Low-code, no-code, and citizen development are popular buzzwords you may have heard along with the digital transformation. If you've followed the industry, you know how these concepts are changing as we look at workplace technologies.

But what do they mean, how are they connected, and why a modern business should care about them?

To make sense of it all, we'll explain the connection and difference between low-code or no-code and citizen development in this article so you can better understand when each is appropriate for your organization.

What is Low-Code or No-Code Technology?

In the simplest terms, low-code/no-code technology describes software development without writing code.

The key word here is "low" or "no." Low-code tools are still considered software development tools—they're just different from traditional ones like Java or C#/C++. Instead of writing code, many low-code platforms allow you to create software simply by dragging and dropping components onto your canvas (the interface where your application will be created). It can be incredibly helpful if you work with limited resources or lack experience in coding languages like Java, C#, or C++.

Historical Background of Low-Code or No-Code technologies

Low-Code or No-Code technologies were developed to address the needs of non-technical users who wanted to create their applications without learning to code. Several tools have been developed over the years, allowing non-programmers to create their custom apps using intuitive user interfaces and visual elements such as drag-and-drop buttons, drop-down menus, and other input forms.

Here is a brief history of the development of low code / no code technologies according to the workplace productivity platform Formstack:

1985: Microsoft releases the first version of Excel, a tool that enables users to manipulate data without writing code, on the Macintosh.

1997: A cloud computing system was trademarked—a concept allowing many no-code and low-code tools to function today.

2003: WordPress, a tool that allows web developers to create websites without writing code, was released.

2004: The term "no-code development platform" first appeared in Google Trends data in February 2004.

2011:  Forrester defined Low-code development in a report on productivity platforms for custom applications.

2014: Forrester coined the term "low-code" to describe development environments that are simpler and easier than traditional coding.

2020: As remote work expands, many organizations adopted no-code tools to adjust quickly in a contactless world caused by the pandemic.

The Concept of Citizen Development

The term "citizen developer" was coined by Gartner to describe business users who build software without traditional technical training.

However, the concept and practice of citizen development are not new. It has been used for years by small businesses and developers to create custom applications without needing to hire expensive IT staff. There have always been people outside of IT who have been able to contribute to the creation of apps. They only had the tools to do it quickly now.

Businesses that needed to develop applications quickly without going through the lengthy process of hiring an outside development agency or developer could turn to internal tech-savvy staff for help.

For example, those who build websites and apps for personal use or those who create small business websites or apps often have little formal training but are still regarded as citizen developers by many in the industry.

Hence, citizen developers can be anyone from an entrepreneur looking for new ways to create their software to an employee working in a large organization working with business apps. Such users might want some customizations in their existing enterprise applications but want to avoid going through the traditional route of requesting IT to build these apps or modifications.

Low-Code or No-Code and Citizen Development: The Connection

Citizen developers are not professional software developers but have an interest in business technology and problem-solving, they then help the organization achieve its goals by improving or creating new business processes using low code/no code tools.

Citizen developers need to adopt low code/no code technologies, which allow users with basic computer skills to quickly and easily create new solutions for their organizations. On the other hand, low-code/no-code technologies are the tools used to build easy and maintain applications. They're designed intuitively so that non-technical users can use and modify them.

These applications can be made available through an app store or web browser. It means that anyone with access to an internet connection can use them wherever they happen to be.

In addition, these same tools can enable businesses with limited resources (and budgets) to create new applications more quickly than ever before—or even update existing ones with minimal effort.

Conclusion

Low-Code or No-Code technologies are enabling the citizen development movement and the democratization of application development. These technologies help businesses innovate and create new applications while allowing citizens with limited technical experience to take advantage of powerful digital tools. In this way, it's a win-win situation: Citizens get access to robust digital tools right away; companies get an edge over competitors by allowing more users to participate in the development process, increasing the net usage of these tools.

AgilePoint's end-to-end business automation platform enables enterprises to leverage the power of citizen development to succeed in their digital transformation journey.

Get your  free trial of AgilePoint today, and see how our solutions can build applications and workflows that optimize resources, improve business performance—and maximize efficiency.