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Today, while many discuss AI as a major tech revolution, another is unfolding in parallel : No-Code. This transformative technology enables the creation of apps, e-commerce sites, marketplaces, and more, all at a low initial cost, allowing rapid testing of new ideas. A term is emerging to call No Code : Visual Development. Here, you'll find essential resources to get started with No-Code.

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Overview

Key Players in the No-Code Market

What is No-Code ?

No-Code refers to digital tools (often SaaS) that allow users to create web and mobile applications without writing code.

Key Characteristics

• Accessibility : No-code tools make app and website creation accessible to non-technical founders.
• Speed : Quickly build and iterate on projects, reducing time to market.
• Cost-Effectiveness : Launch ideas with low initial costs compared to custom development.
• Scalability : Many tools support growth, allowing projects to scale as they succeed.
• Flexibility : Wide range of applications, from e-commerce sites to internal tools.

Be Careful

• However, effective use of No-Code tools still requires a good understanding of web fundamentals like UX/UI, SEO, databases, APIs…
• No-code isn't as simple as it may seem; it requires time to learn how to effectively use the tools.

When to Use No-Code ?

Use No-Code tools in the early stages of a project, especially when organizing information or testing an idea. With some time and No-Code, you can create a proof of concept to validate your intuition or idea.

Concrete Examples

• Creating Surveys or Feedback Forms : Setting up a form to quantify interest or gather feedback on a concept.
• Building a Simple E-commerce Site : Platforms like Shopify or Squarespace allow you to set up an online store quickly.
• Launching a Landing Page : Use tools like Webflow or Carrd to validate an idea or collect email sign-ups.
• Automating Data Collection : Utilize Airtable or Zapier to automate the process of gathering and organizing data.
• Developing Internal Tools : Create custom internal applications for team collaboration using tools like Notion or Coda.
• Building a Blog or Portfolio : Use platforms like WordPress or Wix to create and manage a blog or portfolio site.
• Managing Customer Relationships : Implement a CRM system with tools like HubSpot or Pipedrive to track leads.
• Creating Educational Courses : Use platforms like Teachable or Thinkific to set up and sell online courses.
• Designing an Event Registration System : Use Eventbrite or Meetup to manage event registrations and.
• Launching a Community Forum : Set up a community platform using tools like Discourse or Tribe to facilitate discussions.

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages

• With access to the internet and YouTube, you can get started right away.
• If you clearly define your needs, you can quickly launch your project.
• There’s likely a paid tool available to meet your requirements.
• A large French-speaking community is available to help you.

Disadvantages

• You may need to make some compromises.
• The vast array of solutions can make it challenging to navigate.
• Be mindful of the cumulative costs of subscriptions.

What is Low Code ?

Low-code tools combine a visual programming interface with traditional coding, providing significant development flexibility while minimizing time investment.

Examples

• Create a database with an API using Xano.
• Build a rich interface with authentication management using Weweb.
• Develop a back office with Retool.
• Implement automation with N8N.
• Create a multi-agent chatbot with Flowise.

When to Use It ?

Utilize low-code when you have a clearer vision of your product and have achieved product-market fit, or when you want to build something scalable from the outset.

What are the Pros & Cons ?

Pros

• Achieve a UX/UI that closely resembles a coded version.
• Development is faster than traditional coding.

Cons

• Requires advanced technical skills.
• Licensing costs can be high.
• There are not many experts available for these tools.

Steps to start

1. Understand the mechanisms and enhance your "web technical culture".
2. Define your needs and the features that address them (handle the development myself or hire a freelancer ?).
3. Test quickly with the target audience.
4. Validate your Proof of Concept.

What to expect in the future ?

AI, serving as an additional layer of abstraction above visual programming solutions like No-Code and Low-Code tools, may enable us to build applications even more quickly and without any technical knowledge. If we think further ahead, will we still need Human-Machine Interfaces in the future ? All modern No-Code, Low-Code, and coding tools now feature an AI "co-pilot." How many years will it take before we can simply prompt our needs and have AI develop the tools for us ?