Low Code Vs. Traditional Development: Key Differences

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The landscape of software and app development provides two key approaches: traditional development and low-code development. While they may sound like just the same ways to get to the end goal: build software! The fact is these two methods are actually quite different. And the choices companies make in that regard can have a significant impact on their projects and processes.

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So, which method is best for your business? What's the main difference between low-code and traditional development? If you're still unsure about which path to choose, keep reading. We'll break down everything you need to know about both development methods so you can make a well-informed decision for your company.

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Traditional Development

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Image source: Freepik

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Traditional development (also known as custom software development), in simple terms, is the practice of building software or apps by writing code from scratch manually. It requires skilled developers who are well-versed in different programming languages, like Java, Python, or C++, to write lines of code for creating a custom solution tailored to a specific business's needs.

Traditional development consists of distinct stages, like requirements gathering, system design, implementation (coding), testing, deployment, and maintenance to address issues and updates. Custom development was once the go-to approach for creating unique and complex software systems. But today, you don't have to build everything from the ground up. You can use existing libraries, APIs, and frameworks to accelerate the app development process. This hybrid method is good, but the core principles of traditional development remain the same: professional developers craft, test, and refine code to deliver a fully functional solution aligned with client requirements.

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Main Benefits of Traditional Development

Traditional development methods have been around for decades, and still, many companies prefer this approach. Why? Well, because traditional development offers several benefits that make it great for building complex software solutions with unique features and functionalities.

Here are some of the main benefits of traditional development:

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1. Full Customization

One of the biggest advantages of traditional development is the level of customization it offers. Developers have the freedom to modify, tweak, and adjust the custom code to meet the specific needs of the client. They can add any feature, functionality, or integration in a way that best suits the project. With traditional development, the possibilities of what can be customized are virtually limitless.

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2. Total Ownership

Another benefit of traditional development is that it grants companies total ownership over the software they build. Since the source code is owned by the business, they've complete control over every element of the software, including its architecture, security measures, integrations, and ongoing updates.

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3. Greater Flexibility

Traditional development offers unparalleled flexibility. Developers can choose any technology,  programming language, tools, and APIs that best fit the project's requirements. They can make changes at any stage of the development process to ensure that the final product is in line with the client's expectations. From building web apps to mobile apps, traditional development is adaptable to any project.

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Traditional Development Limitations

Traditional app development offers many advantages, but it has its limitations as well, which businesses should be aware of before deciding to go down this route.

Some of the main limitations include:

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1. Longer Development Time

Traditional development is a lengthy process that involves several phases, including planning, designing, coding, and testing. Since every line of code is written from scratch, it can take long periods of time to build a fully functional app. This longer development time can lead to delays in delivering the final product, which can be a major drawback for businesses with time-sensitive projects.

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2. Higher Costs

Traditional software development often requires a significant amount of upfront investment. This might include the cost of hiring skilled developers, acquiring the required tools, and dedicating time to thorough planning, designing, testing, and deploying the software. If the project is large and complex or requires custom features, costs can escalate even further. Moreover, ongoing maintenance and updates add to the financial burden, making it challenging for businesses with limited budgets.

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3. Steeper Learning Curve

The biggest limitation of traditional development is that it requires highly skilled developers who are well-versed in multiple programming languages like Java, Python, or C++, and have deep knowledge of coding principles and methodologies. Coding is a complex skill to master. It takes time, practice, and patience to become proficient in it. This steep learning curve can be a barrier for companies that need to build software but lack the resources or time to train or hire specialized developers.

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No-Code and Low-Code Development

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Image source: vectorjuice

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Now that we have a better understanding of what traditional development is and its pros and cons, let's shift our focus to what is no-code, low-code development. As the name suggests, low-code development is a method of building software or apps with less to no coding involved.

