with no programming skills, often called citizen developers.
Low-code development requires minimal coding knowledge to build apps. It shares common functionality with no-code such as a visual drag-and-drop interface and pre-built components, but low-code platforms are usually used by developers with basic coding experience and some software development knowledge. They are often called low-code developers.
Sometimes coding without coding refers to AI tools that help generate code. The AI suggests code snippets and functions as users type. For example, GitHub’s Copilot offers context-aware code suggestions to increase developers’ productivity.
Lastly, no-code and low-code platforms integrate AI to anticipate user needs. For example, an AI assistant might tell you how to build a payment workflow using low-code components based on best user practices and historical data. These integrations are still far away from the idea of writing programs that write themselves.
Coding without coding is not a new concept. Its history draws back to computer-aided software engineering tools (CASE). CASE tools aimed to simplify some coding operations but not full-scale application building. For example, Microsoft Visual Basic and Adobe Dreamweaver are early examples of no-code tools.
Some research even puts website design and development tools under the no-code tools umbrella. For example, platforms like WIX, and WordPress are considered no-code platforms for specific use cases. However, the general understanding is that these tools fall under the category of zero-code tools.
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How does coding without code work?
No-code and low-code tools, in reality, use code extensively. They operate on the principle of abstraction, leaving the layer of writing code hidden from the eyes of the users. Instead of writing traditional code, users configure the behavior of their application using the platform's graphical interface. This process involves setting up rules, data models, and UI components through selections and options provided by the platform. The choices made through this configuration process are saved in configuration files that are then interpreted by an existing code.
The main principle of no-code and low-code development is to empower non-technical users to build applications of different complexity.
The key features of no-code and low-code platforms are:
- User-friendly drag-and-drop interface
An environment where elements such as buttons, forms, and tables can be added. - What you see is what you get
No-code and low-code tools make it possible for the user to see the final appearance of the app while the content is being edited. - Integrations with services
No-code and low-code tools provide connections to third-party apps such as customer relationship management software (CRM), email marketing tools, payment gateways, and etc. Most no-code software will connect to an external database, low-code tools will often offer a database management functionality inside the platform.
Difference between No-code and Low-code
Both no-code and low-code development speed up application development without coding. But there are differences in the following key areas:
- Target users
- Functionality
- Integrations
- Workflow automations
Target users:
No-code development
No-code development targets business users who have no coding knowledge or are citizen developers. Gartner defines citizen developers as employees who create applications using tools not actively forbidden by IT.
Low-code development
Low-code platforms target developers with minimal coding knowledge. The main difference here is that low-code platforms require at least a basic ability to build logic flows and manage datasets.
Functionality:
No-code development
No-code platforms offer a drag-and-drop interface. No-code platforms also show the end user the design interface as it will be in the finished form (What You See is What You Get).
Low-code development
Low-code platforms also offer a drag-and-drop interface but possibilities for customization are much wider than no-code. Low-code platforms offer more advanced capabilities. They provide functions for building logic flows and workflow automations.
Integrations:
No-code development
No-code platforms provide integrations with third-party services like CRM, email automation software, and payment getaways.
Low-code development
Low-code platforms can also integrate with various solutions but their offer is complemented by custom API integrations. Low-code provides more flexibility and control over how several systems talk to each other.
Workflow automations:
No-code development
With no-code tools, you can create specific automations like notifications and approvals.
Low-code Development
Low-code tools are more versatile when it comes to automations. They can create complex automations like marketing drip sequences, creating portals and forms, approval processes, generating documents, and more.
Read more about low-code development and how it works here.
Challenges of coding without coding
While no-code and low-code software certainly have many benefits, they can also be seen as a threat to developers among other concerns:
Creating a digital underclass
Citizen developers who primarily use no-code and low-code solutions may lack the technical expertise to build effective solutions. With the logic and data layers hidden, the possibility of designing a poorly thought-out application or an application with potential security issues is higher. The lack of skills makes it difficult to maintain and troubleshoot issues as well.
On top of that, there are concerns about no-code/low-code devaluing professional developers and traditional coding.
An alternative view:
No-code and low-code tools can also be empowering tools for developers that enable them to focus on more meaningful and hard-to-solve problems. For business users, it is a way to redistribute dev resources to critical product areas.
Lack of creativity and innovation
While some no-code and low-code solutions offer customizations, ready-to-use components may stifle creativity and exploration. No-code is often called a "lego-block" approach to development where most things are pre-defined for the user, which might limit users’ willingness to seek innovative dev solutions.
An alternative view:
No-code and low-code tools have evolved and now offer more options for customization. Getting rid of repetitive development tasks can also free up creativity.
Vendor lock-in and data ownership
Using one no-code or low-code solution for all technological needs might raise concerns about vendor lock-in, where changing vendors becomes costly due to the costs associated with the transfer of assets and the need to learn a different platform.
No-code and low-code solutions often store data in their systems, which means that users don't own their data. There are also considerations about data security, privacy, and GDPR compliance.
An alternative view:
No-code and low-code solutions are interoperable platforms that can exchange data and communicate with other solutions. This increases data exchange and collaboration across different services. Some no-code and low-code tools are fully GDPR compliant, so data privacy is not an issue.
Limited customization and scalability
Since no-code and low-code platforms utilize pre-built components, advanced customization might be limited. Complex business rules or unique design elements might not be possible to create. This restricts users in the range of functionalities they can build.
Performance-wise, scaling might be limited by the no-code/low-code platform's infrastructure or resources. This might lead, for example, to an e-commerce store struggling to handle the traffic during busy sales times.
