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Top 12 Software Development Methodologies

Comidor Team — Sat, 15 Mar 2025 18:14:45 +0000

What is Software Development Methodology?
Types of Software Development Methodologies
Conclusion: Choosing the right software development methodology

Software development methodologies are like designing a store plan: they lay the groundwork for the project’s execution and guarantee that the results will be what you expect. Every software development approach is customized to meet the individual needs of each project, group dynamic, and client, just like various building strategies are designed for different structures. If you pick the correct one, your team’s collaboration will improve and your project will go more smoothly.

This article will examine 12 of the most popular and effective software development approaches currently in use. We will examine the benefits and drawbacks of each model before deciding which project development approach would be best for organizing your selected model.

What is Software Development Methodology?

A software development methodology is a set of best practices for organizing and directing the development of software. The software development life cycle (SDLC) consists of several phases, including requirements gathering, design, development, testing, and deployment. Various techniques provide distinct frameworks to assist teams along this process.

Many software development techniques exist, each tailored to a certain team type and focusing on a distinct part of the development lifecycle. For instance, while some models prioritize adaptability, others may place a premium on user engagement, rapidity, or risk mitigation.

Choosing the appropriate methodology for the project can streamline software development, improve communication and cooperation, and lead to a more reliable achievement of a high-quality end result.

Types of Software Development Methodologies

If you’re familiar with software engineering, you know that there are several approaches to software development life cycle (SDLC) improvement. After looking over them, you’ll see that there isn’t a clear victor; rather, the approach will vary from case to case depending on factors like the project’s unique traits, specifications, objectives, and fundamental elements. As a result, you can streamline the decision-making process and identify the best solution for each app development project by carefully comparing software development approaches.

Some of the software development approaches that we will look into are as follows:

1. Agile Software Development Methodology

This software development technique emphasizes the project or product itself. Therefore, several ongoing modifications must be made in response to input from consumers and users, as well as modifications within the development team. On the one hand, agile software development does not rely on predetermined designs. However, software development is structured around limited periods, which allows for extremely rapid feedback and actual outcomes.

Benefits of Agile Software Development Methodology

Small iterations or sprints in the Agile methodology allow for simple testing and maintenance with fewer mistakes, which leads to a high-quality result.
While developing a software product enables new changes and enhancements, developers can explore various changes to the code.
The Agile approach is characterized by flexibility and minimal reliance on early documentation. Implemented alterations do not interrupt or hamper the project.
The software budget and costing are meticulously prepared. Project estimating is a prerequisite to each iteration in the Agile methodology.
Clients, developers, and others involved in the production process interact and communicate frequently because of the emphasis on clarity.

Drawbacks of Agile Software Development Methodology

A lack of originality and focus on the project’s goals as a result of inconsistent product standards.
Problems arise when trying to predict how many resources a project will need. The costs and resources might be difficult to anticipate due to the unpredictability of changes.
The documentation is inefficient.
There can be no reliable projected completion dates for a project if the requirements and specifications are subject to change.

2. Waterfall Development Methodology

The Waterfall technique is still applicable to certain projects today, even though it has been utilized for decades. The approach is easy and systematic, with the steps of development laid out in a cascade manner. Teams who lack design expertise often choose the Waterfall development technique because it is easy to use. To go on to the next level, you must finish each one. For instance, design cannot begin until all requirements have been defined. This strategy is like a waterfall: it can only travel in one way. For projects whose needs are subject to frequent changes, this makes waterfall an inflexible approach.

Benefits of Waterfall Development Methodology

The Waterfall model is easy for new writers to understand because it is straight, which makes it simpler and clearer.
Everyone knows what to expect before development starts because of the well-defined specifications and deliverables.
All details are laid out in great detail at each level of the communication process.

Drawbacks of Waterfall Development Methodology

The likelihood of the project deviating from its intended course is higher when customer feedback is not included during the initial stages.
Because testing is delayed until the very end of development, issues that arise later on are more difficult to resolve.
Complex or ever-changing projects are not well-suited to the Waterfall approach because of the inflexibility, which prevents mid-project alterations.
Focusing too much on documentation could take attention away from providing effective answers, which should be the main objective.

3. Scrum Development Methodology

When it comes to software development approaches, Scrum is among the most adaptable. Its incremental and iterative strategies make it a popular choice, and it is rooted in the Agile mindset. The Product Owner, the Scrum Master, and the Development Team are all integral parts of the Scrum process.

The product owner consults with the customer and checks in to make sure that the team is still on pace to meet their needs. At the same time, the Scrum Master’s role is to facilitate the team’s learning of the Scrum methodology. The development is carried out by the development team.

The execution of work in sprints is what makes Scrum a great approach for software development in a fast-paced setting. It might take up to 4 weeks for each sprint. Teams can quickly find issues, propose solutions, test, and collect feedback, thanks to the rapid execution. It greatly simplifies the process of working on projects that develop faster.

Benefits of Scrum Development Methodology

Chief project decisions are made by the team.
Everyone on the team works harder since the regular sessions encourage measuring individual productivity.
Scrum allows for rapid issue discovery, which in turn leads to shorter meetings and easier team concentration.
Scrum allows for the flexible prioritization of features determined by customers. Successful expansion does not necessitate business necessities documentation.
Since there is always an opportunity for evaluation following each sprint, clients are actively involved in the production cycle.
The quick feedback loop keeps the project on track.

Drawbacks of Scrum Development Methodology

Under- or medium-skilled team members will not benefit from this approach.
For a project to be a success, precise time and cost prediction is essential.
When it comes to big projects, this approach doesn’t work as well.

4. Lean Methodology

The Lean method emphasizes making software that is both flexible and cost-effective. This method, which is based on lean manufacturing concepts, maximizes efficiency by cutting costs, labor hours, and overall production time in half. Eliminating superfluous steps, such as lengthy meetings and paperwork, the process adheres to a minimalist approach. The main objective is to create efficient and resourceful software that can readily adapt to new circumstances.

Benefits of Lean Methodology

It works well for managing finances.
The development process can be accelerated by the team. The majority of projects are finished ahead of schedule.
The development team is encouraged to strengthen its acute decision-making skills by the control that it receives from the Lean methodology’s operational procedure.

Drawbacks of Lean Methodology

All decisions must be precise and definitive to save time and money.
To keep the project on track with the plan, there isn’t a lot of room for change so that the project doesn’t get off track or waste time.
Achieving success with this strategy necessitates a high level of cooperation, self-control, and expertise.
The Business Analyst’s ability to provide thorough and accurate requirements documentation is crucial to the success of a Lean project.

5. Extreme Programming Methodology

The primary objective of this strategy is to reduce the expense of non-essential software while simultaneously producing a fully working product. Complex projects with set deadlines but unclear criteria are ideal candidates for this. Continuous planning and testing are essential to this. For software development in a volatile environment, extreme programming is the best method. This is one of the software engineering approaches that allows developers to provide a lower-cost end product. However, the time and effort put in by the team is substantial because of the test-driven methodology, pair programming, and regular meetings.

Benefits of Extreme Programming Methodology

It saves expenses.
The production process includes customer engagement and contact.
The emphasis is on time management and realistic planning. This aids in keeping developers engaged with a project.
Serves both big and small teams excellently.
Success is more likely when risks are effectively managed.

Drawbacks of Extreme Programming Methodology

The method’s practicality is called into question due to the fact that project needs are often uncertain and subject to change.
Both time and resources are wasted due to the need for regular meetings and analyses amongst every stakeholder involved.
Some developers find the numerous code modifications to be laborious.
This paradigm has a steep price to pay if original needs are changed later on.

6. Prototyping Methodology

This method puts a heavy emphasis on user input and is almost the same as the waterfall methodology. Before moving on to final development, there are certain preliminary requirements, developers offer samples, and clients assess the samples’ functioning.

The prototype technique captures the essence of this approach to software development. That is to say, to prevent any unneeded risks, there will be meticulous study and prototypes done before getting down to work.

Benefits of Prototyping Methodology

When looking to enhance the user interface or user experience, the prototype model can serve as a valuable resource.
Improving the system’s functioning is possible via studying the system’s actual design.
Customers and end users play a major role in the development process.
Problems and mistakes can be more easily and accurately identified.
The process of creating an app is quite adaptable, so it’s easy to change or add features as needed.
Decreases expenses and time as a result of the major issues being identified early.

Drawbacks of Prototyping Methodology

When clients are involved too much, it might slow down the process.
The budget might go up if the expense of management exceeds the given cost.
Enhanced system complexity that can go beyond initial expectations.
The current prototypes could be repurposed by developers rather than starting from zero when it comes to meeting customer requirements.
The possibility is that the development may incur excessive expenses, time, and effort.

7. Dynamic Systems Development Method

In this method, there are two primary goals: a budget and a rigid timeline. The goal is to complete the software development process in the allotted time without going over budget. The participation of users is also quite significant. In order to provide the most functionality while staying within the agreed-upon parameters, the dynamic systems model assumes constant feedback.

Benefits of the Dynamic Systems Development Method

The project’s deliverability is both time-bound and predictable.
The development procedures are consistently supplied at a high standard of quality, which can be enhanced by carefully examining the documentation, doing software testing, and regularly analyzing the results.
Excellent interaction between customers and developers.
Getting to the required functionality the quickest way feasible.
In order to have a better understanding of the product requirements, it is necessary to conduct sufficient design work in advance (EDUF).
A high level of control is maintained throughout the entire project development process.

Drawbacks of the Dynamic Systems Development Method

The development of this project will incur substantial expenses.
A tiny organization will not be able to satisfy its needs with this method.
It does nothing to inspire developers to think beyond the box.
While projects are primarily concerned with following the documentation and standards, they may overlook more accessible advanced choices.
Needs a team of seasoned programmers who are well-versed in all things technical and business-related.

8. Feature Driven Development

Features are seen as a way for users to provide input. Everything from planning to designing to construction is dependent on features. To improve functionality and handle different types of complexity, this method uses iterative improvements. A huge organization’s many teams can be better coordinated using feature-driven development.

Benefits of Feature-Driven Development

Ideal for continuous, large-scale operations.
Gives a comprehensive overview of the project’s parameters, primary objectives, and background.
Reduces the likelihood of mistakes and allows for the delivery of the specified features in shorter time periods by breaking the feature sets into smaller components and releasing them in an iterative manner.
Makes use of the predetermined standards to speed up the development process.
Makes it possible for any developer with the necessary skills to do those tasks.
Founded on the principle that the opinions of the user should dictate the final product.

