Low code development is the recent technical circle flow, in 2014 before the term “code”, 19 years ago few people pay attention to low code, but since 19 years (November 2021), 2 years time, low code baidu search index has increased by 10 times, the visible degree of attention in this field is growing.
We’ve covered the history of low code development in previous articles, but let’s look at it again because it gives us a better sense of what’s going to happen in the future and what doesn’t change as technology evolves.
What is low code?
Low code is a visual programming approach that allows businesses to quickly build applications using graphical interfaces rather than writing code. While the term “low code development” was coined by Forrester in 2014 to describe this type of service provider, the idea behind low code is not new. In this article, we’ll look at how this model has evolved over time and the problems it faces.
Directory:
- 1970-1990: Fourth Generation Programming Language (4GL, Fourth-Generation Programming Language)
- 1990: Rapid Application Development (RAD)
- 2001: Model-driven Architecture (MDA)
- 2007: Mobile Platform
- 2014: Low code and low code development platform
- 2020: The urgent need for digital transformation
1970-1990: fourth generation programming language
Low-code development platforms can be traced back to fourth-generation programming languages — a concept that developed from the 1970s to the 1990s and overlapped with much of the development of third-generation programming languages (3GL).
Third generation programming languages: C, C++, Java, Python, PHP, Perl, C#, BASIC, Pascal, Fortran, ALGOL, COBOL
Fourth generation programming language: ABAP, Unix Shell, SQL, PL/SQL, Oracle Reports, RJames Martin in his 1982 book Applications Development Without Programmers, Argues that 4GL technologies such as RAMIS and FOCUS open up the development environment to a wider audience and enable non-programmers to create their own applications.
Fourth-generation programming languages refer to high-level specification languages that are non-procedural, including support for database management, report generation, mathematical optimization, graphical user interface (GUI) development, and Web development.
1990: Rapid application development
In response to the Waterfall model, we saw rapid Application development (RAD) gain momentum in the 1990s when the concept of “assembling” desktop applications using Visual programming tools such as Visual Basic, Delphi, and Oracle Forms became popular.
Waterfall is a plan-driven process long used in the software development industry, developed in the 1970s and 1980s and based on traditional engineering models.
RAD tools stand out as an easy-to-learn development environment, with the core idea that end users should focus first on the GUI and gradually add business logic.
However, RAD tools have limitations:
- They are usually proprietary commercial software, which means tied to a specific development environment. The target environment is usually specified; for example, programs developed by VB/Delphi usually run only in the environment of Microsoft Windows, Oracle application Server, and Oracle Forms databases.
- Because of the lack of modularity, it is difficult or limited for teams to work together on an application.
- RAD tools such as Visual Cafe and Borlands JBuilder struggled with speed and resource requirements. They were written in Java, which meant a huge demand on resources at the time.
2001: Model-driven architecture
To reduce the gap between departments and development, the Object Management Group (OMG) launched Model-driven Architecture (MDA) in 2001. As a software design approach, it provides a set of guidelines for building and representing specifications as models.
The model supports a holistic view of the domain, considering technical and business requirements, and then translating into executable code. Generators and interpreters are used at development and run time to generate or interpret code in the model.
With the advent of MDA and the Microsoft Software Factory, Model-driven Software Development (MDSD) attracted many people to use UML(Unified Modeling Language, Unified Modeling Language) and tools such as BPMN(Business Process Modeling Notation).
2007: Mobile platforms
With Apple’s entry into the mobile device market with the release of the iPhone, iOS, in 2007, and Google’s Android a year later, various mobile platforms emerged.
Developers actively use visual editors such as Android Studio and Xcode to develop Android and iOS apps locally.
This is the Renaissance of desktop applications on mobile devices.
However, responsive Web design and technologies such as enhanced Web APPs (PWA, Progressive Web APPs) have threatened mobile APPs because they can provide a good user experience (UX) for small devices and do not rely on a specific mobile development platform.
2014: Low code and low code development platform
The term “low-code” became prominent after Forrester published an article in 2014.
We’ve seen the emergence of the LOW-code Development Platform (LCDP) — its origins date back to 2011 — with the goal of integrating as many concepts as possible into one Platform so that writing Code becomes unnecessary or at least significantly less.
The low code platform includes RAD and MDSD processes and combines ALM(Application Life Cycle Management) with Continuous Integration (CI) or Continuous deployment (CD, Continuous Deployment) integrated into development, test, and production environments.
In order to support drag and drop creation of the entire environment, PaaS(Platform as a Service) support is required. PaaS provided by public cloud services are typically used, but internal enterprise services (such as openShift-based container platforms) can also be used.
APaaS (Application Platform as a Service) provides everything needed throughout the Application life cycle: from the initial planning phase through development, acceptance, and operation.
2020: The urgent need for digital transformation
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic exposed how many companies have fallen behind in digitization.
In order to keep their business running and meet the needs of their employees and customers, they are forced to upgrade their applications and build new applications to fill existing process gaps.
As a result, the popularity of low code has increased. This momentum will continue until 2021.
What can low code learn from history?
Technologies like 4GLs, which were popular decades ago, promised to quickly meet customer needs, but failed due to constraints, and their popularity has steadily waned since their introduction.
In the 21st century, many RAD development environments have disappeared. As writing applications for the Web becomes a trend, “classic” UI toolkits like Swing and SWT become less and less relevant.
UI design is increasingly done using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, creating more and more job opportunities for web designers. Different web browsers, operating systems such as Linux and macOS, and everything from PCS to smartphones to wearables were targeted.
Note that most current low-code service providers have studied history. They knew about the problems plaguing 4GLs and RAD and tried to fix them in their systems.
As companies shift to new technologies such as artificial intelligence, robotics, machine learning and the Internet of Things, low-code solutions are also evolving to provide these capabilities.
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