Technical Lead | Co-founder 08 Jan 2025
No-code/Low-Code platforms have been around for decades. For the bulk of that time, writing actual code has been easier, and we’ve done more with it than with such tools.
That isn’t the case anymore.
That gap has since been bridged, and now no-code/low-code tools press several advantages to traditional coding while promising the same result.
These platforms make software development accessible to a larger audience by transforming traditional coding into an easy-to-use drag-and-drop process.
This change aims to empower more people to bring their ideas to life without requiring extensive coding knowledge and simplifying development.
The new programming language is English!
With the rise of game-changing GPTs, you’ve probably seen that somewhere before. I’ve given the likes of ChatGPT, Claude and Gemini a go with mixed results. Perhaps it’s on me for failing to craft prompts that’d make the most of the tools.
I believe that my success and that of many others is largely attributed to our inherent knowledge of programming languages and frameworks.
So, for our current context, AI’s part is largely assistive, enhancing existing no-code/low-code platforms but not replacing them altogether.
Low-code/no-code has yet to penetrate beyond Uganda’s startup community.
For startups, the attraction is clear. Tight budgets and the need to get to market faster tend to inspire an investment in tools for rapid development.
When you need a functional prototype or want to validate your idea quickly, low-code/no-code tools are your champions.
More sensitisation is needed to promote mainstream usage of low-code/no-code tools. With the focus on cultivating a problem-solving mindset, encouraging university students to use low-code/no-code tools should not hinder their education.
We should expect to see tech innovation spread beyond university IT faculties as students with domain knowledge in their respective fields are empowered to use tech on their own.
Low-code/no-code platforms offer a distinct advantage by enabling users to develop entire applications directly within a web environment.
Unlike traditional coding, which often necessitates expensive laptops with high-end specifications, low-code/no-code solutions redirect the required resources to the cloud. Eliminating the need for top-tier hardware makes development work more accessible, particularly to individuals with limited financial resources and traditional software engineering training.
With the barrier to entry for technology innovation lowered, a wider range of individuals can now experiment with new ideas and solutions. This can spur innovation and entrepreneurship within developing communities.
It can also lead to more contextually relevant solutions that better address the community's specific needs, removing the dependence on Western solutions that don’t often translate well to local needs.
While low-code/no-code platforms offer significant benefits, they also present unique challenges in the developing world.
Beyond the common issues like infrastructure limitations, digital literacy, and language/localization barriers, there are additional, often overlooked challenges that need attention.
This section will explore these less obvious obstacles.
Data Security and Privacy Concerns
Developing countries often lack robust data protection regulations and infrastructure, which raises concerns about the security and privacy of applications built on low-code and no-code platforms. Without adequate safeguards, sensitive data could be vulnerable to breaches and misuse.
Data Governance
Tools with data governance restrictions may find compliance difficult with low-code/no-code tools. Self-hosting is not always an option, and the lack of servers in compliant locations in Africa excludes some popular low-code/no-code platforms as options for such projects.
This mainly applies to proprietary platforms. As expected, open-source low-code/no-code platforms are on the rise. The growing need is sure to drive innovation to these platforms, and inevitably, a few will advance far enough to be considered strong alternatives to their proprietary counterparts.
Cost of Access
The advantages low-code/no-code platforms offer come at a price. Technology, unlike most industries, often ignores cross-border economic disparities and standards of living. A platform is typically priced for the US market if it is developed in the US. Despite attempts to cater to a global audience, these rates remain prohibitively high for the average Ugandan tech enthusiast or organisation aiming to build their next great idea.
Dependency on External Platforms
Reliance on external platforms for application development can pose risks, particularly if these platforms are discontinued or experience downtime. Users may find themselves locked into proprietary systems with limited control over their applications. Some platforms like Bubble don’t offer easy options to access your code or migrate to another platform should the need arise. Waape, a Ugandan employment platform is one of the victims of Bubble’s recent change in pricing strategy. Waape migrated to Framer, but Bubble’s sudden new pricing model has been so disruptive that at one time, Waape’s services were offline for months.
Low-code and no-code platforms offer significant potential for tech innovation in both the developed and developing worlds. However, in the developing world, they also provide unexpected solutions to several contextual challenges that have historically impeded progress.
The balance of pros and cons is highly contextual, necessitating a well-researched approach that looks beyond the appealing benefits and carefully considers the unique challenges of using these platforms in developing regions.
Addressing these challenges requires a holistic strategy that takes into account not only the technological aspects of low-code and no-code development but also the social, economic, and regulatory factors that shape the landscape of the developing world.
Technical Lead | Co-founder 08 Jan 2025