Drawbacks of Feature-Driven Development

Not suitable for smaller projects or smaller companies.
Process monitoring necessitates the involvement of many seasoned developers.
Ensuring a rigid due date is challenging.
Includes solely developer-to-developer contact throughout the project launch cycle; does not supply clients with any written documentation.
It focuses on individual code ownership above the collaborative team structure.

9. Rational Unified Process

This method is based on the concept of a four-stage development process. As per study.com, “business modeling, specifications, planning and analysis, execution, testing, and release” are the six fundamental development disciplines that occur at each step. Efficient and high-quality software without going over budget or over schedule is the primary goal of this software development process.

Benefits of Rational Unified Process

Delivers documentation that is dependable, precise, and comprehensive.
Reduces or eliminates risks by adapting to dynamic customer requirements.
Shortens the time needed to integrate while developing software.
Reusing parts shortens the time it takes to finish a project.
You can learn this development methodology via the many online tutorials and training materials that are readily available.
Combines Waterfall’s best principles into an iterative method that can easily adapt to new circumstances.

Drawbacks of Rational Unified Process

To guarantee the project’s success, this process needs a developer that is both skilled and experienced.
The rational unified process paradigm can be too complicated for most people to understand.
Reusing existing parts is not possible with this development model.
Issues and errors during testing are more likely to arise, making it ineffective for large projects using various development platforms.
For some projects, the delivery procedure could take too long.

10. Spiral Development Model

The goal is to get rid of potential problems before they even start at the beginning of the project. The process of development progresses incrementally from lower to higher levels. Iteratives and waterfall concepts are brought together in this method. A client’s input and goal-setting are integral to each phase. In a spiral model, you can’t get to the next stage unless you finish the previous one and remove all of the risks.

Benefits of Spiral Development Model

Ideal for high-stakes, long-term projects that need expert risk assessment and meticulous management.
The method of cost estimate is simple and uncomplicated.
Remarkable for its rapid development.
It is possible to regulate the system quality and remove hazards through repeated development.
Both the early and late phases might incorporate the particular features or modifications.
The consumer feedback provides a lot of room for improvement.

Drawbacks of Spiral Development Model

Too big for non-profits and sole initiatives.
There is a risk of going over the allotted budget and deadline.
Needs meticulous adherence to the procedure for developing the spiral model.
Requires skillful review of possible risks.
Expertise developers are the only ones capable of performing accurate risk analyses.

11. Joint Application Development

Users, designers, and developers work together closely using this method. Workshops are a great way to speed up and improve the development process. Participants in the session are users, programmers, viewers, facilitators, specialists, and a moderator. Additionally, with collaborative application development, there is a heavy emphasis on catching and fixing faults early on to save money.

Benefits of Joint Application Development

Obtaining useful data is accomplished easily.
Quickly fixing discrepancies and fixing mistakes, which substantially improves program quality.
It has precise project specifications that aim to raise the standard of the system.
Cuts down on the resources and time needed to build the project.
Facilitates two-way communication between the customer and the development team, which cuts down on development time.
Provides an environment where team members can push one another to do high-quality work speedily.

Drawbacks of Joint Application Development

Can be a model that requires a lot of effort and time to plan.
Needs a sizable sum to kick off the project.
Professionals with extensive expertise and experience are required.
Aligning goals and keeping track of the big picture might be increasingly challenging as the project grows in scope.
In most cases, clients will make an extensive list of requests, marking each one as “high-priority.”

12. Rapid Application Development (RAD) methodology

A key component of rapid application development is iterative prototyping that prioritizes user input. This method prioritizes the rapid creation of working prototypes, their testing with end users, and the incorporation of their input. It works best when both the client and the development team have extensive expertise and are willing to pitch in. When using the RAD technique to complete a project, communication is important. To further accelerate development, you might consider purchasing RAD technologies that follow a no-code/low-code development approach.

Benefits of Rapid Application Development Methodology

Embraces the idea of prompt and consistent consumer feedback.
Since client feedback is prioritized, the risk is minimized.
Easy to work with and adjust to new scenarios.

Drawbacks of Rapid Application Development Methodology

It might take a lot of time to provide continuous feedback.
Relies on both competent engineers and customers who are quick to respond.
Neither big initiatives nor those with limited funds will benefit from this.

Conclusion: Choosing the right software development methodology

There are many distinct approaches to software development, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages that should be carefully considered. All projects, objectives, and teams are unique, therefore there is no universally superior approach; rather, there are a wide variety of options to choose from. In addition to drastically improving the app production process overall, knowing the most significant aspects of the development methods accessible in the software marketplace today can decrease the time, effort, and funds used to get the project finished.

The post Top 12 Software Development Methodologies appeared first on Comidor Low-code Automation Platform.

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Explained: The Ultimate Guide

Comidor Team — Wed, 26 Feb 2025 08:47:43 +0000

The SDLC, or Software Development Life Cycle, is a model that specifies what must be done at each stage of the software creation process. Following a software development life cycle ensures development teams complete all essential steps for releasing quality software.

Understanding the SDLC term and what the software development life cycle means, helps organizations streamline development and consistently release secure, functional software. This guide covers everything you need about the software development life cycle.

What Is SDLC?

The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a structured process that guides software from initial conception through development, deployment, and ongoing maintenance. It ensures efficiency, consistency, and quality by defining distinct SDLC phases, each producing key deliverables necessary for the next stage. SDLC models serve as blueprints for managing complex software projects, allowing teams to tailor frameworks to fit specific methodologies and project needs.

Key benefits of utilizing SDLC methodologies include:

Improved quality control and testing
Enhanced collaboration between teams
Streamlined requirements gathering
More accurate budget and timeline estimates
Reduced risk throughout development
Increased customer satisfaction

Well-defined SDLC processes allow organizations to release software faster with fewer defects. Understanding the software development life cycle helps managers improve development times, cut costs, and boost customer satisfaction.

What are the Phases of SDLC?

While variations exist, most SDLC models contain these core phases:

1. Planning

Every new project begins with planning. In this initial phase, the team defines the software’s scope and purpose.

Key planning activities include:

Identifying customer needs
Defining requirements and specifications
Estimating timelines and costs
Assessing risks
Obtaining resources
Outlining tasks and responsibilities

Thorough planning lays the groundwork for development teams to stay on track throughout the project.

2. Designing

The next SDLC phase is the designing phase. The team creates a software design plan outlining the architecture, interfaces, and components. This SDLC phase determines how the software is about to function, appear, and interact.

Typical design phase deliverables include:

Interface designs and prototypes
Database models
Hardware and software specifications
Coding standards and frameworks

The design process transforms requirements into a detailed software blueprint.

3. Building

With a solid design plan in place, developers start building the software in the construction SDLC phase. Coding and configuration take place during this step.

The building stage involves:

Creating new code and interfaces
Integrating modules and components
Testing units, classes, and functions
Conducting code reviews
Updating SDLC documentation

The development team brings the software design to life during this critical phase.

4. Testing

Before releasing the software, the team verifies and validates it works as expected. Rigorous testing identifies defects and code issues.

Testing activities include:

Functional testing with test cases
User acceptance testing
Load and performance testing
Security testing
Debugging and fixing defects

Testing ensures the software functions correctly and securely at scale.

5. Deploying

Once the software passes all tests, it’s ready for deployment. During this SDLC stage, the application is installed and configured in production.

The deployment process involves:

Training end users
Transitioning the software into production
Migrating data
Cutting over to the new system

A smooth deployment introduces the solution to users with minimal disruption.

6. Maintaining

Even after deployment, development teams continue maintaining and enhancing the software. Updates and patches fix issues and add new capabilities.

Post-deployment maintenance activities include:

Providing technical support
Managing configuration changes
Monitoring performance
Addressing security vulnerabilities
Adding new features
Optimizing speed and scalability

Proper maintenance ensures long-term software success after the initial release.

The Key Players in the SDLC: Roles and Responsibilities Explained

Delivering quality software requires careful coordination between many roles. Here are the key players and their responsibilities in the SDLC process:

Project Managers oversee the entire project lifecycle. They plan tasks, set timelines, and manage resources.
Business Analysts document requirements based on input from clients and stakeholders.
Software Architects design the software framework and infrastructure.
Developers write, debug, and review the source code.
QA Testers verify the software works by identifying bugs and defects.
Release Engineers automate and facilitate the build, test, and deployment processes.
Security Professionals perform risk assessments and ensure the software is secure.
Product Managers drive the business objectives and prioritize features.
Technical Writers create user documentation and training materials.

With clear roles and responsibilities assigned to qualified specialists, development teams can deliver software efficiently.

Selecting the Right SDLC Methodology

While the SDLC provides an overarching framework, teams must choose a specific methodology for each project. Common SDLC methodologies or models include:

Waterfall – Sequential linear stages.
Agile – Iterative cycles and incremental delivery.
DevOps – Integration of development and operations.
Rapid application development (RAD) – Fast-paced adaptive development.

Factors like requirements, team culture, and project size influence the ideal methodology. Most modern teams implement agile frameworks like Scrum to accelerate delivery.

Regardless of the specific model, utilizing the software development life cycle sets projects up for success. A structured SDLC methodology leads to higher-quality software built securely within budget and schedule.

The Importance of Documentation

Comprehensive SDLC documentation provides a roadmap for development teams to build, test, and maintain software applications. Robust documentation at every stage of the SDLC improves process efficiency and product quality.

Document types commonly created during the software lifecycle include:

Requirements Documents – Outline the business and user needs the software must meet. They are created during planning and inform all downstream processes.
Technical Specifications – Provide technical implementation details for designers and developers. Specs evolve throughout the lifecycle as the software takes shape.
Test Plans – Define the testing scope, scenarios, cases, and expected results. Rigorous test documentation contributes to software stability and security.
User Manuals – Explain how end users complete tasks with the software. Well-written manuals improve the customer experience.
Maintenance Plans – Help sustain software after deployment. They guide change management and new feature development.

Thorough documentation enables stakeholders to make informed decisions at each stage of the SDLC. It provides continuity when team members change and tribal knowledge is lost. Investing in robust documentation pays dividends in higher quality software that better fits customer needs.

