Traditional programming involves a complicated path: to create even a simple application like a calculator or a game of tic-tac-toe, you need to learn a programming language such as C/C++, Java, or Python.
A lack of time to learn, effort, and the necessary experience often prevents non-professionals from creating software from scratch. However, there is an approach that solves the problem. No-code is a way to create websites, mobile apps, and games without using codes, scripts, or command sets.
People learn easily from visual cues. Because of this, document and multimedia editors that work on the principle of “what you see is what you get” (WYSIWYG) emerged back in the 1970s. These editors allow you to work with the document as it will appear in its finished form. The concept has been extended to software created in the 1990s.
There are many no-code platforms that allow even those with no programming skills to create software. Instead of traditional line-by-line code in graphical user interfaces, items can be dragged and dropped. For example, a user can select a shortcut and transfer it to a website.
The no-code platform will show what the shortcut looks like and create the appropriate HTML code. Typically, users are offered templates or modules that allow anyone to create applications.
The beginning of
In the 1990s, websites were the most familiar interface for users. However, creating a website required knowledge of HTML and the ability to write scripts, which is not easy for someone without programming skills. So the first no-code platforms appeared, such as Microsoft FrontPage and Adobe Dreamweaver.
Under the principles of WYSIWYG, non-programmers were able to drag and drop site components such as labels, text fields and buttons without using HTML code. In addition to editing sites locally, these tools also helped users upload created sites to remote Web servers, a key step for putting a resource online.
Back then, however, these editors could only create basic static sites. They didn’t have any additional features, such as user authentication or database connectivity.
Website development
Nowadays, there are many no-code website development platforms such as Bubble, Wix, WordPress and GoogleSites, which have successfully dealt with the shortcomings of the very first resources.
Bubble allows users to develop an interface by defining a workflow. This is the name given to the series of actions initiated by a specific event. For example, when a user clicks the “Save” button (an event), the current status of the game is saved to a file (a series of actions).
Meanwhile, Wix has launched an HTML5-based website builder with a library of website templates. In addition, Wix supports modules – such as analyzing visitor data such as contact information, messages, purchases and reservations; supporting hotel reservations and vacation rentals; and a platform for independent musicians to promote and sell their music.
WordPress was originally designed for personal blogs. Since then, its features have been expanded, and it now supports forums, membership sites, learning management systems, and online stores.
Like WordPress, GoogleSites allows users to create sites with a variety of built-in features from Google, such as YouTube, Google Maps, Google Drive, calendar and online office applications.
Games and mobile apps
In addition to website creation platforms, there are no-code services for developing games and mobile apps. They are designed for designers, entrepreneurs, and hobbyists who have no knowledge of game development or programming.
GameMaker provides a user interface with built-in editors for bitmap graphics, game level design, scenarios, paths, and “shaders” for representing light and shadow. GameMaker is primarily intended for creating games with 2D graphics and 2D skeleton animation.
Buildbox is a no-code platform for developing 3D games. Key features of Buildbox include an image drag-and-drop wheel, asset bar, option bar, collision editor, scene editor, physics modeling, and even monetization options. When using Buildbox, users also gain access to a library of game assets, sound effects and animations.
Games like Minecraft and SimCity can also be seen as no-code tools for creating virtual worlds.
The future of no-code
Such platforms help increase the number of developers in the growing demand for software development. No-code covers areas such as e-commerce, education and healthcare.
We can expect such tools to play a more prominent role in AI. Training machine learning models takes time, effort, and expertise. No-code programming will help reduce this time and simplify the use of AI for many purposes. For example