What Is Low Code? What Are the Low Code Tech Jobs?
September 21st, 2022 — RevatureWe are in the midst of a democratization of tech as low code application platforms become increasingly popular. Low code development platforms, also known as low code application platforms, or LCAPs, will be used to create 75% of all apps by 2025, according to the research and consulting firm Gartner.
But what is a low code platform? The technology behind these platforms allows people without extensive coding expertise to develop their own applications, websites, and more.
What Does Low Code Development Mean?
Low code development platforms automate much of the coding for users, providing them with graphical interfaces such as drag-and-drop modules, templates, and flowcharts. Thanks to this visual approach, developers with less coding knowledge can simplify their processes and quickly produce their own content in-house, without having to search for employees or contractors with specialized knowledge.
It might be easy to confuse low code and no code development. The difference is that LCAPs sometimes require a small amount of coding knowledge and are meant to assist professional developers as well as businesspeople with limited coding experience, while no code programs don’t demand any coding at all.
Low Code Examples
Low code development can help companies with many front- and back-end functions, from workflow automation to management to mobile app creation. These platforms can be used for:
- Workflow. LCAPs can assist project managers by providing visual models for organizing work processes.
- Operational process automation. LCAPs can streamline ordinary, multistep business activities by automating tasks. For example, they might be used to gather and sort customer information for loyalty programs at a store, or to provide portals for other client activities like opening accounts or submitting claims forms.
- Auditing and compliance. Real-time updates on LCAPs make it easy to keep track of work status.
- Mobile app development. LCAPs are partly responsible for the explosion of new apps on the market, and their prevalence in app development will only grow.
- Wireframing and prototyping. Designers can use LCAPs to create mock-ups of websites to ensure that the final product will run smoothly.
- Data analysis. Some LCAPs use automated tools that incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to help analysts understand the data they receive.
These examples of low code platforms’ uses allow companies to customize their app’s user experience, manage data, and boost efficiency.
Low Code Tech Skills
The increasing number of LCAPs won’t just make technology more accessible to citizen programmers such as businesspeople with limited coding expertise; it will also change the face of tech work. Low code tech jobs are generating employment opportunities for people without a traditional coding background.
So what platforms should low coders know how to use? Here are some popular low code platforms that tech workers can gain experience on to enhance their professional profile:
- Appian. This platform helps streamline business management with automation and integrated AI.
- Microsoft PowerApps. For developers who need to create and integrate business applications quickly, PowerApps helps teams deliver with fast and simple tools.
- Mendix. One of the industry leaders, Mendix was launched in 2005 and remains a widely used model-driven engineering platform.
- Zoho Creator. Zoho allows users to customize its templates to create tools for catalog making, logistics, workforce and vendor management, and more.
- OutSystems. This secure application development platform includes helpful features like a real-time performance-monitoring dashboard.
- Lucidchart. Lucidchart is a tool for mocking up websites, useful for ensuring designs are functioning properly.
- PyCaret. This open-source machine learning library in Python is geared toward those Gartner calls “citizen data scientists” — nonprogrammers who need to analyze large amounts of data.
What Are the Top Low Code Jobs in Tech?
Knowledge of low code development can help prospective tech workers embark on rewarding tech careers. Here are some examples of possible paths:
Mobile App Developer
Mobile app developers create applications for customers and employees. In-house developers can use LCAPs and their user-friendly graphical user interfaces to generate these programs quickly and efficiently. Plus, with their customization capabilities, LCAPs make it easy to tweak these apps without extensive knowledge of code.
Related low code apps to learn: Development platforms like Microsoft PowerApps, Zoho, OutSystems, and Mendix
Data Analyst
Data analysts need solid mathematical and statistical skills to identify patterns and trends in the vast amounts of information they gather. However, with the help of low code applications, data analysts need not necessarily become experts in code.
Related low code apps to learn: Machine-learning library software like PyCaret
UI/UX Designer
UI/UX designers make programs accessible, logical, aesthetically pleasing, and overall satisfactory to users. While UI (user interface) designers oversee the visual and aural side of the interface, UX (user experience) designers create the structures behind the website or application.
Related low code apps to learn: Wireframing and prototyping tools like LucidChart
Project Manager
Project managers keep workflows running smoothly, facilitate team communication, and ensure that deadlines are met. They act as liaisons between developers and stakeholders, generally without writing the code themselves.
Related low code apps to learn: Management and workflow software like Zoho
How to Enter the Low Code Tech Field
While four-year college programs are a fine option for preparing for a tech career, a bachelor’s degree in computer science curriculum includes general education courses that don’t directly apply, and earning the degree can be prohibitively expensive.
Prospective tech workers who don’t plan to code full time don’t need a degree in computer science when quicker and less expensive options exist. Tech bootcamps offer much faster training, but can cost well over $10,000 — and students typically don’t benefit from financial aid.
A program like Revature’s may be the ideal choice for a future low code tech worker. Rather than requiring hefty payments, Revature actually pays its associates to train and places them in their first tech jobs with partner organizations.
Discover the Possibilities for a Low Code Career
Revature believes in making tech careers accessible to people of all backgrounds and skill sets. Find out how to become an associate and get paid to train with Revature to embark on a bold new career working on the technology that drives the modern world.
Related Articles
- Technology Career Paths: Outlook, Path, and FAQ
- Full Stack Software Engineer Job Description and Career Paths
- Software Developer Careers: Outlook, Definition, Paths
- Computer Programmer Career Path: Outlook, Definition, Paths
- Web Developer Career Path: Outlook, Definitions and How to Get There
Recommended Readings
- How Long Does It Take to Become a Computer Programmer?
- What Coding Language Should I Learn First?
- Democratizing Technology: What It Means and Why It’s Important
Sources:
- Appian, Appian Low Code Platform
- Gartner, “Gartner Forecasts Worldwide Low-Code Development Technologies Market to Grow 23% in 2021”
- IBM, “Low-Code”
- LinkedIn, “Low Code Application Platforms (LCAP) — How to Avoid Costly Mistakes While Achieving Rapid Application Delivery Goals?”
- TechRepublic, “Low-Code Platforms: A Cheat Sheet”
- TechTarget, “What Is Low Code? A Guide to Enterprise Low-Code App Development”
- Trio Blog, “9 Best Low-Code Platforms to Use in 2022”