The Evolution from DevOps to DevSecOps 

DevOps, the practice that emphasizes collaboration and communication between development and IT operations, revolutionized software development services. However, as the technology landscape grew more complex, so did the attack vectors exploited by cybercriminals. This prompted the need to enhance the DevOps model by weaving security into every stage of the software development lifecycle. Thus, DevSecOps was born. 

In the traditional approach, security was often introduced late in the development cycle, leading to hurried patching and potential vulnerabilities slipping through the cracks. DevSecOps, on the other hand, integrates security from the very beginning. Developers, operations teams, and security professionals work hand in hand to identify and mitigate potential risks throughout the process. 

Why DevSecOps Matters: Real-World Examples 

DevSecOps has real-world implications that showcase its effectiveness in safeguarding software development. Take, for instance, the Equifax data breach of 2017. This breach, which compromised the personal data of nearly 147 million people, stemmed from a known vulnerability in Apache Struts. Had DevSecOps been in place, continuous monitoring and prompt patching could have prevented this catastrophic breach. 

Moreover, sectors like healthcare have recognized the value of DevSecOps in protecting sensitive data. The University of California San Francisco (UCSF) integrated security protocols into its development pipeline, ensuring that patient data remained uncompromised. This proactive approach demonstrates how DevSecOps can directly contribute to data security in critical domains. 

A Glimpse into the Future 

A study by Gartner predicts that by 2025, 60% of enterprise DevOps initiatives will include DevSecOps practices. This shift underscores the growing recognition of the importance of security integration. As organizations become increasingly aware of the risks posed by cyber threats, they are realizing the need to adopt comprehensive security measures right from the beginning of the development process. 

The DevSecOps Workflow 

DevSecOps revolves around a continuous cycle of development, security, and operations. Here’s a simplified breakdown of the workflow: 

• Planning and Analysis: Teams collaborate to define security requirements, threat models, and risk assessments before any code is written. This ensures potential vulnerabilities are identified early. 
• Coding and Development: Secure coding practices are followed, and automated security testing tools are integrated into the development pipeline to catch issues in real-time. 
• Continuous Testing: Automated security tests run alongside functional tests to identify vulnerabilities at every stage. This approach prevents the accumulation of security debt. 

• Continuous Integration and Deployment: Code changes are integrated and tested continuously. Automated deployments ensure that security controls are consistently enforced. 
• Monitoring and Feedback: Ongoing monitoring of applications helps identify anomalies and potential security breaches. Feedback loops are established for continuous improvement. 

The Bottom Line: Security as a Shared Responsibility 

DevSecOps shatters the silos between developers, security teams, and operations, fostering a collaborative environment where security is everyone’s responsibility. Developers gain a deeper understanding of security considerations, and security teams are more attuned to the development process. 

By embracing DevSecOps, companies can stay ahead of cyber threats, build resilient applications, and maintain the trust of their users. Remember, it’s not just about writing code; it’s about writing secure code. 

In a landscape where breaches have the potential to cause immeasurable damage, DevSecOps isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a safeguard against digital catastrophe. As we continue to witness the symbiotic relationship between technology and security, one thing is clear: the journey to secure software begins with DevSecOps. So, whether you’re a developer, an operations guru, or a security enthusiast, let’s unite in weaving security into every line of code we write. Your software is only as strong as its weakest link – let’s make that link unbreakable. 

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1. Agile Collaboration, No Strings Attached

Remember the days when teams had to be in the same physical space to work together? Cloud computing changed that. Collaboration tools like GitHub have taken the software engineering world by storm. Over 73 million repositories host projects ranging from tiny utilities to massive applications, proving that the cloud is all about teamwork without borders.

2. Scaling Up and Down, Effortlessly

When a software product gains sudden popularity, it can be overwhelming for traditional infrastructure. But cloud computing lets you scale resources as needed. When Pokémon GO became a global sensation, cloud scalability ensured the game didn’t crash under pressure. That’s agility at its finest.

3. Your Budget’s New Best Friend

In the past, hefty budgets were needed for hardware and maintenance. Cloud computing flips the script. Slack, the messaging app, slashed operational expenses by a whopping 20% after migrating to the cloud. This shift means even startups can afford powerful computing without breaking the bank.

