Previously, teams of programmers need to build software apps from scratch till the end. Fast forward to modern times, and we have several other convenient options.

Developers still have a significant part to play in the overall development process, but they don’t need to specialize in all aspects of development.

Marketers, customer teams, and end users all feel the pressure of tech innovation and the experiences linked with it. Today, app and web developers use multiple prototypes and frameworks to produce new applications and programs.

You should go for component-driven design models if you are a modern business that wishes to build a cutting-edge mobile app or software. You should take care not to fall prey to rigid development methods using the best practices.

The latest development archetypes offer low coupling and high cohesion to enable users to build components using multiple implementations.

The question is what assembly model should you use for your web or app development project? This article will provide the answer, starting from the basics and then detailing the good and bad of various development methods.

Types of Development Methods

Here are the three development methods or assembly models.

  • No code
  • Low code
  • High code

Let's understand them one by one.

1- No-code

Businesses with no or low capital often ask how to develop an app to increase interactions with potential and existing customers.

For this reason, no code app builders were made. Startups and small businesses can build software using no code assembly without writing a single line of code.

You only need to install a no-code application into your system and start dragging and dropping pre-built modules of your choice to create your application.

How No-code Assembly Works?

No code software depends on configuration, simple input programs, and configuration to handle the development experience.

Pros

  • Easy to use for non-technical people
  • Ideal while fixing departmental problems, such as updating assets or content on the app
  • No need to nudge developers for every little update job
  • Help in scaling projects

Cons

  • You can’t build sophisticated and innovative products with no code approach
  • You can’t develop new platforms
  • Tough and pricey to extend
  • Less flexibility
  • Compromised security

Related Read: Which Mobile App Development Software Should You Use in 2023?

2- Low-code

Low-code app-building tools offer visual interfaces with drag-and-drop functionality and simple logic to help you build apps. They aim to automate software development and build programs with the highest adaptability.

As the name implies, you need zero to low coding to use this platform. Other team members can ditch complex programming languages and still help in the app development project.

Low-code app builders offer APIs, visually integrated development environments, pre-built code templates, and data connectors. These help in rapid prototyping and focused product development.

Low-code platforms allow you to create a composable platform and offer self-service tools to help businesses assemble the experience.

Using these tools, you can rearrange pre-built design systems, components, and functionalities to create different programs. Low code solutions end the clash between the advertising and development teams as both works on the project.

Coders create the components, and the marketing team assembles them into pertinent consumer experiences. Marketers get to convert their ideas into actions while using a low-code approach.

70% of tech company founders believe that the low-code approach cuts down on cost compared to conventional development methods like high-code.

Initially, developers generally were wary of no-code or low-code approaches, and rightly so, as these modules can compromise security and functionality. But now, you can integrate regulations and policies into the styles of systems and components implemented.

Pros

  • Cut down the time taken to build an app
  • Side-by-side development is feasible with the least resource sharing
  • Fewer bugs
  • Helps speed up digital transformation ventures in companies
  • Allows customization
  • Allows creating robust components that you can reuse and repurpose for other software
  • Enable businesses to market their products quickly
  • Increase overall customer satisfaction for businesses

Cons

  • Business logic is complicated, which makes functioning efficiency a challenge
  • Loose security than high code assembly model
  • More coding knowledge is needed than the no-code solutions
  • Can annoy marketers by restricting adding functions
  • Fewer opportunities for customization as compared to traditional development approaches
  • Needs programming language

3- High-code

In the high-code assembly model, you write the code of your software from scratch and deploy it all by yourself. It is the traditional method where developers create and handle each module of your application which makes your company highly dependent on them.

But this approach is the best bet for you if you want to build an app where the code is linked to the user experience itself. Programmers usually depend on JavaScript libraries such as Angular or React or platforms geared towards building native or mobile apps.

However, you don't need to nudge your developer every time you need to update your content and data. API-based services or a headless CMS will do the trick.

High-code app development platforms are excellent for you if you want your developers to control both code deployment and the user experience, which will be a code-driven one.

Your development team controls the interface, while marketers can manage content from remote computers on demand.

When the development process keeps your developers engaged most of the time, they have less time left to dedicate to new features and innovative products.

Pros

  • Can build apps fully customized to your organization’s needs
  • Enables you to include functions according to market demand
  • Your developers control the code behavior
  • Streamlines procedures which make them highly manageable
  • Less complicated code
  • Can choose any type of block to create your project
  • Exclusively focussed on enhancing developer experience

Cons

  • Slow development
  • Skilled developer resources become a must
  • An expensive approach as you pay developers specialized in each aspect of the project
  • Focus distracted from innovations
  • Comparatively more time to market
  • This may exclude business users and citizen developers
  • Hard to build apps that fully match the need of various teams and departments

No Code Vs Low Code

Let's discuss the differences between no and low code. Advocates of both development methods praise their favorite as a substitute to traditional approaches where programmers write code by their hands.

