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Ask HN: Experiences with low-code systems?

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Re: Ask HN: Experiences with low-code systems?

#11

Post by jusonchan81 »

So this is not really a low-code system. But we manage a lot of our workloads using Netflix Conductor. Its a great platform that naturally promotes re-use of expensive functions. And it has a lot of resiliency features built in, which avoids a lot of code. There is a bunch of things it supports out of the box which has reduced the amount of code we write and over time we have built a repository of re-usable running workers (Netflix Conductor terminology) which makes building new use cases really fast.

But the real benefit we gained is the overall support time for issues during on-call. Without any additional tooling such as Datadog or other expensive products, we are able to manage support really easily with the UI that comes with it. So yes - we reduced complexity, save a lot of time, and are still able to code everything we must and this platform connects everything really well.

Re: Ask HN: Experiences with low-code systems?

#12

Post by anilgulecha »

Directus has served me well for a couple usecases, sepcially for back office apps. Plus the fact that you can extend it with express/nodejs is another good deal.

In terms of productionizing it, you can pick any postgres migration system and use that to maintain the schema,and use directus only for the crud/adminui layer.

Can recommend a try.. the hosted free version even before you decide to self host.

Re: Ask HN: Experiences with low-code systems?

#13

Post by [deleted] »

gusbremm wrote: post #6

I worked for a while on a Mendix app and it felt interesting in the beginning but quickly I started to hate it.. Low code can deliver some features 4x faster but sometimes a stupid feature can take 20x the time just because the low code platform wont support that. Or sometimes the solution is so ugly that the whole project becomes a mess. If you want to deliver top quality stuff you are constantly fighting the low co…

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Experiences with low-code systems?

#14

Post by motleydev »

One of the primary advantages of Low-Code is that it makes non-developers operational in creating interfaces or solving feature requests. Those developers can focus on creating better data sources, focusing on public facing products, etc. But low-code is great for letting otherwise smart people build internal tooling. I haven't seen many public facing low-code tools that don't go off the rails pretty quick with any kind of complexity.

FWIW, I've done some explorations with low-code.

Written format:

Using Hasura with Low-code: https://hasura.io/blog/hasura-for-the-low-code-ecosystem/

Retool: https://retool.com/blog/event-driven-architecture-and-reacti...

Microsoft Power-automate: https://hasura.io/blog/integrating-hasura-with-microsoft-pow...

Retool (again): https://hasura.io/blog/integrating-hasura-with-retool-for-bu...

Bubble: https://hasura.io/blog/tutorial-using-hasura-api-with-bubble...

Draftbit (Again): https://hasura.io/blog/a-tutorial-using-hasura-with-draftbit...

Rapid prototyping listicle: https://hasura.io/blog/rapid-prototyping-with-hasura/

Videos:

Draftbit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WrhQKt5-QY8&list=PLTRTpHrUcS...

Appsmith: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4swzfSAevo&list=PLTRTpHrUcS...

Retool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qhFs431UwIw&list=PLTRTpHrUcS...

I do think there's lots of power to low-code and I think for internal tooling specifically or for testing theories or even short-lived public-facing tools, they fit a solid use-case of turning smart people int actionable devs. They still need to "think like a programmer", which essentially makes UI a language, albeit one that's more verbose.

But with a generation of kids learning Scratch and other tools like that soon to hit the job market, maybe these tools are primed for major adoption?

Today I still ask businesses that ask me to help with tools why this CAN'T be a low-code solution, similar to the old adage, "why shouldn't this be a spreadsheet."

Full disclosure, I work for Hasura so there's some heavy handed surfacing of Hasura in those links, but it just goes to show what's possible when you decouple front-end from the API layer, letting different tools solve their scoped problem space.

Edit for formatting.

Re: Ask HN: Experiences with low-code systems?

#16

Post by foxbee »

speedgoose wrote: post #2

I tested Retool a bit, which is great, but it is way too expensive for my projects, so I went with the open-source Appsmith instead. It has been successful, but I recently had to patch it to remove a new annoying «made with appsmith» ad on our applications that can only be disabled on the enterprise edition or if you edit the source code of the open source one and are willing to share your patch of course. Another im…

Curious if you tried Budibase? No annoying ad :-) https://docs.budibase.com/docs/kubernetes-k8s

Re: Ask HN: Experiences with low-code systems?

#17

Post by algo_trader »

speedgoose wrote: post #2

I tested Retool a bit, which is great, but it is way too expensive for my projects, so I went with the open-source Appsmith instead. It has been successful, but I recently had to patch it to remove a new annoying «made with appsmith» ad on our applications that can only be disabled on the enterprise edition or if you edit the source code of the open source one and are willing to share your patch of course. Another im…

For appsmith, were u able to make some dynamic features?

e.g. a count down field which count down seconds to zero OR a list display with automatically updates from the source

(Ironically, i will happily spend time build a custom back end source, if AS will take care of front end)

BTW, playing with appsmith right now, it crushed and is now down for more than 15 minutes

Re: Ask HN: Experiences with low-code systems?

#18

Post by foxbee »

motleydev wrote: post #14

One of the primary advantages of Low-Code is that it makes non-developers operational in creating interfaces or solving feature requests. Those developers can focus on creating better data sources, focusing on public facing products, etc. But low-code is great for letting otherwise smart people build internal tooling. I haven't seen many public facing low-code tools that don't go off the rails pretty quick with any k…

Budibase meets Hasura content would be awesome!!!

Re: Ask HN: Experiences with low-code systems?

#19

Post by algo_trader »

mkaymalright wrote: post #9

We use Appsmith for a couple of use cases but essentially all it does/we use it for is - to be a database admin interface for non-engineering users to display and edit a bunch of tables in postgres. - having an interface around calling internal API's, with a page for input parameters it's pretty good for these use cases, it allows non-engineering people to do some things that would otherwise require a custom built UI…

Were u able to get some dynamic behaviours ?

e.g.

a count down field which count down seconds to zero

OR

a list display with automatic updates from source

Re: Ask HN: Experiences with low-code systems?

#20

Post by motleydev »

foxbee wrote: post #18
motleydev wrote: post #14

One of the primary advantages of Low-Code is that it makes non-developers operational in creating interfaces or solving feature requests. Those developers can focus on creating better data sources, focusing on public facing products, etc. But low-code is great for letting otherwise smart people build internal tooling. I haven't seen many public facing low-code tools that don't go off the rails pretty quick with any k…

Budibase meets Hasura content would be awesome!!!

Always looking for good content options! I'll have a look. If anyone from Budibase wants to DM me, my Twitter is the same as the username.
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