4. DevOps: Bridging the Gap Seamlessly

Software development and IT operations used to be separate islands. Not anymore, thanks to DevOps. And guess what’s the perfect match for DevOps? Cloud computing. High-performing DevOps teams deploy 208 times more frequently, a game-changer in the fast-paced software engineering world.

5. Borders Are So Last Century

Cloud computing has shattered geographical barriers. GitHub’s millions of repositories are a testament to global collaboration, turning software engineering into a worldwide symphony of coding minds. It’s the ultimate proof that great software knows no boundaries.

6. From Data to Insights

The cloud’s ability to handle massive amounts of data is a game-changer. The New York Times leveraged cloud computing to analyze data and deliver personalized recommendations. It’s like turning raw data into gold by understanding reader preferences.

7. Security, No Compromises

Cloud security used to be a concern. Now, cloud providers invest heavily in fortifying their platforms. Microsoft Azure, a major cloud player, complies with over 90 industry standards, proving that the cloud is no longer the Wild West but a secure fortress for software product engineering.

8. Innovation Unleashed

Cloud computing isn’t just about convenience; it’s about sparking innovation. Amazon’s voice-controlled assistant, Alexa, is a prime example. Cloud computing’s power in terms of scalability and real-time analysis allows companies to dream big and innovate even bigger.

In the world of software product engineering, cloud computing isn’t just a buzzword; it’s a disruptive force that’s rewriting the rules. From global collaboration to affordable scalability, from agile development to security reassurances, the cloud’s impact is undeniable. As technology continues to evolve, the cloud will remain a guiding star, leading software product engineering into a future full of possibilities.

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In 2023, technology in software development is reaching new heights, marked by several key trends shaping the industry. Artificial intelligence (AI) has emerged as a critical component, revolutionizing the way software is created and optimized. Machine learning (ML) is also gaining momentum, enabling the development of predictive models and data-driven decision-making, resulting in applications like fraud detection and personalized recommendations. Blockchain, the decentralized ledger technology, is obtaining popularity for its capacity to build secure and transparent applications while tracking digital asset ownership. Moreover, the Internet of Things (IoT) is connecting billions of devices, necessitating efficient data storage and processing, along with enhanced security measures. As these trends converge, software development is on an unprecedented path of growth and advancement.

Popular Web Development Stacks

A technology stack is the amalgamation of cutting-edge tools and frameworks used to develop an application. It includes programming languages, frameworks, databases, front-end and back-end tools, and APIs. The following tech stacks will be more in use in 2023 for various reasons, including their scalability, performance, and ease of use. They are also well-supported by the developer community, which means plenty of resources are available to help you get started.

MEAN

MEAN stands for MongoDB, Express.js, AngularJS, and Node.js. It is a full-stack JavaScript stack that is known for its ease of use. MEAN’s flexibility, scalability, and performance make it a well-rounded choice for different types of applications beyond its core strengths.

• MongoDB: A document NoSQL database well-suited for storing large amounts of data.
• Express.js: A minimalist web framework that is easy to learn and use.
• Angular.js: A client-side JavaScript framework for building user interfaces.
• Node.js: A JavaScript web server that can be used to build both frontend and backend applications.

If you are developing a JavaScript application, especially in a Node.js environment, it’s highly recommended to seriously consider the MEAN stack.

MERN

MERN is similar to MEAN, but it uses React.js instead of AngularJS. MERN is the acronym for the following open-source components:

• MongoDB
• Express.js
• React.js/ Redux: A JavaScript library that is used for building user interfaces.
• Facilitates the scalability of apps by offering a structured approach to handle state management through a unidirectional data flow model.
• Node.js

The MERN stack is ideal for smaller sample projects, such as single-page applications or mobile apps.

LAMP

LAMP is a well-established tech stack that is known for its reliability and security. It encompasses:

• Linux: A free and open-source operating system
• Apache: A web server that is used to serve web pages.
• MySQL: A relational database management system.
• PHP: A server-side scripting language used for web development. (Can opt for alternatives such as Python and Perl as well.)

Developers are drawn to the LAMP stack due to its seamless deployment and customization capabilities. It is a cost-effective alternative to expensive software packages and enterprise solutions. It can help enable competition with commercial DevOps tools, support backend, and server-side web development, and facilitate the creation of dynamic and static web content.

