What makes a tool a "no-code" tool in your book?
What exactly makes you say, "Yes!, this is a no-code tool", instead of just another "regular?" site?
What exactly makes you say, "Yes!, this is a no-code tool", instead of just another "regular?" site?
This is a great question. A no-code tool allows you to build something that usually would require someone to write code. This is still a broad definition but is a good start.
Website builders would be a no-code tool in my opinion.
Tools like Airtable that support building custom data models would qualify as well as would Bubble which likely is the most full featured in terms of mirroring what a software developer could do but without writing code.
Then there are automation and integration tools like Zapier that certainly qualify as well.
I am the creator of WeBase [1] and view it as a true no-code platform as well. It supports creating custom data models like Airtable but also supports custom views like Webflow. You can build something truly custom with WeBase and even use it to launch a full MVP.
I'm also considering building a white-label version of WeBase [2] so anyone can host their own No-code platform without building it themselves.
All the best!
--harris
[1] https://www.webase.com
[2] https://www.indiehackers.com/post/interest-in-a-white-label-no-code-platform-9fa961ecb5
Thanks for your reply Harris, your tool looks very cool btw!
I believe too many people are using the term with different interpretations and at the end the users get confused and leave.
As a consumer, I get a little frustrated with the marketing aspect of "no-code." To me, when I search for no-code tools, what I'm looking for is a tool that let's me build software without personally writing code. I consider Bubble, Adalo, Thunkable, Boundless Labs, etc. to be "no-code" tools, but I think the broad use of the term now means, "You can do a thing and you don't have to write code to do that thing." Mailchimp works without you needing to code something...is that a no-code tool?
I get super excited everytime I see something advertised as a "no-code tool," but then find out my expectations don't line up with what the tool actually does. I am, however, willing to concede that the problem is likely to be me, not the term itself.
Hey I was having the exact same issue!, that's what made me post the question.
There are so many things, that use the term "no-code" now, and some of them clearly require for the user to "code".
Mostly visual, simple to understand.
This makes sense, it'd explain so many no-code tools that didn't fit my mental model.
literally requires no code to use its basic features. no-code is a marketing term, of course, but its target customer profile is significantly different from low-code tools.
Wait, let's talk about "low-code" tools.
Sure, low-code tools target dev people who prefer to make certain processes faster, not people who don't code. So I'd define no-code as a by-proxy of low-code and other tools that need you to code.
Perfect example of this is tiiny.host.
So yeah, any no-code tool is a tool that does not require you to code. Yes, it is a marketing term. But marketing terms can be useful.
If it is programming (as opposed to coding) then it is no-code.
Zapier is a great example, non techies like me don't have to work with APIs, webhooks (?).. we can work with if this then that in plain english.
I get what you are saying, between this and what @Kertone said about being mostly visual
For me, it's any tool that required a developer up to 5 years ago.
If you find a tool that allows you to create a product that 5 years ago was impossible to make for you, it's a no-code tool.
Now though, it's all about quality.
There are lots of no-code tools that allow you to create stuff, but for me, a good no-code tool is what allows you to create a product that doesn't look like it was made by a no-code tool.
Webflow and Zapier are great examples.