What is LowCode versus HighCode and NoCode?

There are many definitions for what low-code and no-code platforms are. So what we write here is our opinion.

No code platform

As the term implies, you can build applications without knowing a traditional programming language. Instead of manual coding, no-code platforms use other means, like visual modeling, where users can drag and drop components on design panels to create their applications. Other - often graphical - tooling is used to define some application flow diagram to implement logic. All steps together form the application you can run, most often on the vendor's cloud platform.

Low code platform

A low code platform is considered to be something 'in the middle' between traditional coding and using a no-code platform. In many cases, a similar component style design is used, but it is still possible to use code for the application flow.

High code

Building web applications in the traditional way is very time-consuming and requires many different skills. HTML(5), JavaScript, CSS, A programming language, front-end design, back-end design, frameworks. Before end-users can watch some results, it requires good specs in advance. But it is also the most flexible way.

So low-code and no-code can shorten the development time. What's the catch?

To be honest, designing your database. No matter what development method you use, database design is an art. The better the design, the easier development will be. If you continuously need to change your database model, then you will not have the full benefit of creating your applications fast...

And PHsPeed?

PHsPeed positions itself between the no- and low code. Because you still can code, it is not a whole no-code environment, but you can come close. The significant benefit of PHsPeed is that it generates PHP code that you can host virtually anywhere. Over 80% of the world-wide-web is built on PHP.
PHsPeed uses a component-based RAD concept that allows you to create your bootstrap-based webforms visually. The components have properties to model their behavior and their own events that will enable you to insert your own code.
We believe that creating graphical application flows is not a real improvement over coding. In many cases, the graphs become messy, are linked to other diagrams, and the designer quickly loses overview. A programming language is usually by far more compact, and as you don't need much, you don't have to know the full spectrum of PHP. In cases where the business requirement is very complex, then charting might be too complex as well.
Besides that, if you have a database design, PHsPeed can bulk-create all kinds of crud applications based on that design. With capabilities like Role-Based Access, Audit trail, TOTP, etc., you can really have a great start on your projects.

What are the overall benefits?

• You do not need a "premium" license to use certain databases. PHsPeed uses PDO and is database-independent.
  
• You can host the applications anywhere on virtually any platform. Windows Server, Linux. Every web server that supports PHP and your database is sufficient.
• If you write some code, you can make errors. PHsPeed allows you to thoroughly debug the code, even within its own run time.
  
• The generator builds fast applications. The runtime has very little overhead.
• Limited Data Transfer: the option to use the SQLite internal database to limit the data transferred between the database server and the webserver
  
• CSS is generated, but you can use additional CSS styling if you like.
• JS is entirely generated based on your settings, but you can edit and debug it if required.
  
• Use any Bootstrap theme you like
• Due to Bootstrap, there is compatible by design with mobile
  
• You are not bound to our platform. You can host the applications anywhere you like (Ever found a web host that does not support PHP/MySQL?)
• There is a shallow learning curve.
• In cases where you need to write code, you don't have to be a full-stack developer!
• You can build your prototypes together with the end-user.
• Affordable. PHsPeed offers a great 'return on investment.'