Ruby on Rails

Ruby on Rails is a web framework that is known for its simplicity and productivity. It adopts the widely used Model-View-Controller (MVC) architectural pattern, which is popular among various web frameworks and is one of the most well-known patterns in software development. Ruby is a versatile, open-source programming language with applications in web development, data processing, automation, and other domains. Its flexibility and portability make it compatible with every operating system, and its demand remains high.

Django

Django is another popular web framework that is based on the Python programming language, that is well-known for its versatility and simplicity. It is capable of creating various websites like CMS, social networks, etc. It seamlessly works with different client-side frameworks and delivers content in diverse formats (HTML, RSS feeds, JSON, XML). Django follows the DRY (Don’t Repeat Yourself) principle, promoting efficient and maintainable code. Moreover, it offers plenty of choices for functionality and can be extended with additional components as required.

.NET

.NET is an open-source framework granting unrestricted access for anyone to use, read, and modify it freely. This versatile framework allows .NET code to run on various operating systems like Linux, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and more. It has three primary implementations: .NET Framework for Windows, .NET Core (renamed .NET) for cross-platform support, and .NET Standard, a specification enabling code reuse across different implementations with specific APIs for each operating system. This flexibility and cross-platform support make .NET a preferred choice for modern application development.

Flutter

Flutter is an open-source framework that lets developers build apps for different platforms with just one set of code. It makes development easy and delivers native-like performance while keeping the app’s look consistent across platforms. Also, using Flutter saves time and money as there’s no need for separate teams to create Android and iOS versions of the app. Flutter’s ‘hot reload’ feature allows real-time code updates, making the development process faster and more efficient. Additionally, its native-like performance ensures smooth user experiences on both Android and iOS devices. With Flutter, businesses can reach a broader audience by launching their apps simultaneously on different platforms.

Serverless Stack

Serverless architectures have gained popularity in mobile app development, eliminating the need for backend server management. It is considered the future of application architecture, offering benefits like reduced operational overhead, streamlined DevOps, and enhanced scalability. Serverless functions, also known as Functions as a Service (FaaS), execute applications based on cloud events without storing data. Organizations only pay for actual resource consumption, not pre-purchased services, resulting in cost savings and increased efficiency. However, challenges exist, including the need for a new approach to development and tools based on a DevOps culture, potential latency and performance issues, and concerns about monitoring, debugging, and security. Despite these challenges, many companies are cautiously adopting serverless in conjunction with traditional code deployment to experiment and find use cases.

The value of a tech stack lies in its efficient data management across various domains. In 2023, AI has become a more crucial element in tech stacks, automating tasks, enhancing decision-making, and creating new products. The typical AI tech stack consists of data collection, storage, processing with machine learning algorithms, and output presentation. Additional components may include MLOps, AI infrastructure, and AI tools. AI  services is being applied in various areas, such as customer service automation, fraud detection, product recommendations, and personalized user experiences. As AI evolves, we can anticipate more innovative applications in tech stacks.

Conclusion

These are just a few of the many tech stacks that are available for web development. The best stack for a project depends on its specific needs and requirements. First and foremost, project requirements play a significant role, including the type of application, expected traffic, and desired functionality. The expertise and skillset of the development team are equally important, as their familiarity with different technologies and frameworks will impact efficiency and code quality. Scalability is another essential consideration, ensuring the chosen stack can handle increasing user loads and future growth. Budget constraints and project timelines also influence the decision-making process. Security concerns may also demand specific technologies for applications dealing with sensitive data. However, the tech stacks mentioned above are all well-supported, and they offer a variety of benefits.

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Data security: The nemesis? 

The client information ensconced in telehealth databases are some of the most concise, wide-spectrum and relevant clusters of personal data, one of the most valuable on the black market. The consequences of a mishap, spanning from privacy contraventions and insurance claim threats to bioterrorism of cataclysmic potential, imperils the future of telehealth. At the personal level, looming fears of information leak among clients lead to non-disclosure of information deemed private, leading to incomplete diagnoses and ineffective treatment. In a not-so-distant future, where even medicine administration would be carried out through intelligent intravenous systems, ironclad security systems are imperative to effectuate any quantum leaps in telehealth.  

For telehealth solutions to be secure, service providers must embrace the basic tenets of data security, keeping in mind that every mechanism is only as strong as its weakest link. The telehealth software must be robust, with means of secured channels between the client and the service provider.  

