Obviously The Future: No-code and low-code

What is No Code and Low Code?

It's software and tools that one can use to build software products and automation without having to write any original code or write only a minimal amount of code. The implication is that anyone anywhere can use these tools to build a product. The cost of development will go down significantly.

What are some examples?

Bubble.io You can build consumer-facing apps end-to-end with beautiful, responsive front-end + robust and complex back-end, state management, custom logic, access to hundreds of APIs to integrate (in addition to integrating or generating custom APIs), and a marketplace for templates — all without code.

Webflow. It's a website creation tool that requires limited-to-no coding expertise for most functionality. They have super easy tutorials. Delivery Associates webpage runs on Webflow.

Airtable. I describe it as a more improved, functional, better UX/UI version of Excel. That's an old person's description.

Airkit. Builds low-code customer engagement tools for the enterprise. No-code/low-code took off early on the consumer side. The enterprise and back-end are just getting started and potentially much more significant.

Why am I convinced no-code is the future?

It's a clear trend to those in the startup and tech communities because it's ubiquitous. It's part of the furniture. It's embedded in the mindset. It's table stakes. In other communities or ecosystems, people seem completely unaware.

The big market research firms get it. According to Forrester, in 2018, the no-code/low-code segment had a market size of $4B and was projected to grow to $21.2B by 2022. That's a ~50% CAGR.

MakerPad is at the center of this community. It has a full suite of training programs on all the big no-code tools. It has become a hub of growing activity, demonstrating the economic opportunity that belies the demand.

GenZ/Digital Natives lead the way, and the on-ramp to this thinking lies in the gaming platforms children use today: Roblox (150M active users), Mindcraft, etc.

How's it going to play out?

Three megatrends will converge. First, the usability of the no-code/low-code software and products will increase. Second, more GenZ and Digital Natives will enter the workplace, and they will think naturally in these environments. And, third, market competition will intensify. As the companies and individuals that adapt to and implement the trend effectively will thrive, those who do not will flounder. The difference between those will be stark.

The differentiator will be seen in mindsets: Can you figure it out? Can you learn as you go? Can you adapt to new situations and see the potential of what you can build?

What are the implications?

Those that can effectively use the tools of automation and automated analysis will get smarter and faster and thus drive value on a non-linear basis. For children and young adults, the risk of being on the wrong side of the digital divide or lacking access to the right nudges to sharpen your skills with the best tools is real.

My first job after college was as a business analyst for McKinsey. On one of my studies, I was helping a mid-level executive with modeling. We sat in front of his computer and opened Excel. I watched him pull out a calculator, start making calculations manually, and enter the results in cells like a paper notepad. I've never feared for my employability since.

However, given the accelerated pace of change, it is not enough for professionals to think they can count on their 'management skills' or 'domain expertise' to stay relevant without continuing to learn and adapt to emerging tools. It seems wise to have a reasonable paranoia of unplanned obsolescence.

Fast forward to today, I constantly ask myself "What are the things you are doing that seem like using a notepad on Excel"?

Further no-code reading:

The Building Blocks of Tech
Makerpad Fund
The No-Code Generation is Arriving

This was initially published on Declarative Statements w.67 ‘American Pie’