For prototype/internal use or customer facing products? Zappier, airtable, retool(or open source alternatives) seem ok if you need something quick.
Zapier - n8n
Airtable / Retool - Budibase
Ask HN: What low code platforms are worth using?
21–30 of 95 posts
Re: Ask HN: What low code platforms are worth using?
#22> non trivial > production ready > low code Choose one
Choose two
(We really are at the point where some solutions offer choose two)
But, add “robust sophisticated data access controls” to that list and its still “choose two”)
Re: Ask HN: What low code platforms are worth using?
#23These low code platforms are like blueprints in game dev engines. They are cool for the first 2-3 iterations and a nightmare after.
One huge problem is that with code the usual way of ensuring maintainability is to revisit old code and rewrite parts of it as needed, in order to be able to maintain it properly.
One huge problem with no/low code solutions is that people usually think that this doesn't need to be done for no/low code solutions, only for code solutions. But solutions using nodes in order to build stuff also need to be revisited, refactored and thought of as abstractions.
Re: Ask HN: What low code platforms are worth using?
#24.net dev here. I started my career using Mendix. It’s very much aimed at enterprise (see pricing) and in direct competition with Outsystems. I haven’t used it for about two years now so might be out of date. Some unordered thoughts:
- I wasn’t around for the decision between outsystems and mendix, but apparently the choice largely came down to the support provided by the Mendix team in getting a fledgling dev team up and running in a company which at the time only outsourced dev work
- following on from that, the Mendix guys were all great to work with. A genuine positive. I heard that the impression of outsystems was much colder
- it’s a really mature product that’s always growing. Backed by Siemens for a few years now.
- like all low code it has its limits but it’s built in Java and there is the option to add Java code where needed for performance or for some other reason. There are APIs for hooking into the platform at multiple levels so it’s extensible.
- in my current job I build in azure/logic apps/function apps. Personally I would either do function apps or full low code like Mendix (costs aside). I try to avoid the middle ground or power automate/power apps/ logic apps - you basically get the worst of all worlds, and are only really intended to link services together or orchestrate amongst services.
Re: Ask HN: What low code platforms are worth using?
#25I'm a developer, but had some experience with Bubble because my former client was using it. I would say that it's good "full-stack" web dev platform that allows you to get further than you would think with a low-code tool. But in the end, you trade-off speed in the first few weeks against complexity and bad maintainability later down the road.
I would say Bubble is good if you don't know how to code but still want to build something like a basic CRUD app. If you know how to code, my advice would be to still code it yourself. This advice is probably valid for most no-code tools, because you always trade off against something.
Re: Ask HN: What low code platforms are worth using?
#26Surprised no one has said Framer yet
I love their ai generated components and full landing pages great for prototype or proof of concept or validation .
Re: Ask HN: What low code platforms are worth using?
#27No code has its role, there are many simple things it can make easier. For most non trivial systems, no code will get you 80%-90% to a solution and the last 20% of your solution will be extremely difficult, complex, or impossible to deliver in any maintainable way. Developers are hostile to these types of solutions specifically because once you go past basic CRUD your no code solutions make everything so much harder…
I am sincerely wondering if this must be the case or is it a shortcoming of the existent solutions, but something that can be overcome. (Disclaimer: I am a programmer who never seriously used any low code product apart from a spreadsheet. Unless you count Emacs as a low code platform, which would not be wrong, I guess.)
Re: Ask HN: What low code platforms are worth using?
#28> non trivial > production ready > low code Choose one
You don't need to choose, Wordpress is already here and waits for you with open arms.
Re: Ask HN: What low code platforms are worth using?
#29Easy question - use platforms from which you will be able to migrate in the future with the least amount of money and time wasted. Pick one where time to ditch the low code infra would be less than two years and using not more than half of your dev team staff.
Our project did it in about 2-3 years, rewriting hundreds of tests in the process, yay :)
Re: Ask HN: What low code platforms are worth using?
#30There more I work the less I care about no-code or development languages.
The cost is in requirements and dependencies. The tools and implementation is the cheap part.