How To Develop Apps With A No Code App Builder

Building apps is a complicated process that requires complex coding for even basic functions. Whether you’re hiring outside developers or working with your own team, app-building and maintenance can be both costly and incredibly time-consuming. IT departments receive many requests each day, so even adding one new feature to an existing app can take weeks or months.This is why no code app builders are becoming increasingly popular.

No code app builders make it easier than ever to turn app ideas into reality. They allow you to build a completely functional backend without writing a single line of code. This accelerates time to market while allowing you to focus on the features of your app without getting bogged down with technical details.

Think of website builders like WordPress, Wix, Squarespace and some of the newer platforms like Webflow, Appgyver or Adalo. Anyone can use them without knowing how to write in HTML code. The sitebuilder takes care of this automatically, allowing you to make changes from a user-friendly dashboard. No code app builders do that same thing, except with things like mobile apps, native apps, and websites. Anyone with a vision for an app can create one, no coding required.

Frontend, Backend, And API

Understanding frontend, backend, and API is fundamental to understanding the advantages of no code app builders. We like to use the metaphor of a restaurant.

In a restaurant, you have a customer who places an order. A waiter takes the specifics of the order to the kitchen. In the kitchen, a cook prepares the food and returns it to the waiter, who then brings the final meal to the customer.

A website or app is similar. Your customer is your frontend, making the requests. Your waiter is your application programming interface (API), which manages communication between the frontend and backend. Your kitchen is the backend, both the server and the database, which fulfills the actual requests.

What do no code app builders do? They take over the job of the waiter and kitchen, providing you with powerful backend and frontend technologies that manage complex code for you. No code app builders do the work of software engineers.

How Do No Code App Builders Work?

No code builders both simplify and speed up mobile and web development. This helps democratize the app-building process, allowing even small businesses to create and maintain their own apps.

Imagine you are building a deals app. When a customer clicks on a merchant’s name, you want to show the name of the vendor, the location of the vendor, current deals the vendor’s offering, and a brief description of the vendor. However, so far your app is only programmed to query for name, location, and deals. You need to add in a description.

With traditional app building, you put in the request with your software development team to make that happen. Even for a small change, you have to make sure the change is integrated across the entire project: the frontend, the API, and the backend. Multiple people need to make a train track, and then test the entire track afterwards to ensure it lines up correctly. Writing the necessary code takes a long time, especially if your department is backed up with other requests. Changes could take weeks or even months to be completed!

Worse, if you’re not happy with the result, the entire process restarts. This means trial and error and experimentation – necessary to the creative process – take a long time.

With a no code app builder, however, you do not need to go through such a lengthy process to change your app. Thanks to a user friendly dashboard, you can adjust your queries and model your database relationships without coding. No code app builders automate the backend coding process for you.

It’s like building a blog through WordPress. You don’t need to write HTML code to change your font size, add in media, and so on. You simply log into your WordPress dashboard and adjust your blog with a few clicks.

No code app builders provide similar dashboards. You’re able to build a scalable, high-performance backend and frontend for your app using a simple point-and-click interface.

What Sort Of Features Should A No Code App Builder Have?

A good No code app builder should come with features that allow for flexibility, scalability, functionality, and security.

Fully Hosted

A no code app builder should be fully hosted without requiring that you download modules or SDKs. Fully-hosted means you don’t have to pay a server to host your app or use your own machinery – which, depending on the resources you have, may not be able to support your application effectively.

Fully-hosted No code app builders will ensure your application runs successfully on a secure platform.

Third Party Integration

Whether you are allowing users to login via their Facebook accounts or adding two-step verification through Google, third party integration makes that easier. The best no code app builders have the foundation in place to integrate third parties with just a few clicks.

For example, if you plan to let users log into your app using Gmail, third party integration means you do not have to connect your API with Gmail’s API. A no code app builder has the software built in to do so for you. You just need to select something like “Add Gmail login” on your dashboard.

No Code Templates

Some no code app builders offer templates, which make the process of creating your app even easier! For example, a no code app builder might include templates for common app types like food delivery apps, dating apps, and shopping apps.

Templates include a pre-built backend, frontend, or both. All the building blocks necessary for success. You can then customize the template to match your app’s specific needs.

Media Uploads

The best no code builders make it easy to upload and store images, videos, PDFs, and more that are necessary for creating your unique app. However, no code app builders do have upload limits, which you can find in your subscription package.

Test and Debug

A no code builder will give you detailed statistics of what happens at each stage of a query lifestyle. In the event of an error, this allows you to pinpoint where an error occurred and adjust as necessary.

A Powerful Security System

A good security system has both single-tenant deployment and role-based access control.

With single-tenant deployment, every project is completely separate with dedicated resources like CPU, RAM, and storage. This prevents possible data breaches from third parties, as it keeps confidential information in a single, secure digital space.

With role-based access control, you can not only ensure only employees access confidential information. You can tailor what employees at different levels can and cannot see, preventing potential data breaches from within your own company.

The No Code App Builder Bottom Line

A no code app builder is an invaluable tool, especially for those with limited experience writing code. No code app builders allow you to build a high-performance, scalable, and customizable backend and frontend with a simple point-and-click interface. You do not have to write a single line of code to create a functional, user-friendly app. Best of all, real-time backend development allows you to get apps up and running faster than ever.

If you’re interested in a no code backend app builder, Xano offers the fastest backend development platform on the market. Real-time backend development means you can make apps faster and cheaper without relying on a team of software engineers. Our technology can help you cut website and app development from weeks and months to days or even hours. Sign up here to get started with Xano.