1- Extensibility

No-code app builders can’t use extensions while low-code ones feature more extensibility.

2- Use Cases

Businesses should use no-code platforms to build UI applications that fetch information from sources to assess, bring in, or transport core data.

While they should employ low-code ones to develop extended apps, integrate third-party APIs, and link systems with several data sources.

3- Target Users

Tech-loving field experts with zero programming prowess are the target users of no-code solutions while qualified devloeprs who wish to cut basic coding and perform complicated features.

4- Development Speed

Drag and drop features of the code model increase the development speed while training and hiring professionals to lower it in low-code ones.

5- Openness

Openness is among the basic difference when we put no code vs low code. No code assembly provides a closed system for building apps. It means that developers can edit the source code without affecting the work across use cases in no code solutions.

On the flip side, low-code platforms offer an open system to developers so that they can edit or update code that affects app operations. Low code solutions let users make modifications that impact the working of the code and the application use cases.

Low Code Vs High Code

1- Need for Coding

low -code requires minimum coding while high code needs developers to write the complete source code of the application by themselves

2- Customizations

No code app development platforms limit customization ability while low-code solutions allow more flexibility to customize an app.

3- Code Maintenance

Maintenance is convenient in the no-code approach while the high-code approach demands more work to maintain code.

4- App Quality

Developers can debug their app while working on it which may make it bug-free but with less functionality

5- Time to Market

Low code methodology asks for one to three weeks while high code takes two to eight months due to the hardcore coding involved.

6- Business Agility

Low-code approach enhances the speed of each launch and enables developers to create new builds but has fewer integrations to add new features.

A high code approach enables businesses to include new features, integrations, and services as per market demand.

7- Deployment

low -code method allows you to deploy applications at speed but on a few platforms. High code development lets organizations create web applications that run on all platforms.

Should You Stick to Only One App Development Approach in All Cases?

Many firms ask whether it's necessary to use only one web development approach for their project. There is no standard way of building apps that works well for all circumstances.

It means you can try the hybrid approach. A one-size-fits-all approach doesn't work in the modern development landscape.

Your development team no matter how big and diverse might feel stuck in isolated processes while taking care of all elements of delivering, assembling, and optimizing content.

It lengthens the timelines and diverts employees’ attention from creativity.

A Collaborative Solution to App Development

A hybrid content management system can help you fulfill your development needs better. It will help you create a composable and flexible platform ready to serve various use cases and users.

In a collaborative approach, you combine no and low-code methods with high-code capabilities. You don’t need to take control completely from the developers.

Instead, this approach enables your development team to take extra support from other departments to outline and provide the product.

Firms should encourage their developers to use baked-in security features and API-first design to apply an open and working method for development and content assembly.

Plus, the low and no-code aspects of this approach will give the marketing team some authority over the design and display of their content. This way, they will be more aligned with the full app experience.

A Collaborative Approach Helps Develop A Composable Platform

Your company can build a composable platform that you can utilize for any assembly method if you select a hybrid CMS. You can even produce a single codebase that you can reuse many times in various apps. Your content management systems will act like a macro-component in your structure.

What to Choose for a Specific Project

Before you pick one assembly method, determine who possesses the assembly of the experience.

  • Go for high code solution if you need to create a code-driven app where the development team owns the assembly
  • Go for a low-code platform if you need to build a content-oriented app where the marketing team owns the assembly
  • Go for the no-code method if you need to build a standardized app that follows a sort of ordinary assembly model

We recommend you settle on one hybrid CMS platform that can function excellently across the board, serving your whole company. You can then develop a composable platform that's adaptable enough to fix anything you need now and in the future.

Bottom Line

Now, the question remains which one is better — no code, low code, or high code? Well, the clash between these three boils down to three critical elements — scalability, agility, and development speed.

High-code or traditional approach allows for rapid development through agile methods. However, many developers prefer to mix and match conventional coding with low or no-code methodologies.

Our vast experience has taught us this approach increases efficiency and leverages a small team. Organizations can supersede the obstacle of decreasing time to market and boost revenue with no or low code solutions by preventing the shortage of developer resources.

Maven Digital is an acclaimed mobile app development company that creates futuristic digital solutions for growth-oriented businesses. Our development prowess allows us to build any app solution you require, exceeding your expectations. Get in touch today to learn more!