Choosing the Right Software Development Tools

Specialized tools optimize workflows during coding, testing, and deployment. Selecting the best tools for the job accelerates software development and delivery.

Here are key tool categories to consider across the SDLC:

Source Code Management – Track changes and enable collaboration between developers.
IDEs – Integrated development environments for writing, running, and debugging code.
Build Tools – Automate compiling source code and managing dependencies.
CI/CD Tools – Automate builds, tests, and releases.
Application Monitoring – Monitor performance and detect issues in production.
Test Automation – Automate repetitive test cases.

Choosing the right mix of trusted development tools for each project enables teams to deliver higher-quality software faster.

Outsourcing and Offshoring SDLC Work

Organizations sometimes outsource or offshore parts of the SDLC to access specialized expertise or reduce costs. However, outsourcing software development introduces risks around quality, security, and intellectual property.

Best Practices for Outsourcing SDLC

Here are some best practices for outsourcing SDLC to work successfully:

Perform due diligence to select reputable partners that follow secure SDLC methodologies.
Specify requirements and validate capabilities through prototypes or samples.
Use source code repositories and tools that prevent unauthorized access or leaks.
Schedule frequent inspections and mandate compliance with internal standards.
Retain full rights and ownership of intellectual property.
Build relationships at the executive level for effective collaboration.
Designate internal team members to manage and monitor outsourced work.

With careful vendor selection, requirements gathering, and oversight, companies can safely outsource aspects of the software development lifecycle. However, organizations must weigh cost savings against potential risks.

Conclusion

Following a structured software development life cycle allows organizations to create higher-quality applications efficiently. Breaking projects into planned phases reduces risk and sets clear milestones. Careful documentation provides continuity across teams and stages. Utilizing the right tools optimizes development, testing, and deployment.

While outsourcing can provide cost savings, it requires close management to minimize risks. With a solid understanding of SDLC best practices, companies can deliver innovative software, like employee recognition software and other solutions that exceed customer expectations.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About SDLC

What does SDLC mean?

SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle) is a structured process that guides software from conception to deployment and maintenance, ensuring efficiency and quality.
Why is SDLC important?

It streamlines development, enhances collaboration, improves quality control, reduces risks, and ensures timely, cost-effective software delivery.
What are the key SDLC phases?
1. Planning: Define scope, requirements, and resources.
2. Designing: Create system architecture and interface.
3. Building: Develop and integrate software components.
4. Testing: Identify and fix defects before release.
5. Deploying: Install and configure the software for users.
6. Maintaining: Provide updates, bug fixes, and improvements.
Why is documentation important in SDLC?

It ensures clear requirements, technical guidelines, test plans, and maintenance strategies, improving efficiency and continuity.
How does Comidor support SDLC?

Comidor is a low-code automation platform that enhances SDLC by streamlining workflows, automating development tasks, and improving collaboration. It supports agile methodologies, helping teams accelerate software delivery while maintaining high quality.

The post Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Explained: The Ultimate Guide appeared first on Comidor Low-code Automation Platform.

How Low-Code & No-Code Solutions Are Solving the Software Crisis

Marketing Team — Fri, 21 Feb 2025 05:09:05 +0000

What is a Software Crisis?
What are Low-Code and No-Code Platforms?
Advantages of Low-Code/No-Code Development
Challenges of Low-Code/No-Code Development
Could Low-Code/No-Code Platforms Be a Convincing Software Crisis Solution?
How Major Organizations Have Broken Through the Software Crisis with Low-Code Software Crisis Solutions
How Comidor Addresses the Software Crisis
Choosing the Right Platform as a Software Crisis Solution

Even with all the tools and techniques at their disposal, modern businesses face significant challenges in effective and efficient software development, often called the “software crisis.” This phrase encapsulates the difficulties organizations encounter in meeting the increasing demand for new software solutions, exacerbated by a shortage of skilled developers and the high costs associated with traditional development processes. These challenges lead to delayed product releases, skyrocketing costs, and hindered innovation.

When looking for a software crisis solution, low-code and no-code platforms emerge as promising alternatives and supplements to traditional software development. These innovative platforms allow for the development of advanced software with minimal coding, enabling faster delivery times, reduced costs, and broader participation in application creation.

In this post, let’s take a detailed look at how modern low-code and no-code solutions are solving the so-called “software crisis”, and how you can pick the right solutions based on your business needs. First, let’s understand what a software crisis is, and how these solutions can solve it.

What is a Software Crisis?

According to Wikipedia, The ‘software crisis’ was a term used in the early days of software engineering before it was a well-established subject. The term was used to describe the impact of rapid increases in computer power and the complexity of the problems that could be tackled. In essence, it refers to the difficulty of writing correct, understandable, and verifiable computer programs. The roots of the software crisis are complexity, expectations, and change.

Software Crisis Evidence

The causes of the software crisis were linked to the overall complexity of the software process and the relative immaturity of software engineering as a profession. The crisis manifested itself in several ways:

Projects running over budget.
Projects running over time.
The software was of low quality.
Software often did not meet the requirements.
Projects were unmanageable and code was difficult to maintain.

Software Crisis Results

Developers’ disappointment eventually leads to:

Poor productivity – In the initial stages of a project, developers typically write 50–100 lines of code per day, depending on how much functionality needs to be built
Poor quality and reliability – 10–50 errors per 1,000 lines of code is considered a rough estimate for the number of defects in code written without rigorous quality controls
Slow-moving and costly growth – 60-80% of the total cost of software ownership can be attributed to maintenance activities
Project failure – 1 of every 3 large projects is failed before ever being completed and only 1 in 8 finished software projects is considered successful

Software Crisis Solution

We need better and more software development solutions to focus on such points as:

Independence from infrastructure, operating systems, databases, communication protocols, and proprietary structures to unleash the programmer’s power.
Independence from developers and developer teams to gain control of software investment
The multi-layered and distributed structure that reinforces the collaboration of independent software teams
Expandable architecture to permit growth
Compatibility with agile software and application development methodologies
Integrate harmoniously business processes and methodologies
Put Customer, first

What are Low-Code and No-Code Platforms?

Low-code and no-code platforms represent a shift in the way software is developed, making it faster and more accessible than ever before. These platforms reduce the traditional barriers to software development by minimizing the need for extensive coding, thereby accelerating the development process. Low-code development platforms provide a visual approach to software development. By using graphical user interfaces and configuration instead of traditional hand-coded computer programming, these platforms enable professional developers to design applications faster. They still require some coding to enhance the application’s functionality beyond the basic features provided by the platform.

On the other hand, no-code development takes the principles of low-code one step further by enabling a completely code-free setup. It allows non-technical users to build applications using drag-and-drop tools and a visual development environment. No-code platforms are designed so that anyone, regardless of their technical skill level, can create tools or applications without writing a single line of code.

Both types of platforms embody the principle of democratizing technology creation, and citizen development providing tools that simplify the process of application development. They help organizations rapidly adapt to changes, solve technical problems quickly, and allow employees to focus on higher-value work that can’t be automated.

Advantages of Low-Code/No-Code Development

The growing adoption of low-code and no-code platforms is driven by several compelling advantages that these technologies bring to organizations.

Let’s explore the three key benefits of leveraging low-code and no-code tools.

Increased Speed and Agility

Low-code and no-code platforms streamline the software development process, enabling faster creation, deployment, and modification of applications. This increased speed allows businesses to respond more swiftly to market changes and customer needs.

Cost Efficiency

These platforms help cut down the costs associated with software development. By lowering the barrier to entry for creating applications, companies can save on hiring specialized software developers and reduce the overhead costs of extensive development projects. Moreover, the ease of maintenance and updates further drives down long-term expenses.

Democratization of Development

Perhaps one of the most transformative aspects of low-code and no-code platforms is their ability to make software development accessible to a broader range of people within an organization. These platforms enable “citizen developers” — non-technical users who can build applications that automate tasks and solve business problems. This democratization not only fosters innovation across all levels of the company but also alleviates the pressure on IT departments to meet all the software needs of the business.

For example, when faced with content management system (CMS) choices like Drupal vs WordPress, citizen developers can rapidly prototype and test custom solutions to determine which platform better suits their specific needs or even bypass these traditional CMS options altogether by creating completely custom solutions.

Challenges of Low-Code/No-Code Development

With all the pros come some cons, too. Understanding these challenges is essential for successfully implementing and maintaining low-code/no-code solutions in business environments.

Here are some notable drawbacks of this tech:

Limited Customization

One of the main limitations of low-code and no-code platforms is the degree of customization they offer. These platforms often rely on pre-configured templates and drag-and-drop components that can restrict developers from making specific, detailed customizations that are possible with traditional coding.

Vendor Lock-in

Using low-code/no-code platforms can sometimes result in vendor lock-in, where a company becomes dependent on a specific platform’s tools and services. This dependency can limit flexibility and control over the development process and make it difficult to migrate to other solutions without considerable effort and cost.

Security and Privacy Concerns

Security is a concern with low-code and no-code platforms, especially as they enable non-technical users to build applications. These platforms must ensure that they provide robust security features to protect sensitive data and comply with regulations like GDPR.

Performance and Scalability Challenges

While low-code and no-code platforms are designed for speed and simplicity, they may not always handle high-performance demands or scale effectively as business needs grow. Performance bottlenecks and scalability issues can arise, particularly with complex applications that serve a large number of users or require significant data processing.

Could Low-Code/No-Code Platforms Be a Convincing Software Crisis Solution?

The role of software is changing. It is no longer about magic things from hobbyists and techies. Instead, commercially driven software projects are becoming more business-focused, and the emphasis has shifted from technical to business-added value. Software must be delivered rapidly, and development shall be driven by business value rather than technical needs. Business people need models to describe the business processes to be automated independently from the software that will be used. Furthermore, businesses are becoming more and more automated, and subsequently, the automation software should no longer be closed, encrypted, and hand-coded.

To survive and thrive, businesses must constantly find ways to innovate and differentiate themselves; to do things better, faster, and cheaper; and to engage customers in new ways. They need a faster way to deliver applications—and low-code development platforms offer some much-needed light at the end of the tunnel.