An alternative view:
No-code and low-code tools are not fixed products and can be customized and connected to other systems. You can create unique logic flows and input custom code. As for performance, use cases show that some low-code platforms can deal with a large amount of traffic reaching 5 million users per year.
No-code platforms examples
There are many no-code development platforms. Some of the examples include:
- Bubble
- Quickbase
- Outgrow
- FlutterFlow
Low-code platforms examples
Here are the examples of low-code platforms:
- ondeva
- Outsystems
- Mendix
- Kissflow
ondeva is a low-code platform with a visual drag-and-drop user interface, logic flow and workflow automation features, and extensive data management capabilities. The difference between no-code and ondeva is that you can build fully scalable applications and customize them as you wish. The platform was designed by developers to significantly reduce development resources and save time. With some knowledge of coding and logic, anyone can build web applications with ondeva.
ondeva simplifies coding
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Benefits of no-code and low-code development
Northwest Executive Education lists the business benefits of no-code as well as the usability benefits that the users experience in the process of building.
Democratization of development
With no-code/low-code platforms, the development of simple and complex applications became available to everyone. People with entrepreneurial ambitions can create apps without the need to know any programming languages. This eliminates barriers to entry into app development and empowers non-technical and business users to build software without bothering the IT team.
Rapid application development
No-code and low-code platforms have a visual interface that enables users to create working prototypes in just a few days in line with the rapid application development framework. The prototypes can then be used to gather real user feedback and iterate. This creates opportunities, for example, for startup founders to secure funding before investing significant dev time and resources.
Cost savings
No-code and low-code tools save time and costs by eliminating the need to code from scratch. The ready-made components make it easy to start and iterate in just a few days. This reduces the need to assemble a full-blown development team or train new team members. While there is still a learning curve, the costs and time associated with it are much lower than getting a computer science degree or going to a coding boot camp.
Increased productivity
No-code or low-code development automates repetitive development tasks by providing ready-made components. This increases developers’ productivity allowing them to focus on more engaging and creative work.
Collaboration and communication
No-code/low-code app builders bridge the gap between professional developers and citizen developers, enabling departments to work together. While developers possess deep technical expertise, citizen developers can ensure the business requirements are met. With no-code and low-code platforms, the whole team can work together for the best outcome.
What can you build without coding?
Applications of no-code and low-code platforms range from simple websites to enterprise-level applications. Here are some of the ways no-code or low-code development can be introduced in your development process or organization:
- Extending existing legacy systems
Businesses that are built on legacy systems - outdated and expensive to maintain software - can use low code to create applications without having to rewrite an existing code. These apps can supplement the legacy system and help gain new users.
- Building an MVP for investors
When you’re building an MVP without code, you save time and resources and can test your idea before pouring significant time and resources into it. This approach allows early-stage startups to iterate quickly based on market demands and investor expectations.
- Optimizing developer workflow
No-code and low-code can be used to optimize developer workflows and make devs more productive. It is not just about speeding up development. As interviews show, even developers who can code have different work styles, and some may prefer visual building over coding which feels more natural.
- Full-scale extendable business ap
Full-scale extendable business apps: sometimes no-code/low-code tools are used to build the systems from scratch and then extend them with various apps. An example of such a system is Gruenderplattform created based on ondeva. Aside from the main functionality, Gruenderplattform provides tools like contract writing software, business plan documentation, and apps that calculate financial projections - all built on a low-code platform.
- Government service portals
Local government offices may use no-code and low-code tools to build public service apps. For example, portals where people can apply for permits and ask for services.
- Data management apps for NGOs
Non-profit organizations use no-code/low-code solutions to provide corporate users with access to data and drive sustainability. Instead of managing data in Excel, they host it in a no-code or low-code platform and let users view data through visualizations, Excel, or CSV files. WWF Germany realized this use case with the ondeva low-code platform.
Conclusion
The concept of “coding without coding” is not new and has been challenging traditional software development for some time. In response to a rising need to optimize dev workflows and save resources, no-code and low-code platforms emerged. With no-code platforms, you can create software without a single line of code. Low-code platforms require some technical expertise, but they also enable application building without coding. No-code and low-code tools usually have three main components: a drag-and-drop interface, the ability to edit the customer-facing appearance on the fly, and integration with third-party tools.
No-code/low-code software development faces certain challenges such as vendor lock-in, stifling creativity, and scalability issues. Despite these challenges, the benefits of no-code and low-code development are compelling: rapid application development, cost savings, and increased dev productivity. As this technology matures, we expect that most current challenges of the no-code and low-code development will be resolved.
Looking forward, the no-code and low-code movements will only grow with time. With the integration of AI into no-code/low-code tools, there will be more industry applications where coding without code becomes possible with even more time savings.
Last but not least, no-code and low-code development raises concerns about the future of development. The most pressing issue of “coding without code” is the changing role of developers. However, real-world examples show that coding will always be necessary in some capacity to address unique cases.
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FAQ
You can build a web app without coding with no-code and low-code platforms. These tools give you a visual interface with drag-and-drop components and ready-made templates. The best part? You don't have to write any code at all.
It is possible to become a developer without traditional coding skills if you focus on learning no-code application development or low-code tools. While you may never use a single line of code with these tools, some understanding of software development and logic flows are still required.
Programming without coding requires using of no-code or low-code platforms. With these platforms, applications are built using ready-made components and templates. These platforms also offer tools for designing logic flows such as user registration processes and payment authorizations. On top of it, you can upload and manage data and present it in a visual format.
No-code and low-code are not going to replace developers completely. There are some unique and complex cases where traditional coding may be needed. But no-code/low-code tools evolve and eliminate simple to complex development tasks so developers can focus on hard-to-solve problems.