Unlike traditional development, where developers have to write every line of code, low-code development uses visual interfaces, drag-and-drop features, and pre-built components to create functional apps. This means that even individuals with limited to no coding experience can use a low-code platform to build apps that meet their specific needs. With low-code development, anyone can become a developer and bring their ideas to life without having to spend years learning coding languages; all they need is a basic understanding of logic and problem-solving.

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Benefits of Low-Code Development

Aside from the obvious advantage of minimizing the need for coding, low-code development offers several other benefits that make it a great choice for businesses looking to build software.

Some of the main benefits of low-code development include:

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1. Faster Development

The key advantage of low-code development is the speed at which apps and websites can be built, tested, and deployed. With visual drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-built components, companies can create apps in days rather than months. This faster development process allows businesses to quickly launch their apps to the market, gain a competitive edge, and stay ahead of the curve.

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Source: 451 Research

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2. Cost-Effective

Unlike traditional development, which requires significant investments of time and money, low-code development offers a cost-effective solution for building apps. With low-code platforms, businesses can reduce development costs by minimizing the need for highly specialized developers or costly tools. Additionally, the faster development process translates to lower labor costs and quicker time-to-market. This is especially beneficial for businesses with limited budgets.

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3. Easy Maintenance

With traditional development, any updates or modifications to the app require the IT team to manually edit the code, add new features, or fix bugs, and then retest the entire app to ensure it works correctly. It is quite time-consuming, but with low-code platforms, maintenance is much easier. Many low-code platforms come with built-in features that handle updates and patches automatically, significantly reducing the workload for IT teams. This not only saves time but also ensures that changes or additions are implemented smoothly, without compatibility issues.

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Cons of Low-Code Development

While low-code development platforms offer many benefits, they also have a few limitations that businesses should consider before choosing this approach. Some of these drawbacks include:

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1. Limited Customization

Low-code development platforms provide pre-built components and templates that simplify and accelerate the app-building process. However, this convenience often comes at the cost of limited customization. Businesses may find it challenging to implement specific features or functionalities that are not natively supported by the platform. In such cases, they might need to rely on traditional coding methods to meet their unique requirements. While low-code platforms offer flexibility, they may not be ideal for building software solutions that require extensive customization or highly specific functionalities.

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2. Scalability Issues

Low-code development platforms work well for smaller projects, but they may encounter scalability issues when it comes to developing large and complex websites and software solutions. Most low-code platforms come with a limited set of features, which can restrict their ability to support more sophisticated apps or systems. To avoid scalability challenges, it's crucial to evaluate a low-code platform's capabilities and ensure it can accommodate both your current requirements and future growth as your business evolves.

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3. Vendor Lock-In

When businesses use a low-code/no-code platform, they become reliant on that specific vendor for their app development needs. This can create a "vendor lock-in" situation, where companies may find it challenging to switch providers or migrate their applications to different environments in the future.

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Low-Code Vs. Traditional Development: The Main Differences

Ok. Now, we know what traditional development and low-code are, but the real question is: what are the main differences between these two approaches? Well, let's compare them side by side and see how they stack up against each other.

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When Is Low-Code/No-Code a Great Solution for Your Business?

The difference between traditional and low-code/no-code development is clear. But now the question arises: when should businesses use a low-code platform? Well, there are several scenarios where low-code development can be a great solution for businesses. Let's take a look at some of them:

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1. Speed to Market is Essential

If your business needs to rapidly develop and deploy a new app or software, low-code/no-code can be a great solution. With visual drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-built components, low-code platforms allow for rapid development and deployment times. This can be particularly beneficial for businesses competing in fast-paced markets where speed to market is a critical factor for success.

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2. Simple or Routine Applications are Needed

Low-code platforms are ideal for building simple or routine applications that don't require highly complex or customized features. Many low-code/no-code platforms come with a library of pre-built templates and components that make it easy to create basic apps without having to write code from scratch. This can save time and resources for businesses that need to build multiple applications with similar features.

