Demand for enterprise software is higher than ever before, and the recent rise of cloud computing means this demand will continue to grow for the foreseeable future. In 2019, International Data Corporation (IDC) forecasted a need for 500 million new digital applications by 2023 [1]. If you're wondering whether the world has enough coders to deliver such a massive quantity of software, you are not alone.

The need for new software, and the shortage of programming talent (not to mention the high cost) has given rise to a new kind of programming. Low-code platforms let the user select code modules within a graphical interface. The modules are mainly aimed at providing a kind of basic framework for the more generic parts of the application code. Many low-code platforms even allow the user to combine the individual modules via drag-and-drop. Users can customize the graphically displayed program step by step and then extend it with passages of DIY code as needed.

Today, low-code platforms are an important option for accelerating software development and shifting some of the load out of the IT department. One important benefit of low-code development is that, by simplifying the programming process, low-code empowers the subject matter expert to play a greater role in software development. However, despite the extensive simplifications compared to conventional software development, the use of low-code isn't always totally straightforward. As a rule, users need at least some basic IT skills. Another recent programming paradigm known as no-code lowers the bar still further, allowing users with no programming background at all to get in the game (see the box entitled "No-Code for Non-Coders").

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