Healthcare organizations need to secure their endpoints, maintain compliance with standards such as HIPAA, look for high-performance options while choosing software, establish policies and conduct training for relevant practitioners to ensure there is no theft or misuse of information and most importantly, identify a reliable technology provider to leverage their industry expertise to their advantage. 

However, the measures taken by the telehealth providers are futile unless consumers also partake in security; the clients must be trained in safe practices, like the use of tough passwords and VPN, not merely for telehealth but all applications on their device(s). Customers must also be vigilant of fraudulent service providers – identifying services with standards such as HIPAA compliance would be a good start. 

Low adoption rates  

Another major obstacle in the telehealth industry is the slow adoption rate among the elderly, who constitute 56% of all health expenditures in the US. This is because of the disengagement of the sense of touch, which, according to experts, is the most reassuring in the doctor-patient relationship. A generation that does not feel up to speed in the tech-savvy world, the elderly are made to feel ill-at-ease, left at the bidding of apathetic robots, and thus always feeling the need for human touch. 

It is problematic getting to the root of this issue, as it is humanistic and dynamic to each individual. However, telehealth companies can certainly benefit from making their services more intelligible; user-friendly wireframes and self-explanatory UI can go a long way. The most successful telehealth companies of today succeed in bringing about a sense of human touch, through the application of psychologically compatible virtual guidance systems, which would assist the patients through their routine tasks such as exercise and medicine administration. 

It is pivotal to focus on identifying and resolving social constraints through IT, an approach that has been formulated over years of experience.  One of our projects with a major telehealth service based in the USA comes to mind, where the use of simple UIs was decisive in doing away with clients’ dependence on bystanders, hitherto a necessity in managing the patient’s day-to-day activities. A good example of this is an intuitive solution we built for patients with neurodegenerative disease – you can find the full story here. 

Telemedicine and Scalability 

A look into the issues of telehealth would reveal, at a mere casual glance, how its various problems are inscrutably interrelated, with one issue seemingly originating from another. It is within this labyrinthine system that the problem of scalability lurks, the antiparticle of the challenges mentioned earlier. The solution which would be the key to the future of telemedicine, is also the most tedious, as the solutions must be sought from the perspectives of technology, economics, and culture; the data security hurdles challenge the information storage potential, while the low rate of adoption makes it difficult to scale the infrastructure of the services. 

The mindset of potential clients can also be a tough nut; the consultation rates are frowned upon by traditionalists who dismiss teleconsultations as mere gimmicks employed by hospitals to extort money from immobilized and immunocompromised individuals, and therefore, opt for home consultations. Even now, these are the alternative to consultations at hospitals, while teleconsultation remains the last resort, employed mostly in counseling services and minor health concerns.  

The construction of intelligent and robust solutions capable of handling large volumes of data is key here. Another one of our projects handled this particular challenge rather impressively, allowing radiologists to diagnose and process over 600 reports a day.  

As we strive to mitigate the numerous other hindrances in scaling telehealth, we adhere to the rudiments of product engineering and envision molding the future of healthcare through digital healthcare solutions, where its accessibility will only be exceeded by its economic value, catapulting us to a new level of health and well-being. 

If you are looking for a reliable IT partner who understands the landscape of digital health and has a diverse portfolio of healthcare projects under their belt, we might just be the right pick for you. If you would like us to accelerate your vision for digital transformation in your organization, drop a mail to sales@experionglobal.com. 

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At the next stage, the business model is devised and fine-tuned, and finally, when you are certain you have a winning product on your hand, you step on the gas pedal and scale production quickly.  

Finding the right team with the desired productivity bandwidth, maintaining cost savings, and having an R&D team with a limited budget and resources are some of the main challenges that startups face. At this point, choosing to collaborate with a technology partner that helps you address those challenges becomes a good option. 

Several start-ups that have done well for themselves, including giants such as Slack and Skype, used outsourced development in their early days. Fab.com, a highly successful eCommerce platform, outsourced its initial development when they started, and continue to work with a development team based out of the city even today. 

If you have a groundbreaking idea that needs to be built ground-up and are contemplating the pros and cons of outsourcing your product development, take a look at this list of advantages 

What are the advantages of outsourcing?

1. Access to multidisciplinary expertise & knowhow

Companies that focus on Software Product Development have a talent pool that is vast and diverse. If you are trying to build an innovative product, it will need to be thought through using different concepts and theories to ensure differentiation and value in the market. A team that has years of experience working in various industries will have the expertise needed to apply the best available technologies to your product concept. 

