I'm a programming student and I've recently come across the concepts of no-code and low-code platforms. At first, I thought these tools might undermine the value of traditional coding, making it seem like manual coding is less relevant. However, I'm open to learning more about them. Are no-code and low-code platforms beneficial for someone pursuing a career in tech? If so, what platforms should I consider to get started?
4 Answers
I’ve used Apache NiFi for low-code, and while it’s not my favorite, it's decent for managing data flows. However, I think most no-code/low-code tools fall short when things get complicated—like trying to manage nested loops with a GUI. That's just more hassle compared to coding it directly.
No-code and low-code tools can be handy for quickly prototyping ideas, but they often get messy as the complexity increases. In my experience, they’re pretty vendor-specific, which makes the knowledge less transferable compared to standard programming languages. I’d only learn these if necessary for work, not just for the sake of it.
Career-wise, I’m not convinced these platforms are in high demand. If you don’t have solid programming skills—like a strong grasp of OOP and the latest tech terms—putting no-code skills on your CV isn't going to help much. It's okay to learn about them, but if you don’t use them at work, you might forget everything in no time.
The truth is, even if you use these tools, having programming knowledge is still crucial for debugging and fixing issues. I tried building a retro TV emulator using a no-code platform, but I got stuck with bugs that I couldn't resolve without coding expertise. It’s cool to explore no-code options, but they can be limiting in larger projects.
If you need help finishing that project, I can connect you with someone on Discord who has experience!