Low-code development is not the next programming generation or a new programming language. It’s rather the second phase of the normal evolution of technology as we have seen so many times before. Car technology offers a great example of how technology advances from the entry level, where a skilled driver is needed due to technology complexity and instability, to a mature level, where there is no need for an external or highly qualified driver. The system automatically does all the work.

Related Technologies: aPaaS and RAD

Currently, 2 other modern programming technologies and trends are related to low-code and share features and characteristics similar to low-code, the aPaaS, and the RAD

aPaaS (Application Platform as a Service) is a term popularized by Gartner. The analyst firm defines it as a “Model-driven graphical development environment, typically producing metadata that is interpreted at runtime”.
RAD (Rapid Application Development) is generally defined as a programming model that allows products to be developed faster and of higher quality through the use of visual programming environments, prototyping, and early, reiterative user testing of designs; the re-use of software components and more

The Inherent Value of Low-Code Platforms

So, does it mean that the conventional programming languages are coming to an end? No more magic in Java? Not. Low-code development is based on platforms developed on conventional programming languages like Java and therefore Java, C++, and other rich programming languages shall survive for a long. Simply future business applications are to be developed not by brilliant developers with poor knowledge of business anymore, but by knowledgeable business experts with adequate knowledge of technical programming. To achieve that goal a Low-code platform should have at least, visual development tools, model-driven architecture, application repository, ready-to-use connectors, built-in business methods, metadata to object translation capabilities and need to be a cloud platform and mobile-ready.

The inherent value of a low-code development platform is that it brings IT and operations together, moving the focus to the business needs and goals, enabling more rapid, iterative, and collaborative development, offering business agility, productivity, effortless integration, faster deployments, business orientation, effective lifecycle management and finally better ROI.

Is it enough to transform software into a more business-friendly form? It’s more than likely to happen and in any case, it’s more than enough, to intrigue any business to consider low-code as the next IT platform for its operations.

How Major Organizations Have Broken Through the Software Crisis with Low-Code Software Crisis Solutions

To illustrate the practical benefits and implementation strategies of low-code and no-code platforms, let’s explore a couple of case studies from companies that have successfully leveraged these technologies.

First up is Gen Re, a global life and health reinsurer, that utilized a low-code platform to modernize its IT infrastructure efficiently. Within the first nine months, they developed 30 applications, replacing outdated systems like Lotus Notes. This transformation not only enhanced their operational efficiency but also allowed them to scale more effectively, showcasing the rapid deployment capabilities of low-code platforms.

Then there’s Toyota, which embraced a low-code approach to streamline its software development processes. Starting with smaller projects, they achieved a 30% reduction in work hours, which led to the expansion of this initiative across 23 companies within the Toyota Group. This example highlights how low-code platforms can significantly improve development productivity and facilitate the modernization of legacy systems.

How Comidor Addresses the Software Crisis

Comidor, a leading low-code platform, is helping organizations navigate the complexities of the software crisis by offering rapid application development and streamlining business processes. By leveraging low-code technology, Comidor allows businesses to quickly build, deploy, and scale applications, reducing the traditionally high costs and long timelines associated with software development. Let’s explore how Comidor has addressed the software crisis through its innovative platform, backed by real-world case studies.

Case Study 1: Legacy Systems Modernization

A significant challenge for many organizations is the burden of legacy systems that are costly to maintain, hard to integrate with new technologies, and unable to meet evolving business needs. A global enterprise recognized this issue and sought a solution to modernize its outdated IT infrastructure.

By adopting Comidor’s low-code platform, the company was able to streamline the modernization of its legacy systems. Comidor allowed them to quickly integrate their old systems with new applications, eliminating the need for expensive, time-consuming rewrites. Through a combination of business process automation (BPA) and custom workflows, the company could modernize key processes, enabling smoother operations and better customer experiences.

This transformation not only reduced operational costs by approximately 30% but also gave the business the flexibility to innovate faster, reducing dependency on complex and outdated software. With Comidor, the company was able to deliver modern, scalable solutions without the risk and burden typically associated with legacy system overhauls. By accelerating development timelines, they quickly adapted to changing market demands, proving that low-code can be a highly effective software crisis solution in the face of legacy challenges.

→Read the Legacy Systems Modernization case study

Case Study 2: Order Management System Transformation

An international retailer with a large and complex order management system (OMS) faced increasing pressure to improve customer experience, streamline processes, and ensure real-time visibility across multiple channels. Their existing OMS was outdated, unable to integrate with modern systems, and was slow to adapt to new customer demands.

To address this challenge, the retailer turned to Comidor’s low-code platform for a solution. The platform enabled them to build a custom order management system that seamlessly integrated with existing systems while providing real-time updates on inventory, customer orders, and shipment tracking. With Comidor’s easy-to-use interface, the retailer was able to quickly develop and deploy an enhanced OMS, dramatically improving operational efficiency.

The new system reduced order processing times by 40% and improved customer satisfaction by providing quicker and more accurate order information. Additionally, the retailer saw a reduction in IT dependency, as the low-code platform allowed non-technical users to manage and customize the system, reducing the bottleneck of relying solely on IT teams for every change.

This successful transformation demonstrates how Comidor’s low-code solutions can significantly improve operational efficiency and customer-facing applications while solving critical software challenges. The ability to modernize legacy systems and rapidly deploy custom solutions helped the retailer stay competitive and meet the needs of an increasingly demanding marketplace.

→Read the Order Management case study

Choosing the Right Platform as a Software Crisis Solution

Selecting the appropriate low-code or no-code platform to solve software crisis is crucial for organizations. Here is a rundown of the key factors to consider when choosing a platform that best fits your organization’s needs:

1. Business Requirements

Start by clearly defining the specific needs and goals of your business. Consider:

the problems you aim to solve with the platform
the types of applications you plan to develop
and who will develop them

2. Platform Capabilities

Next, evaluate different platforms based on their strengths and capabilities. Look for features such as:

1. Ease of use: Ensure the platform has an intuitive interface that suits both developers and non-technical users.
2. Customization: While low-code and no-code platforms offer pre-built templates, some level of customization is often necessary. Check how much flexibility the platform offers to meet your specific needs.
3. Integrations: Consider how well the platform can integrate with your existing IT infrastructure and other business systems. Seamless integration is essential for maintaining smooth operations and data consistency across applications.
4. Scalability: The platform should be able to scale as your business grows and as application usage increases. Ensure it can handle larger user bases and more complex applications over time.
5. Security: Given the potential security risks, choose a platform that offers robust security features and compliance with relevant regulations.
6. Reviews and Case Studies: Look at reviews and case studies to see how other companies have implemented and benefited from their chosen platforms. Pay attention to any challenges they faced and how they were overcome.

Finally, sign up for a platform trial before fully committing to a platform. This allows you to test the platform with a small, manageable project to see how well it meets your needs in a real-world scenario. Evaluate the platform’s performance, user satisfaction, and the quality of the end product.

Wrapping Up

Low-code and no-code platforms have emerged as vital tools in addressing the software development crisis, enabling businesses to navigate through the challenges of traditional software creation. These technologies have democratized software development, making it accessible to a broader range of individuals within organizations. Business analysts and project managers can now engage directly in building solutions without deep programming knowledge.

By leveraging low-code and no-code platforms, businesses can not only solve today’s software crisis but also set the stage for the future. A future where technology creation is more aligned with business strategy, more responsive to changes, and more inclusive of diverse perspectives within the organization.

Ready to Transform Your Business with Low-Code Solutions?

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The post How Low-Code & No-Code Solutions Are Solving the Software Crisis appeared first on Comidor Low-code Automation Platform.

In-House vs. Outsourcing Software Development: Pros and Cons

Comidor Team — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 13:17:43 +0000

For the majority of modern businesses, using someone else’s platform is not good enough. Ideally, they want to develop a software platform of their own that they can adjust to their own customers and business needs. Software customization is the name of the game in 2024, and there are two ways to approach this:

You build your software on your own.
Hire someone to do it for you

Like always in the business world, there’s no such thing as a superior or inferior solution. To understand what each of these decisions brings, here are some pros and cons of in-house vs. outsourcing software development.

In-house Software Development

A lot of entrepreneurs value self-reliance above everything else. This is why they’re so invested in the idea of handling things in-house. In their mind, if you want something to be done right, you do it yourself.

While outsourcing is definitely the way the modern business world works, for people who prefer in-house software development, this is nothing more than a temporary solution. Why is this the case? Well, to understand this, you have to dive a bit deeper into the benefits and downsides of in-house software development. Here are some of the most prominent of these pros and cons.

Advantages of in-house software development

Direct control: The single biggest advantage of in-house software development is the fact that you’re directly supervising the entire process. This gives you more control to tweak various features and even control the pace at which the product is developed.
Close collaboration: When everything is done in-house, collaboration is tighter, and communication is more reliable. This means that separate teams all work toward the same goal. For instance, your marketing team knows which features to advertise, and your customer service knows who to contact when there’s a problem.
Tighter security: Some of the info involved in development is particularly sensitive, which is why you don’t want to risk people who haven’t undergone your own vetting process having access to these files.
Risk mitigation: When handling the project on your own, it’s much easier to mitigate challenges and ensure project success. Still, this will definitely take extra skill and effort.

Disadvantages of in-house software development

Self-reliance: The biggest disadvantage of in-house software development is that you have to do it all on your own. You need to decide on teams, supervise them, and, in some scenarios, even micro-manage them.

Higher costs: In order to create a development team, you need to hire specialists. This hiring process is already quite expensive, but you also have to wait until they become a real team, provide them with all the equipment, and assign an executive to supervise them. Upfront costs are quite high, and it pays off only if you have huge long-term plans.

Occupying your time and attention: Whenever you have to handle things that are not in your area of expertise, you’ll spend a disproportionally long time doing research. You’ll also stress yourself out and diminish your productivity on other tasks. Micromanaging is always a massive drain on your energy and resources.

Overall, in-house development gives you more control but takes more time, attention, energy, and money. Is it worth it? You’re the only one who can answer that question since it’s nearly impossible to quantify the value of direct control.

