A while back, there was a question that questioned many developers: if we can build apps with low-code tools, why do we still need developers? Hearing this, it does sound correct. These modern low-code platforms or no-code platforms offer faster delivery, lower costs, and it gives the platform for non-technical users to build applications easily. The feature of the drag and drop interface makes creating an app a lot easier for the user, and that is why the developers are not becoming obsolete; it’s showing that the usage of a developer is changing.
Why Low-Code or No-Code is a Problem
Low-code platforms or no-code platforms are currently being used and are quite popular amongst users, and they are solving real-world problems as well as business problems as well. Organisations are under immense pressure to deliver their work faster and reduce the dependency on large engineering teams, which helps their users to solve their own problems quite easily. If we look from the management perspective, this is quite unreal for them.
The problems being solved are that the internal code build is being done in days as compared to being done in months, which results in less backlog and easier management of complex coding as well. For someone on the non-technical side, they think it’s always about writing code or whatnot, but if the code can be generated so the developers are replaceable, but this assumption also hides an important misunderstanding.
Software Is Not Just About Writing Code
Code is a small part, but the entire root for building real-world software. Even if someone is trying to make an app it requires extensive planning, which are:
- Data modelling
- Access control
- Performance
- Error handling
- Scalability
- Integrations with third parties
Making an app on a low-code platform does reduce some kind of complexity, but it cannot eliminate it. But it often pushes the usage of complexity into less visible places until something breaks. Now this is where the trueness of a low-code platform turns into success.
The Reality Behind Rapid Development
Using low-code platforms is usually used when someone needs to make a real impact in a very short time. It's obviously less complex when there are more requirements and changes are implemented often. Considering the things that could happen are when
1) An application has thousands of users.
2) Performance becomes more critical.
3) Custom business logic doesn’t fit platform constraints
4) Multiple systems must be integrated reliably
5) Regulatory or security requirements tighten.
An easy visual workflow slowly turns into a hard condition and exceptions. The outcome may still look simple, but understanding how everything works together becomes hard and difficult and someone still must work on
1) Design proper architecture
2) Decides where logic belongs
3) Optimise performance
4) Handle edge cases
5) Debug issues that visual tools abstract away
And that someone still needs to be a developer.
Low-Code Helps in Removing Syntax, Not Complexity
The things which need to be understood about a low-code platform are that it doesn’t remove complexity; it basically reduces the need to write syntax, but usually it doesn’t remove logic that shows how the system works. A developer may no longer need to write SQL queries, but one should need to understand how data is structured and how each piece of data is related to the others. Every developer is not building an API by own, but the integrations between systems still need to be designed, tested and maintained. All this work still needs some kind of access, permissions and security.
If these technical understandings are missing, low-code applications often don’t operate very well. They become harder to maintain, and small changes feel like changing the whole application. At this point, the organisation realises that this type of speed related to performance alone is not enough. By these results, the team handling these operations calls back the developers. Not to rebuild everything but fix and stabilise the problems currently existing. Developers help in extending the platform safely, introducing structure and designs so the application can grow instead of being down every time.
How the Developer Role Is Actually Changing
The need for developers is not disappearing, but they are evolving into more valuable and complex roles. Instead of spending most of their time and efforts on building repetitive CRUD screens, they are usually working on architecture, system design and complex integrations. Their sole purposes are to increase performance, security concerns and platform extensions that other developers may safely follow.In successful teams, there should be a clear balance.
Business users build simple workflows, while the developers define the architecture and standards. The complex logic behind the development and integration is the critical aspect for the development. This kind of collaboration only works when developers are involved, not ruled out.
The Realities Developers Must Acknowledge
There is some sort of decrease in development work, but software engineers are not entirely ruled out. Low-code platforms have made it easy to develop CRUD systems, consisting of making simple internal tools and basic form-based apps. Most entry-level jobs or positions have this type of work. The demand for these roles has decreased significantly due to low-code platforms, which is considered a positive impact.
It enables the developers to put more time in those task that is important and which needs more in-depth knowledge and expertise. In real circumstances, the developers who write the code may face some sort of difficulties but a good developer who has a vast knowledge of design, systems and long-term effects will be the most valuable and important asset for any organisation.
Technical Ownership Is Still Required for Low-Code
Lacking clear technical expertise is one the most hazardous constraint that associates with low-code adaptations. The system quickly becomes unreliable when anybody can create apps easily but no one is there to control the architecture and standards. These small differences and problems become large major operational challenges and maintenance for these become harder and more challenging over time.
For these reasons, most of the organisations gradually implement technical governance. They establish standards, platform architecture, and implement review procedures. For all these tasks, experienced developers are needed. Base engineering disciplines are still needed even with low code. Stepping back from writing raw code means you need even tighter discipline, just in areas you might not expect.
Developers Gain Value by Adapting
Developers who are making good progress in their field are not the ones up against the low-code tools. They are the individual who understands the tools themselves and their complexity. These developers are the ones who can extend the platforms with their own unique coding when needed. Guides the non-technical teams without slowing down the progress and makes important decisions regarding the architecture and backend systems. These individuals combine the technical depth within the platform, and the business understanding and these types of individuals are harder to replace amongst the organisations. Even though low code increases the visibility of developers rather than decreasing it.
So… Are Developers Becoming Obsolete?
No, low-code platforms are basically where it is changing what developers do. These platforms are helping in reducing the long and repetitive coding tasks with the help of a single reusable server or any client actions, increasing delivery and shifting responsibility towards the design and architecture. These individuals are not being replaced by any sort of tools, but they are being replaced by certain individuals who have a vast grip on these tools.
Final Thought
Low-code platforms are not the end for developers. The end for certain individuals is those who don’t acknowledge the fact that they refuse to evolve with the modern tools being used by the majority. The future holds for those developers who can think beyond the syntax, understand the current system and choose the best logic for each problem. In that future, these developers are not obsolete, but they are essential and timeless.