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3. Frequent Iterations and Prototyping

Low-code platforms often have agile and iterative development capabilities that can be great for businesses looking to test ideas, gather feedback, and make quick iterations without wasting resources on lengthy development cycles. These platforms allow for easy prototyping, which can help businesses visualize their ideas and make necessary changes before committing to a full-scale development project.

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Low-Code Development Use Cases

Low-code/no-code development platforms, as we have discussed, have revolutionized the way businesses build software, making app development faster, easier, and more flexible. turian's low-code platform, in particular, offers a versatile range of use cases that can be tailored to fit various business needs.

Here are some of the most common use cases for low-code development using turian:

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1. Create Custom Apps

With turian's low-code platform, developers and business users can collaborate to build custom applications tailored to their specific requirements. The intuitive visual editor empowers users to create AI-powered apps without needing deep coding knowledge. By leveraging drag-and-drop interfaces and user-friendly tools, teams can rapidly develop and deploy apps that integrate seamlessly into existing platforms like Zendesk. This "no-code" approach enables businesses to save time and resources while still creating innovative apps that meet their unique demands.

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2. Build Customize Analytics Dashboards

turian's low-code platform goes beyond just building custom apps; it also empowers business users to create custom analytics dashboards that deliver real-time insights into their operations like sales order entry metrics or purchase order statuses, all at their fingertips. turian allows companies to visualize their data in a way that is easy to understand, analyze, and take action on. This feature is especially helpful for businesses that need to make quick decisions based on real-time data.

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3. Workflow Automation

In today's fast-paced business landscape, automation is key to staying competitive. turian's low-code platform offers a user-friendly interface for businesses to easily design and automate operations. With turian, businesses can set up rules, triggers, and actions to automate workflows and ensure all tasks are completed accurately and on time. By automating repetitive tasks like data entry, document processing, and order confirmation, businesses can free up their employees' time to focus on more valuable tasks. This not only increases efficiency but also reduces the risk of error. With our no-code/low-code platform, businesses can streamline their operations and stay ahead in the ever-changing market landscape.

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The Future of No-Code/Low-Code Development

As we've explored throughout this article, no-code and low-code development have changed the way businesses approach software development. With intuitive drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-built components, these platforms have made it possible for non-technical users to create and deploy fully functional applications in a matter of days rather than months or years. But the real question is: what does the future hold for no-code/low-code development?

Well, we can't predict the future, but one thing is for sure: no-code/low-code development will continue to transform the software industry. With the demand for digital solutions growing at an exceptional rate, companies will increasingly turn to these solutions to meet their development needs because of the speed, simplicity, and cost-effectiveness they offer. According to Gartner's predictions, by 2026, at least 80% of low-code development tool users will be individuals outside of traditional IT departments—a significant increase from 60% in 2021. If we look at the current trends, we can conclude that no-code/low-code development will only become more mainstream in the future.

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Ready To Improve Your Business with turian's Low-Code Platform?

At turian, we understand that every business has its own unique needs and requirements when it comes to software development. That's why we've created a low-code development platform that allows us to easily and rapidly adapt our solutions to fit the specific needs of our clients. Our solution comes with drag-and-drop interfaces and intuitive tools that make customization a breeze; you can modify workflows, automate tasks, and build new functionalities with minimal effort.

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With turian, you can ensure that our AI-powered solutions work exactly the way you want them to. From building real-time dashboards to streamlining workflow management, turian provides a broad range of benefits that will help you optimize your business operations. Our platform is designed to integrate seamlessly with your ERP, CRM, and other business systems without disrupting your current workflows.

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But the best part? You don't need any coding experience or technical expertise to use our low-code platform. turian empowers business users to take control, make changes, and innovate without relying on their IT department. If you want to test the power of turian's low-code platform for yourself, we offer a free Proof of Concept (PoC). With this PoC, you can see firsthand how our platform can improve your business operations and help you unlock its full potential.

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