Leveraging Low-Code Platforms in In-House Software Development

In the realm of in-house software development, the emergence of low-code platforms has introduced a compelling solution to streamline and expedite the development process. Low-code platforms empower businesses to create applications with minimal manual coding, significantly reducing the reliance on traditional programming methods. Incorporating low-code platforms into the in-house development process brings forth several notable benefits, including acceleration in development cycles, enhanced business agility cost efficiency, and collaboration among cross-functional teams by providing a centralized environment for ideation, development, and deployment. What’s more, low-code platforms democratize the software development process by empowering non-technical users, often referred to as citizen developers, to create and customize applications.

By harnessing the power of low-code development, organizations can unlock unprecedented levels of efficiency, agility, and innovation, driving digital transformation and gaining a competitive advantage in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. Platforms like Comidor further amplify these benefits by offering a comprehensive suite of low-code development tools and capabilities, empowering businesses to rapidly build, deploy, and iterate on custom applications to meet their evolving needs.

Outsourcing Software Development

Outsourcing software development usually means finding a specialized agency and entrusting them with the task of creating an app or a platform for your company. While this gives you less direct control over the development, it will usually lead to a superior end product, deliver it quicker, and allow you to focus on this task.

It’s also worth mentioning that software development is one of the most outsourced tasks. People prefer to find customer service specialists, an HR agency, and a B2B marketing company to outsource, which allows them and their in-house team to focus on core tasks – those that are generating revenue.

With that in mind, here are some advantages and disadvantages of outsourcing software development.

Advantages of outsourcing software development

The advantages of outsourcing software development are quite numerous, which is the main reason why so many people opt for this development route. Some of the most important advantages are:

Cost savings: By outsourcing, you have an easy job outsourcing to a region with a much cheaper qualified workforce. You see, coding and development are universal languages, and just because a developer may not be a native English speaker, this doesn’t mean that their competence is brought into question.
More choice: There’s a reason why having the ability to choose globally is so advantageous for enterprises all over the globe. First of all, you get to see all your options, which means that you’ll have the privilege of making a better-informed choice. Second, you get the availability of global talent, which means that you get much better offers.
Specialized focus: While you may have a department in your enterprise that specializes in development, the cost of setting it up and the time until they get enough experience will be too difficult to manage. This way, you just outsource these specialized tasks straight to industry veterans.
Faster time to market: As we’ve already mentioned, even if you did this in-house, it would take you a lot longer to complete the task. Not to mention that this would distract you from your regular tasks, making you less efficient in these fields.

Overall, outsourcing saves time and money, as well as allows you to direct all your attention toward core (money-making) tasks instead of having your attention scattered all over the place.

Disadvantages of outsourcing software development

While outsourcing deals should be fairly straightforward, it’s not without its uncertainties and challenges. Here are some disadvantages of outsourcing your software development.

Hidden costs: Sometimes, when you’re offshoring, you may face different challenges caused by language and cultural barriers. This may lead to miscommunication and hidden costs, which can be quite significant and cause you a sizable setback.
Lack of in-depth understanding of your business: Your software developer is an outside entity, which means that their understanding of your industry may be limited. However, this challenge is not exclusive to software development – it’s a challenge that everyone you outsource to, from marketing to HR will have to deal with.
Lack of adequate supervision: When hiring outsiders, chances are that you’ll only sporadically read reports and have limited insight into what’s going on. Now, some businesses outsource to get faster time to market but what this may cause is a compromised quality of the product.
Dependency on a third party: Sure, this one may be a bit controversial, but you can “coerce” your team into working faster. You can only plead with the outsiders. No matter what the contract states, it’s up to them whether they’ll follow your suggestions.

Some of these challenges are quite significant, but others can be solved quite easily.

Wrap up

Ultimately, it’s nearly impossible for anyone outside of the project to determine what’s better: in-house vs outsourcing software development. Just keep in mind that some of the smaller teams don’t even have the option of doing things in-house, which means that they can either outsource or abandon the idea of developing their own platform.

Still, if there is the right answer, it’s important to analyze all your options and carefully evaluate every factor before making a decision.

The post In-House vs. Outsourcing Software Development: Pros and Cons appeared first on Comidor Low-code Automation Platform.

7 Essential Tech Stack Considerations for Your Project

Comidor Team — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 09:06:36 +0000

Your choice of tech stack can affect how frictionless your project development process will be. If your tech stack integrates well, finishing up your projects will feel more manageable.

In this article, we’ll cover some of the primary considerations you should have for your tech stack. That way, you can start working on your future (and current) projects with tools best suited for the job and your preferred way of working.

What is a Tech Stack?

When you’re trying to accomplish a particular task, you usually have a set of tools and equipment that you use to achieve that. This principle applies to any business process or task from HR onboarding to purchase orders. This concept is what a tech stack is.

A tech stack is the set of technologies, tools, programming languages, frameworks, etc you use to develop an application. Some other industries have co-opted this term, but at the start, tech stack describes the tools you use together to create an app or some other sort of software.

Auditing your tech stack is crucial to be as efficient as you develop an app or software. It will help you figure out whether the tools in your toolset are working for you or if you need to replace them. It’s also a great chance to check for any lapses or blanks in your toolset that you must address.

Now that you know what a tech stack is, let’s cover some of the different kinds of tech stacks.

Front-end Development Technology Stack

The tech stack that a front-end developer will use will be different from that of a back-end developer.

If you don’t know what a front-end developer does, they’re the people who develop the parts of a program that the end users see. It will be the interface that your end users interact with the most. They are most responsible for developing and creating the user interfaces or UI. It involves the layouts and graphics and ensuring your interface is intuitive.

Since these tasks are what you’re primarily going to work on as a front-end developer, you should make sure that your tech stack does the same. It should help with navigation, format, and app interface design.

There are three main front-end programming languages that you would use for most of the projects you’re involved in. These would be Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), Hypertext Markup Language (HTML), and JavaScript. You would usually need these programming languages in some way for front-end development projects.

Now that you know more about a front-end development tech stack, let’s be more specific. Let’s cover the other contents of your tech stack based on whether you’re doing web or mobile development.

For Web

When planning to create a robust tech stack for your web development projects, here are some technologies you should consider adding.

Aside from CSS, HTML, and JavaScript, React JS is one of the most popular front-end development frameworks out there right now. React JS, more commonly known as React, was developed by Facebook while optimizing their platform. It’s become one of the most popular ways to build front‐end interfaces for single‐page/multi‐page apps.

Angular is another framework that you can use for web development. Using Angular requires you to know TypeScript, an improved version of JavaScript. This framework has been the most popular choice for many developers creating web apps for an enterprise-level application.

One of the frameworks that’s become more popular is VueJS. The reason for this framework’s popularity is its ease of use. That’s because it already has all the fundamentals involved in websites and apps so that you can build web interfaces faster. Although it’s not mass-adopted just yet, it’s on its way there and has the potential to grow even further.

For Mobile

There are different front‐end mobile development frameworks; here are some worthy frameworks to try.

To start, React Native isn’t just good for web development. It’s helpful for mobile app development for both iOS and Android platforms. You need a knowledge of JavaScript to work with React Native. It’s a great choice since it has an active community of developers and is a high-performing framework.

Another front‐end framework for mobile app development is Flutter, which Google developed. You will use the Dart programming language for this. One of the main features of Flutter that made it famous was its hot‐reloading functionality, making it easier to see how your code changes in real time.

SwiftUI is an excellent choice for people developing UI for iOS apps. It makes developing UI for Apple interfaces easier because it lets you do so using a single set of tools. Due to how it simplifies the development process, it reduces the volume of code, which can also lower the possibility of errors.

Back-end Development Technology Stack

Now that you know what a front‐end development technology stack entails and what it is, let’s discuss what back‐end development is first.

Back‐end development involves all the parts of the program that the end users don’t see and don’t interact with. That means the back‐end developers deal with database management, servers, and other internal program infrastructure.

Regarding the tech stack for back‐end development purposes, there are different technologies to choose from, and the people responsible for the product and developers should work together to select the most suitable technologies for the project.

Node.js, for example, is one of the most popular choices for allowing JavaScript to run on your servers natively. It’s popular because of the numerous resources and active community for developers. However, this isn’t the best choice for some complicated processes.

Java is the best choice if you’re interested in developing enterprise-level programs. It can help run simple programs, but it’s also scalable. Sometimes, it can become complex and challenging to work with if you’re not an expert, leading to more complicated code and a slower load time. For these reasons, many businesses seek out professional Java development services.

The Importance of Selecting the Right Tech Stack

When you correctly choose the tech stack that suits you, it will be easier for you to complete your projects. At the same time, it’s about integrating different technologies in the smoothest way possible.

According to Sytian Productions web developer Philippines, choosing technologies that work together smoothly can reduce program errors due to integration and compatibility issues. At the same time, it won’t be less painful for you to develop your programs since you already know that these technologies work smoothly together.

If you plan on creating a tech stack for your future projects, here are some tips on developing the right tech stack.

1. Project size, type, and complexity

The bigger your project is, the more complex your tech stack may need to be.

That doesn’t necessarily mean you must use tons of different frameworks. It can simply be that some technologies are better suited for more extensive projects than others.

For example, if you’re developing a standard web application with the usual fundamentals and nothing too customized, then you don’t need a complex tool to go with it. You can use entry‐level tools with ready‐made solutions while still achieving your goals.

However, if you are developing custom, enterprise‐level software, you’ll need more robust technologies to get your required customizability.

2. Scalability and flexibility requirements

As your business grows, or even as you succeed as a developer, you might find that your tech stack doesn’t fit your other projects. Sometimes, your tech stack might work for one specific project, but it can’t accommodate other project types that you’re taking on.

That’s why it’s a good idea to either be proficient in a few different technologies or start with a tech stack that is flexible and scalable enough for various big and small projects.

You can also consider scaling down your tech stack if you’re not taking on a super complex project.

3. Cost of tech stack

In an ideal world, start with a tech stack that grows with you as your projects and skills grow. But not every part of your tech stack comes free.

When considering the software development cost, there’s no shame in opting for a tech stack with the features and abilities you need that isn’t too weighty on your budget.. You might even have to opt for a tech stack that doesn’t cover everything you require, but your abilities and effort can help cover these lapses instead.

4. Time-to-market

Time‐to‐market (TTM) is a business concept that discusses how long your program or product takes to release to the public.

If you need a shorter TTM, you will require a tech stack to help you make that possible. For example, if you’re developing an app, you might want a tech stack that enables you to create a cross‐platform application to launch an app that works with iOS and Android immediately.

