What is the No Code Movement? 

Welcome to the age of no-code! The no-code movement is a revolution in the world of technology that's making it possible for people with little to no technical background to build digital products and services without writing a single line of code. It's an approach that's rapidly gaining traction, thanks to the advent of user-friendly no-code tools that make building websites, apps, and other digital products more accessible and affordable than ever before. In this blog post, we'll take a closer look at the no-code movement, exploring its origins, its benefits, and its potential to transform the way we create and innovate in the digital world. Whether you're a startup founder, a creative professional, or simply someone who's interested in learning about the latest trends in technology,  no-code is for you. Let's dive in!

Historically, the only way to create software applications was to be a trained software developer or to hire one. However, with no-code, the landscape for entrepreneurs wanting to create businesses online is changing. 

Here’s a brief overview of how no-code has developed into a major digital movement over the past 35+ years:

1985 – Allowing users to manipulate data without knowing code leads Microsoft to release the original version of Excel.

1991 – The first browser, server, and website go live. 

1997 – The term “cloud computing” is submitted for trademark, creating a foundation for many no-code tools today. 

2000 – Introduced the rise of Saas, Salesforce’s “The End of Software” campaign.

2003 – No-code web tool, WordPress, launches.

2004 – Google Trends data reports the term “no-code development platform”

2006 – Shopify launches its no-code e-commerce platform.

2007 – Apple jumpstarts the market for creating mobile apps with the launch of its first iPhone. 

2012 – No-code web app development platform, Bubble, launches.

2013 – Webflow launches – a codeless platform that allows users to create their own websites and apps.

2014 – the term “low-code” is coined. Like no-code, its focus is on easy-to-use platforms that are not highly dependent on knowing code. 

2018 – The no-code and low-code markets reach a valuation of $6 billion.

2019 – Satya Nadella, Microsoft CEO, delivers insight on how no-code and low-code tools empower during the Microsoft Ignite keynote.

2020 – With the pivot to remote work amidst the pandemic, several organizations adopt no-code tools. 

2023 – Revenue from mobile apps, several of which are built with no-code tools is projected at approximately $1 trillion.

2024 – The market worth of no-code is predicted to reach $52 billion.

Benefits of using no-code

The no-code movement has a number of benefits that are making it an increasingly popular approach for creating digital products and services. Let's walk through each one:

1. Lower development costs

Utilizing the speed of creating apps with no-code means that you have a shortened time to market, allowing you to see profits sooner.

Moreover, with no-code there are few chances for error, along with minimal barriers for entry. This means that you’ll lower costs as you spend less time fixing errors and save money on hiring software experts.

2. Quicker development speed

The speed of no-code platforms enables users to build 10x faster than traditional development. Creating a simple app with no-code can oftentimes take no longer than a few hours, whereas the timelines for traditional development start within “months”. 

3. Build on your own without hiring a development team 

Gone are the days where you need a large team of developers to build applications, now one single person can build this within a few hours. 

4. Allow developers building with code to focus on things only code can do

No-code allows developers to focus on other important and challenging tasks within the business.

5. No-code apps are easily updated

Since applications require constant changes in order to add new features, eliminate bugs, etc., oftentimes this requires users to temporarily bring down applications. With no-code applications, new features can be developed instantly while the apps are in use. 

6. Pivoting is easy 

Businesses move quickly and spending hours defining new structures and processes for developers can be time-consuming. No-code gives you the ability to start building immediately, along with the flexibility to adjust when needed.

How the no-code movement is changing the way businesses are built and operated

No-code has the potential to significantly alter the ways in which we work. By removing the coding barriers, this allows almost anyone to create innovative digital solutions.

One of the central ideas behind no-code is that it places people who understand a certain problem in a position where they are able to devise its solution. Additionally, no-code allows a more diverse array of staff to quickly gain the skills to work on a solution to certain business processes. 

Everyone can be a software developer

The no-code movement is key for entrepreneurs today! Small and mid-sized businesses can easily build websites and products in the early phases when budgets are often limited.

No-code tools are changing business for the better by enabling anyone with an idea to bring it to life. The road to becoming an experienced developer is long and difficult. However, there is an increasing number of career opportunities within the no-code and low-code spaces as users can quickly develop digital solutions by becoming an expert at a certain no-code tool.

Since there is no forecast for web and mobile applications slowing in the future, there is tremendous growth opportunities within this area.

Types of no-code tools and platforms

Overview of the different types of no-code tools and platforms available

No-code and low-code tools and platforms can be utilized for digital solutions for a variety of business and technical purposes. Some key functions of no-code tools include building a product for a startup, automating work at a small business, or creating power processes at an enterprise. This can look like:

• Landing pages
• Back office apps
• Databases
• Mobile apps
• E-commerce solutions
• Saas platforms
• Software testing

To learn more about no-code tools you can use, check out our No Code Tool Guide, which covers the most popular no-code tools in-depth with pros and cons.  

No-code enables anyone to be a founder

he rise of no-code is enabling anyone with a good idea and the drive to build something to become a founder. In the past, building a digital product or service required technical expertise and a substantial investment of time and money. This made it difficult for many people, especially those without technical backgrounds, to bring their ideas to life. With no-code, however, this is no longer the case.

No-code tools allow non-technical founders to create and launch digital products and services with minimal coding skills. These tools are highly intuitive and user-friendly, with drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-built templates that make it easy to create websites, mobile apps, and other digital products. This means that anyone with a good idea and a basic understanding of technology can start building and testing their product without having to rely on developers or technical experts. No-code tools have also significantly reduced the cost and time required to launch a digital product, making it much more accessible to people who may not have large amounts of capital to invest in their idea. This is democratizing the startup landscape, allowing people from all walks of life to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams and build innovative products and services.

Challenges and limitations of the no-code movement

While there are several advantages of using no-code applications, it is important to decipher whether no-code or low-code is the right route for your business. A few limitations include:

1. Limitations and uniqueness

Some low-code and no-code tools have limited functionality and customization potential, this may restrict exactly what users are able to build.

However, this is highly dependent on the tool. For example, if you use tools like Bubble or Webflow, you'll have complete control over what your website or app looks like.

2. Vendor lock-in

Knowing each vendor’s export options and licensing policies is important before purchasing their no-code tools. Since not all tools offer an export capability, it is critical to know the terms you are signing up for.

Key takeaways of the no-code movement

The no-code movement allows non-developers to build software tools and applications without using code, removing the barriers to entry that were previously in place for entrepreneurs looking to create digital applications. Here are a few takeaways from the no-code movement:

• The no-code movement is key for entrepreneurs. Making it easier for small and mid-sized businesses to build websites and products.
• No-code is changing the game for its non-technical audience. Meanwhile, low-code is best suited for a more technical audience.
• No-code does not make developers obsolete, rather it frees up their time to work on more complex projects.
• No-code is approachable, fast, and low-risk. It is a great way to test out initial product ideas.
• No-code tools are perfect for self-service apps, dashboards, mobile and web apps, content management platforms, data pipeline builders, simple automations, calendar planning tools, and facility management tools.
• Low-code development is ideal for business management platforms, website development, app development, and integration with external plugins and cloud-based next-generation technologies.  

Moving forward, no-code and low-code are the future of software development. With the high demand for digital transformation across industries, there are not enough qualified developers or platforms to meet this demand. As a result, increasing numbers of application development will be done using no-code and low-code platforms.

The no-code movement is seriously changing the way that we perceive technology, and we want you to get in on it. To learn more about no-code and to start building yourself, check out No Code MBA and get started.