I want to create a no-code platform for designing and building apps but should I?
Hey y'all! Ever since I started working on my course on how to make an app, I dug deeper into the no-code world since it makes the most sense for my students. As a designer and developer, I'm very picky about the tools I use and found it hard to recommend the right platform to my students. Currently I'm primarily fan of what Adalo, Driftbit, Glide, and Bubble have created but they all have their shortcomings that make it hard for me to confidently say use X or use Y.
For me I think the biggest thing missing from platforms that could easily become the next Squarespace or Webflow but for creating apps, is the user experience and how easy it is for a non-technical person to create their app. That in addition to the functionality it provides. The way I see it:
- Bubble/Draftbit - rich functionality, terrible UX
- Adalo/Glide - good UX, limited functionality
It seems these days everyone is trying to build a no-code platform and I'm not one to just join a trend but I'm wondering if the market is still ripe for innovation. Thoughts?
I think the challenge with no-code tools is not so much in the features or user experience of specific platforms. There are inherent issues common to all platforms, which I mentioned in my experience with AppGyver
Thanks for sharing that! Just got done checking out your post and what you mentioned about the steep learning curve is essentially what I want to address and UX is a big part of that in my opinion. How do you guide a user through the process of doing what they need to do without simplifying what can be done? I also think there's an educational component about apps that needs to be surfaced throughout that process in order for a newbie to get started easily.