5. Community support and documentation

There are tons of tech stacks out there that have become a go‐to for many developers for a reason. The longer they’ve been in the industry, the more it shows that the tech stack can adapt to the needs and wants of developers.

Also, that will give it more community support and documentation, so it’s easier for you to customize your projects as you need to with the help of these resources.

Although community support and documentation are helpful, newer technologies shouldn’t be something you call off altogether. VueJS, for example, might not have as much community support, but it’s slowly proving to be a helpful tech stack for many developers and companies.

6. Security measures

Don’t forget to consider the security measures in place for your project. The last thing you want is for your in-progress projects to get leaked to the public before they’re ready to be launched. Worst of all, you don’t want hackers to ruin your hard work and either delete all of your data or become the victim of cyber attacks.

General cybersecurity practices are helpful, like enabling two‐factor authentication and limiting permissions and access. You can even have a separate security stack to address the security measures you want your project to have.

7. Ease of maintenance

Your project usually doesn’t end after you launch your website, web app, software, etc. You must also consider maintaining the product and providing a positive user experience (UX). That’s why your tech stack should also keep in mind ease of maintenance.

Look for a tech stack that lets you upgrade or change your program architecture without any limits. Any future developers who may join your team should also have an easy time maintaining your product using the current tech stack.

Conclusion

These considerations are all crucial for getting a tech stack accommodating different project types and complexities. By considering these factors, you should also be able to find a tech stack that is more comfortable for you to use so that developing your projects will be as painless as can be.

The post 7 Essential Tech Stack Considerations for Your Project appeared first on Comidor Low-code Automation Platform.

The Comprehensive Guide to ChatGPT: How to Leverage the power of AI to revolutionize your business

Comidor Team — Mon, 06 Feb 2023 15:14:07 +0000

Introduction: What is ChatGPT?

ChatGPT is a conversational SaaS AI chatbot developed by OpenAI that generates human-like text conversations utilizing Natural Language Processing (NLP). It has been designed to help businesses save valuable time by automating various processes and tasks like customer service conversations, content and code creation, editing, and even code debugging. ChatGPT is powered by AI models that can generate text based on the context of the conversation. It is a large language model (LLM), based on the GPT-3.5 language model. This model is trained on huge amounts of data from different sources to predict the next word in a series of them and generate meaningful responses within a conversation.

To demonstrate the vast difference between ChatGPT and similar chatbots powered by AI, consider that GPT-3 has 175 billion parameters and was trained on 570 gigabytes of text. Its predecessor, GPT-2, had only 1.5 billion parameters, which was 100 times smaller.

What are the Benefits of ChatGPT?

ChatGPT offers a range of benefits, from reducing the time and cost associated with customer service to providing personalized experiences. Using ChatGPT can bring more benefits including more accurate content creation, its capacity to generate natural and conversational language responses, its scalability across different applications, and its ease of integration with existing systems and frameworks. Additionally, developers can utilize it to accelerate their development and coding skills, as it can generate lines of code in a matter of seconds.

What are the Limitations of ChatGPT?

While ChatGPT has many advantages, it is important to understand its limitations in order to make the most out of it. Some limitations of ChatGPT have to do with its answer accuracy and coverage, its training methods, and data requirements. Many users have noted that they get incorrect responses that may seem as good to go with, while others claim that the ChatGPT didn’t reply to questions that refer to very recent events. Also, a significant number of users believe that the software lacks personalization, as it produces the same answers to similar questions by different users, especially when it comes to content marketing.

In general, we should be aware of all the limitations, in order to present potential solutions for overcoming these obstacles and maximize the utility of ChatGPT. We should also explore how to integrate ChatGPT in our business in order to use it in a variety of contexts with different data sets as well as how it can be adapted to better fit our specific needs.

What are some Business Use Cases of ChatGPT?

1. ChatGPT for Marketing

In general, there are numerous applications of AI in marketing/ markets. Businesses have already started implementing AI to support their marketing efforts and enhance decision-making.

ChatGPT comes to the rescue for marketers as it helps them create engaging, personalized conversations with their customers. It can be used to generate automated customer support responses, create marketing campaigns, and even optimize content for SEO. ChatGPT can also be used to generate product recommendations and other personalized content. With its advanced natural language processing capabilities, ChatGPT can help marketers create highly targeted and effective campaigns.

In this article on how to integrate ChatGPT in your business automation, we present an example of ChatGPT use in marketing in the form of the newsletter content. Now, let’s elaborate more on this example and suppose we desire to optimize the content for SEO.

In the following example, I want to write content about RPA benefits and optimize it for SEO

What would a marketer ask to ChatGpt?

Here is my initial question:

Great, but since my goal is to end up with an optimized piece of content that will enhance the overall reader experience, I asked it to create some headings.

As the next step, I wanted to make sure that the content is easy–to-read, and that readers can take the most out of each bullet point at a glance. So, I asked ChatGPT to highlight the most important parts of each bullet point.

Then, I was curious about the keywords this content can rank for. Here is ChatGPT’s response.

Honestly, some of them may work as the RPA benefits, and RPA software benefits. However, I am a little bit pessimistic regarding the rest keywords, as they are too general. It seems that ChatGPT took some words from the content and presented them as focus keywords. These words could be a keyword for a section about any similar technology, like AI or low-code development, right?

Finally, I asked for a good-to-go SEO title for this section.

These headings seem agreeable; therefore, I believe that they could work.

To sum up, SEO optimization is an important part of any digital marketing strategy. As the competition increases, it is becoming more and more difficult to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). By leveraging the power of AI, it helps marketers save time and effort when generating keywords and phrases relevant to their content.

However, it is important to be cautious when using ChatGPT for SEO optimization. It should be used as a supplement to other SEO techniques and not as a replacement. It is also important to evaluate the generated keywords and phrases before implementing them into your content.

2. ChatGPT for IT/engineering

With the help of ChatGPT, developers can ask for help in coding or even write the code from scratch in order to create applications within a specific scenario. ChatGPT can greatly enhance code writing, documentation, and review. By using ChatGPT, developers can streamline their workflows, improve their productivity, reduce development costs and time, and create applications that otherwise would require more time and effort to be built.

Let’s see how a developer can take advantage of ChatGpt with a simple example.

In this scenario, I am supposed to be a developer and I need to write a java class for excel parsing. I will let ChatGPT assist me with the code writing.

Isn’t it fantastic? Could you imagine how much time I can save using ChatGPT instead of coming up with these lines of code by myself?

ChatGPT’s response included, among others, that this code is for reading excel files with the .xlsx extension. So, if I want to read .xls, I should use HSSFWorkbook instead of XSSFWorkbook. So, I asked ChatGPT to do it for me.

It is essential to mention that even though the ChatGPT offers extreme help to developers and IT teams, it is necessary to be aware of all the potential privacy and security issues that may occur and be prepared to overcome them. Furthermore, it is vital to indicate that ChatGPT and other similar intelligent solutions perform human-like actions better and faster than humans. However, humans will be always needed in order to train these models and improve further their capabilities.

3. ChatGPT for Healthcare

ChatGPT can generate personalized conversations to provide healthcare services. It has the potential to revolutionize how healthcare providers interact with their patients. By leveraging the power of natural language processing and machine learning, ChatGPT can help healthcare providers automate mundane tasks such as scheduling appointments, answering patient queries, and providing medical advice. In addition, healthcare professionals can use it to generate personalized messages for patients based on their medical records and preferences.

Let me present another example of ChatGPT in the healthcare industry. In this specific scenario, I am a medical professional who wants to summarise medical records and define a possible diagnosis.

What I do is ask ChatGPT to summarize for me a medical record.

Here is what I got back.

What’s next? I was advised about the possible diagnosis.

As mentioned before, ChatGPT can be a great asset to every healthcare provider. It can be used to summarise medical records, define diagnoses, and even generate patient education materials. In a nutshell, ChatGPT can help healthcare professionals save time and money while providing better care for their patients. The possibilities are endless, and the healthcare industry is sure to benefit from this technology in the near future.

ChatGPT and its Place in the Future of Natural Language Processing & AI Technology

As explained thoroughly, ChatGPT is a natural language processing (NLP) technology that has the potential to revolutionize the way people communicate with machines. This technology enables computers to understand human language and respond accurately in real time. With ChatGPT, machines can learn from conversations and generate more natural responses that are tailored to an individual’s needs. It also offers features such as automatic summarization, sentiment analysis, and text classification. The possibilities of this technology are endless, making it a highly sought-after tool for businesses looking to stay ahead of the competition in terms of powerful AI-driven solutions.

Consider utilizing a trusted talent marketplace to help you embrace the full potential of AI and ChatGPT within your daily business processes. Platforms like Toptal offer a seamless connection of businesses that seek to hire OpenAI developers with top-tier AI experts. Leverage the use of GPT language models in your business and harness the power of AI to its fullest extent.

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Application Development and Common Methodologies

Comidor Team — Fri, 24 Sep 2021 14:03:53 +0000

Applications have become the way of the workforce. Businesses around the world are turning to application development as a way to create apps that manage their business processes, automate operations, and speed up project completion. But how are these applications built? Well, we’ve got the answer! Keep reading to learn more about app development and the methodologies that many companies use.

What is Application Development?

Before we explore app development methodologies, let’s start by defining what application development is. Application development refers to the design, creation, and implementation of business applications that can be used to handle anything from marketing to project management to client service tasks.

App development has adapted over the years to meet the growing demands of businesses. Multiple application development methodologies have emerged from these changing requirements, resulting in a variety of methods for you to choose from as you create your business applications.

No-Code/Low-Code App Development

The No-Code/Low-Code application development methodology has taken the world by storm. Where many teams previously relied on an IT department to build the necessary applications for their business processes, the invention of the No-Code/Low-Code methodology has changed the game. Gone are the days of coding applications from scratch.

No-Code/Low-Code development platforms allow any team member to design, create, and implement business applications. With drag-and-drop functionality and adaptable features, your business applications can be customized to match your business’ changing processes.

Agile App Development

The agile application development methodology focuses on each feature one at a time, creating an iterative process that the entire team plays a part in. With this methodology, application solutions are developed collaboratively. The team works together to build out each feature of their applications in order to deliver a completed project to their client.

Using the agile application development methodology, teams can create applications that are adaptable and work with the ever-changing needs of clients. Instead of relying on developers to create applications, every member of the team has a hand in the creation process.

Feature-Driven Application Development

Emerging from the agile methodology, the feature-driven application development (FDD) methodology combines iteration with an incremental approach. This method provides opportunities for continuous updates, allowing for adaptations as changes occur.

FDD revolves around five primary steps. The first is to create a model of what the entire application should look like. From there, a features list should be crafted to match the design. The final steps include planning, designing, and building every feature individually.

Waterfall App Development

There’s a reason behind the name of this application development methodology — once you begin the development process, there’s no going back. In the waterfall application development methodology, every step of the process is meticulously planned out from start to finish. With this method, the development team is the one who works on building out the required elements of the application. Each step must be completed before the next one can occur.

This methodology offers a clear and precise vision of what the application should look like and how it should function. This allows the team to work toward a specific goal, and, ultimately, know that their application is complete when it reaches that goal.

Be mindful that this methodology leaves little room for adaptation. If a change is needed, the entire process must start back from the beginning. This is a great application development methodology for applications that won’t require changes.

Rapid Application Development

The rapid application development (RAD) method is essentially the answer to the problems that arose with the waterfall methodology. Where the waterfall method left little room for change, RAD focuses on continuous adaptations. In order to meet client demands, the RAD methodology centers around creating a prototype of the application followed by iterations to increase usability.

As each iteration is developed, the application will more closely reflect what is needed. However, this methodology does not always account for tight deadlines. If a project needs to be returned to a client quickly, this method may not be the best solution as it takes time to complete these iterations.

Comidor No-Code/Low-Code Platform

When you think of app development, you may picture an IT specialist sitting behind a screen, coding every feature. While that’s still an option for businesses that have time to wait, many businesses need applications much faster.

That’s where Comidor No-Code/Low-Code development platform comes in. With this platform, you won’t have to worry about coding every feature. Simply select a ready-to-use application or create your own custom app.

Schedule your demo to learn more about Low-Code development and how you can easily build the applications you need with Comidor App Builder!

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Low Code Development Platforms, Tools, and Features

Comidor Team — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 13:53:53 +0000

Low-Code development platforms are taking the world by storm, and it’s no surprise why. With their easy-to-use interfaces and advanced process automation capabilities, these development tools are essential for running a business in the modern world. Read on to learn more about the low-code development platforms, tools, and features you need in your workplace.

Low-Code Development Platforms

There are plenty of Low-Code development platforms that offer unique features and integrations. Keep reading to learn about a few of these platforms and determine which is best for your business.

Comidor

First on our list of the top Low-Code development platforms is Comidor! At Comidor, we’re all about helping businesses automate their workflows and business processes creating state-of-the-art Low-Code applications. Build your own applications using our Enterprise Low-Code platform or search through the application marketplace to find pre-existing applications that can help you streamline your workflows and overall business processes. With our easy-to-use platform, anyone in your business can create and manage custom applications without needing a background in coding.

Kissflow

The Kissflow Low-Code development platform is all about modernizing your company. Their platform is built to replicate a more cloud-like feel, making company-wide sharing a breeze. Kissflow’s platform was built with easy usability in mind, keeping its application builder simple and straightforward. Anyone at any level of a company can quickly create custom applications using this platform.

Zoho Creator

Zoho Creator has placed emphasis on the customization of business applications. Their platform is all about making applications that fit your company’s needs. They offer unique features for building mobile apps and form builders. Zoho Creator can be integrated with other Zoho applications as well as platforms such as PayPal, Salesforce, and QuickBooks.

Appian

A Low-Code platform veteran, Appian has stuck with the basics that keep users coming back. Build applications using a simple interface and ensure that your mobile apps run smoothly with Appian. The best part? This Low-Code development platform has an extensive application marketplace full of templates for every business process you could need.

Creatio

Our final Low-Code development platform on the list is Creatio. This platform is all about speed. Creatio understands that we live in a fast-paced world, so they’ve created a platform that can keep up. Design useful applications in minutes with their simple and speedy interface.

Low-Code Development Tools

These platforms come equipped with the best Low-Code development tools designed to make your business days a little more efficient. Check out just a handful of these tools below.

1. Application Builder

Hands down, the best tool that these Low-Code platforms offer is the specialized application builders. This is where automation begins. Many of these platforms boast features such as drag-and-drop functionality that allow anyone in your company to build an application easily. The application builder allows you to create business applications that make your company run smoother and limit the number of human errors made throughout the development process.

2. Cloud Integration

Many Low-Code development platforms have adapted to the emerging cloud technology. With this integration, companies can easily upload their applications to the cloud and reuse them anywhere, anytime. Information shared across teams can also be stored in this platform, allowing team members to find important information and data quickly and securely.

3. Artificial Intelligence

In some instances, these low-code development platforms combine Low-Code with Artificial Intelligence (AI). This combination of technology allows businesses to automate both repetitive and non-routine tasks in one platform. Enhance your business process management with this hyper-automation technology.

4. Data Analysis

Lastly, many of these platforms offer a data analysis system that generates accurate and detailed reports of your company’s progress. These reports allow you to see where business processes can be improved and what other workflows can be automated to speed up the development process for your business.

Low-Code Development Features

Minimal coding isn’t the only feature that these platforms offer. Below are a few additional features you’ll have access to when you invest in a low-code development platform.

High-Level Security

Since your applications are built to share such a high level of information and data regarding your company, security needs to be a top priority. That’s why these Low-Code development platforms are created with such proper security features to ensure that your information is protected.

Drag-and-Drop Functionality

These platforms are built with a variety of users in mind. The purpose is to allow companies to build and manage applications across all levels of the department instead of waiting for an IT technician to code an application from scratch. With this usability in mind, these platforms often provide a drag-and-drop functionality that allows creators to easily maneuver their applications.

Reusability

One of the best features of Low-Code development platforms is the reusability of applications. Once you’ve created an application, you’ll have the opportunity to save the template and reuse the application format again. This means that if another workflow occurs that requires the same or similar functionality of a pre-existing application, you can simply select that template and make any adjustments necessary instead of creating a whole new application.

Mobile-Friendly Interface

Utilize your applications on the go with a mobile-friendly interface. Whether you’re in the office on your desktop or heading out for a client meeting, you’ll be able to access your applications. Depending on your platform, you also may have the opportunity to create mobile-specific applications meant to be used on your cellular device.

Process-Enabled Applications

We’ll conclude our list of Low-Code development features by discussing the process-enabled feature of the applications. In some instances, you may need to connect your workflows with applications to fully complete your tasks. Low-Code development platforms allow you to bring these applications right into your business processes and complete your work in one central location.

Invest in Comidor’s Low-Code Platform

As the digital transformation revolution takes the workplace by storm, Comidor’s Low-Code development platform is prepared to handle all your business process needs. Automate your workflows and manage your business in one convenient platform.

Not sure how to get started with this technology? Contact Comidor today to learn more about how to integrate this platform into your work environment.

* Featured image: peskova/Stock.adobe.com

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Low-Code Examples

Marketing Team — Fri, 23 Aug 2019 09:26:40 +0000

Low-Code Examples:

1. Low-Code Example 1. Internal Rules and Regulations Application
2. Low-Code Example 2. Meeting Room Booking

Comidor Low-Code Hyper-Automation platform offers the ability to build your own Low-Code App through App Builder, without writing lines of code. Making simple or more complicated Apps is easier than ever, even for non-developer users. In this article, we will give two Low-Code examples of real business problems and we will see the step-by-step Low-Code App creation for the solution of them.

Low-Code Example 1. Internal Rules and Regulations Application

Business Problem

In this Low-Code example, we are members of the Administration Team. We need an Application that would allow us to submit important information regarding our internal Rules and Regulations. Those rules and regulations assist us in our internal auditing activities and in our ISO compliance. Members of the Administration Team, need to be able to insert rules and regulations and monitor them as per their status.
Additionally, all employees need to be aware of our internal regulations. Thus they need to be in a position of searching for a specific rule or have a clear overview of the whole list.

The solution

As we need only the members of the administration team to be able to initiate an entry we are going to limit the access of inserting rules to this team only. Also, all the employees of the company will be able to view the table and retrieve information, but they will be limited to a view-only mode, thus they will not have any right to make an entry or make any editing on it.

The fields that are needed in this App development would cover all the necessary information that employees needs to restore, such as the kind of rule or regulation, its status, its importance and if there are any penalties for not conforming to this rule.

We are going to use the App builder function of Comidor and follow 7 simple steps for our Low-Code App development.

1. Low-Code App Creation

We need to define the Entity which will be the name of the Application in the database and the Application Name. We chose the database name “REGULATIONS” of this entity and “Internal Rules and Regulations” as the Application Name. Note that the Application Name is the name that would be displayed as a Header for our Application.

For this kind of application setup, we do not need a workflow. This business problem requires only a user to insert data without any tasks being connected. For this reason in the Basic Info step, In the field “Is process enabled” that defines if the Application would be connected to workflow, we keep the checkbox unticked. In the Access Rights field, we selected Everyone, since we want all users to have access in this App.

2. Data Model

In this step, we are going to create all the necessary fields that would be required when the user makes an entry of a new rule or regulation.
For our Application we are going to create:

A number field that would be the Rule Number of our rules and regulations
A text field that would be a Summary of our rule
A paragraph-Memo field with the description of our rule
A field that would indicate the Severity of the rule (List type). This is going to help users for categorizing them according to their Severity and provide information about which are the most important regulations in the organization.
A field that would indicate the Status of the rules and regulations (List type). The options of this list would be Applied, Not Applied, Pending. This field will also help in the categorization of the rules. In addition, users could also see which rules are active in the organization, which are going to be implemented in the future and which will not be implemented at all.
A drop-down list field that would indicate the penalties that employees are going to face in case they are not compliant with the internal rules and regulations.

3. Table

By organizing the table columns properly, we are going to provide all the necessary information to the employees. We are able to decide on the sequence of the columns by just drag-n-drop them and that would be displayed in the Application table.
The position of the table columns defines their order in the table from left to right and counting numbers start from 0.

By selecting those columns to be displayed, everyone who navigates to the Application may have an informative overview of the Internal rules and regulations of the company.

4. Forms

In Forms step, we are going to design the creation form of a new Rule or Regulation entry.

Firstly, we make sure that there is an Administration Team in the Organizational chart and that there are the proper members added.

Then, in the Access Rights field of App Builder, we select the group Administration Team, in order only members of this group to be able to initiate a new Regulation.

In order to make the form easily accessible to the users, we are going to place it in the Quick-Add menu. This setting will enable them to initiate an entry with just two clicks.

In the form designer, we are going to make a Section with all the fields that we created in the Data-Model step. By just dragging and dropping the fields in the Section we are able to design our form according to our preferences.

As we want to make sure that we will have data in those fields, we are going to mark them as Mandatory.

Additionally, we create a second form with the option to replace the existing form enabled. This form will be displayed to any user who wants to find more information about any rule by clicking on an entry of the table.

For this form, we will use two parallel sections. In this way, all information will be visible easily without any need of scrolling. The first section will contain all the fields that the members of the Administration Team should insert and will be named as Rule and Regulation information. The second is going to provide general information with regards to the Status information of the rule, who was the creator and when it was created.

5. Configuration

In step Overview, we have to set up the configuration of our Application. As we need to limit the access to the Administration team, we are going to deactivate Insert Mode. By unchecking this option, employees that do not belong to the Administration team would not be enabled to make a submission of a new rule or regulation. Also, as Level 1 Categorization we will select Status. This way, the rules and regulations that are inserted in the Application will be categorized according to the value that it is provided in the Status field.

As Primary Field, the Summary field is selected. As a result, the title that would be given to each rule or regulation will be the Summary of it.

6. Publish

Finally, we need to press the Publish button in order to save the settings that we have set in our Application.

7. Run the Low-Code App!

Members of the administration can start the Application easily by clicking on the Quick-Add icon and then on New Internal Rule / Regulation. The form that needs to be filled with the information about the new rule or regulation opens and they are able to submit data in the mandatory fields. By clicking on Save, the new entry is created in the Internal Rules and Regulations table.

The visualization of our Low-Code Application table would enable all employees to retrieve all the necessary information with regards which rules and regulation are applied to the company, which are not applied and which are on pending status. Also, It is clear which one is of High or Low severity and which are the penalties to the employees if they are not compliant to any internal rule.

If employees want to retrieve more information regarding one rule or regulation, all they have to do is to click on the respective rule that they want to navigate. In the Rule or Regulation card which is displayed, the employee can view on the left section the information that the Administration Team submitted and on the right section some information about the status of the rule.

Low-Code Example 2. Meeting Room Booking

Business Problem

In this Low-Code example, we are a company that wants an Application to handle our meeting rooms booking processes. Currently, there are 3 meeting rooms available in the company, but several meetings should take place at the same time. Employees should be able to book any of the meeting rooms and every booking request should be approved by the Meeting Room Booking Manager.
All the employees in the company can initiate booking request and they should specify when they want to book, the reason for booking, the duration and which meeting room they would like to book. If the Meeting Room Booking Manager rejects the request, requestors should have the option to reschedule the booking or Cancel their Application.

The solution

For this business problem, the solution that we will develop would be a process-enabled Low-Code Application. Every employee in the company would have access to the initiation of the process.

The fields that would be created would cover the necessary data that the Meeting Room Booking Manager may need for the booking approval and enable him to organize meetings better. Those fields would be lists that the requestor would select the preferred meeting room, the reason of the booking, and some information about the duration and the period of time that the meeting is going to last.

Additionally, in workflow designing, we are going to use gateways which would determine the different paths that the procedure would follow based on the Manager’s decision or approving or rejecting a request.

1. Low-Code App Creation

We need to define the Entity which will be the name of the Application in the database and the Application Name. We chose the database name “MEETINGROOMBOOKING” of this entity and “Meeting Room Booking” as the Application Name. Note that the Application Name is the name that would be displayed as a Header for our Application.

Due to the fact that this Application will require a workflow, the Application should be process enabled (we tick the checkbox). If the checkbox is ticked we will be available to set up a workflow during the Application development. Also, we select Everyone in the Access Rights so that all employees would have access to the Application.

2. Data Model

The fields that are necessary to cover the business needs and for our Application development are:

The Booking No. which will be the incremental number of our meeting room booking requests (Number type)
The Title which will explain the reason for booking a meeting room (Text type)
The list with the Meeting Rooms that the company owns (List type)
Date of the Meeting that will define which day the meeting is going to take place (Date type)
Duration which will describe the number of hours that the meeting is going to last (Number type)
Starting hour of the meeting (Time type)
Ending hour of the meeting (Time type)
The decision of the Manager that would define is he approves or rejects the request (List type)
The requestor’s option of rescheduling or canceling his request in case of rejection by the Manager (List type)

3. Table

By drag-n-drop, we are going to organize the table columns of our Application. We are going to place the State of the request first, followed by the Booking Number and the reason for booking the meeting room. The State column is going to depict the Approval request status: Completed, Canceled or Pending.
Then, we select the column which will show which meeting room is booked followed by the information about the date and the duration of the booking.

4. Forms

For our Application, we will need four forms.

First of all, we will design the creation form, which will be the form that the employees will initiate their requests, thus Everyone is going to have access to this form. We will place it in the Quick-Add menu for easier accessibility.
In this form, employees are going to provide to the Manager all the necessary information that he needs to take into consideration before approving or rejecting a request.

The fields that we included in the creation form will be Mandatory. Given that, requestors will have to fill them all, in order for their request to proceed for approval.

Additionally, a form that will include all the information about the request is essential. This form will be the Main form and will replace the existing form. Hence, when someone clicks on a Meeting Room Booking request, he will view this form with all the information about the Booking request and its status.

We are going to need two more forms. The first form that will determine the Manager’s decision, whether to approve or not a request. The second form will inquire an input of requesting a booking again or not (in case of rejection). The decisions that would be submitted on these form, are necessary for the workflow designing on the next step.

5. Workflow

The workflow needs to depict the process and the decisions that need to be taken from the Manager and the requestor.

When a user initiates a request, the system sents a notification in order to notify the Meeting Room Booking Manager. Then, the Manager needs to decide whether to approve the request or not.

If the manager approves the request, a notification will be sent to the requestor to inform him respectively. If the Manager decides to reject the request, the requestor would have the option to reset his booking request. Otherwise, they can cancel his request and end the process.

6. Configuration

In the configuration of our Application, we are going to use the incremental functionality that Comidor offers to us. This functionality enables an automatic incremental counter and it doesn’t require from the user to provide any value.
The incremental number along with the Prefix will replace the title of the process. The primary field will be the Booking No. field. We have to state it as Incremental No. field as well. As Prefix we will insert “No.” and we will set the process to start automatically.

7. Publish

Finally, we need to press the Publish button in order to save the settings of our Application.

8. Run the Low-Code App!

Employees can start the Application easily by clicking on the Quick-Add icon and then on Reserve a Meeting Room. In the pop-up window that appears users should fill in all mandatory fields for their booking request. By clicking on Save, the new entry is created in the Meeting Room Booking table.

The visualization of our Application table would provide information about the status of each request along with a link to the respective process. The entries in the table are categorized according to each meeting room. This would enable the manager to have a better overview of which meetings take place in each meeting rooms. More filters can be applied for specific periods of time or more detailed searches with advanced search option.

If you wish to retrieve all the information regarding the request, just click on the respective request and navigate. In the request that is displayed, there are two sections: Booking Information, and Status Information. Here, the employee can view information regarding the booking and check the status of the request(like we built it in step 4).

You can find more information on how you can use the App Builder to create Low-Code Apps here.

The post Low-Code Examples appeared first on Comidor Low-code Automation Platform.

development Archives | Comidor Platform

Top 12 Software Development Methodologies

What is Software Development Methodology?

Types of Software Development Methodologies

1. Agile Software Development Methodology

Benefits of Agile Software Development Methodology

Drawbacks of Agile Software Development Methodology

2. Waterfall Development Methodology

Benefits of Waterfall Development Methodology

Drawbacks of Waterfall Development Methodology

3. Scrum Development Methodology

Benefits of Scrum Development Methodology

Drawbacks of Scrum Development Methodology

4. Lean Methodology

Benefits of Lean Methodology

Drawbacks of Lean Methodology

5. Extreme Programming Methodology

Benefits of Extreme Programming Methodology

Drawbacks of Extreme Programming Methodology

6. Prototyping Methodology

Benefits of Prototyping Methodology

Drawbacks of Prototyping Methodology

7. Dynamic Systems Development Method

Benefits of the Dynamic Systems Development Method

Drawbacks of the Dynamic Systems Development Method

8. Feature Driven Development

Benefits of Feature-Driven Development

Drawbacks of Feature-Driven Development

9. Rational Unified Process

Benefits of Rational Unified Process

Drawbacks of Rational Unified Process

10. Spiral Development Model

Benefits of Spiral Development Model

Drawbacks of Spiral Development Model

11. Joint Application Development

Benefits of Joint Application Development

Drawbacks of Joint Application Development

12. Rapid Application Development (RAD) methodology

Benefits of Rapid Application Development Methodology

Drawbacks of Rapid Application Development Methodology

Conclusion: Choosing the right software development methodology

Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) Explained: The Ultimate Guide

What Is SDLC?

Key benefits of utilizing SDLC methodologies include:

What are the Phases of SDLC?

1. Planning

Key planning activities include:

2. Designing

Typical design phase deliverables include:

3. Building

The building stage involves:

4. Testing

Testing activities include:

5. Deploying

The deployment process involves:

6. Maintaining

Post-deployment maintenance activities include:

The Key Players in the SDLC: Roles and Responsibilities Explained

Selecting the Right SDLC Methodology

The Importance of Documentation

Choosing the Right Software Development Tools

Outsourcing and Offshoring SDLC Work

Best Practices for Outsourcing SDLC

Conclusion

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About SDLC

What does SDLC mean?

Why is SDLC important?

What are the key SDLC phases?

Why is documentation important in SDLC?

How does Comidor support SDLC?

How Low-Code & No-Code Solutions Are Solving the Software Crisis

What is a Software Crisis?

Software Crisis Evidence

Software Crisis Results

Software Crisis Solution

What are Low-Code and No-Code Platforms?

Advantages of Low-Code/No-Code Development

Increased Speed and Agility

Cost Efficiency

Democratization of Development