Leveraging their knowledge and understanding of the business domain can ensure increased productivity, improved efficiency, superior quality, and enhanced customer experience. 

2. Cost-effective resource enhancement 

One of the most obvious advantages of outsourcing is the cost-effectiveness of the operation. Unlike dealing with full-time employees, whose time and expenses you cannot fully control, a development partner will be able to give a phased break-up of costs, enabling you to control how much cash you spend on each stage of development. Since the entire project development will be broken into phases for you, you can identify the areas in which most resources are required and keep a rein on costs spiraling out of control. 

The project might require a sudden scale-up for a short duration, or you might find that you need a highly skilled engineer to complete one specific part of your product idea. At this juncture, hiring a full-time employee would be an under-utilization of your resources, not to mention the difficulties involved in finding a resource with the right set of skills. Hiring temporary help is also time-consuming and can pose confidentiality risks. When you outsource development, you have access to the entire talent pool of the company, ensuring your development will happen quickly and cost-effectively. 

3. Reduced time-to-market

Several startups are victims of missed or extended deadlines  – the product never takes off the ground because there was no accountability for timelines. Sticking to a deadline for completing your software development is not something you will have to worry about when you outsource – your development partner will take up responsibility for time management, allocation, and management of resources. 

Ensure both parties agree to a fixed program time and don’t forget to check the reviews of your development partner from other clients they have worked with. Websites such as Clutch can provide specific scores for criteria such as timeline management and cost-effectiveness of the companies you are looking into.

With the right development partner, you will be provided end-to-end support from conceptualization, to design, build, and deployment with a specific point of contact for each phase, ensuring maximum efficiency. Your development partner will most likely have experience building a wide array of products, further enhancing their problem-solving skills and speed. Their resources don’t have the same steep learning curve or limitations that internal resources will have. 

4. Focus on core functions

When you have the assurance of a reliable team handling the technical side of things, you have the time to focus on the tasks you need to complete to run a profitable business. Ensuring your software product development is in safe hands allows you to focus on branding, marketing, ideating, strategizing, and other all-important functions that are imperative to the success of your business.

Black Rock IT Solutions, an expert in software development services has been empowering start-ups by helping them bring their vision to life for the last 14 years. From concept to design to deployment, we can guide and support you every step of the way. If you have an idea for an innovative product and are looking for the right talent to help you build it, drop a mail to sales@blackrockdxb.com. 

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In fact, McKinsey estimates that these advancements in automation will lead to logistics costs dropping by as much as 40 percent. But automation is not limited to the workflows in warehouses – logistics companies are realizing that they can change the way goods flow across all modes of transportation as well – it can expand a company’s ability to flex with peak demand, pick and pack individual products and take on heavier cargo.

Let’s take a look at the revolutions  automation can cause in the transportation industry:

Autonomous Trucks 

Two-thirds of all goods transported in the United States are moved by trucks, and truck driving is the primary occupation in over half of the states in the USA. But ATs, as these fully automated trucks are called, are about to change all that in the future, with their capabilities of being able to operate without any human intervention. A fully autonomous truck would be able to operate at scale without drivers from loading to delivery. 

While full autonomy is a long way off,  experts in the industry have predicted that the shift will happen in several phases, with each phase bringing in a higher amount of cost-savings than the previous ones. 

They also estimate that it will take around ten years for fully autonomous trucks to get on the road and several more before we can envision a completely driver-free trucking industry nation-wide. 

Port Automation 

Automation in ports has five distinct parts: automated equipment, equipment control systems, the terminal control tower which is the “brain” of the automated terminal, human-machine interactions, and interactions with the port community.

From the first automated port that was set up in Europe in the 1900s, over 40 ports have since installed equipment to automate to some degree. Despite the slow returns on investment that most ports are seeing, they are the ideal candidates for automation – their physical environments are predictable and the activities conducted are straightforward and often repetitive and they generate vast amounts of easily collected data. 

With automation, the safety in ports improves, the number of disruptions caused by human labor reduces and the performance of the port becomes more predictable. Once the initial hiccup of huge investment is overcome, ports become ripe to glean the benefits of automation.  In fact, according to research, successfully automated ports see their costs falling by 25-55% and their productivity increasing by 10-35%.

Automation in Air Freight

With companies such as Amazon making their stakes in the logistics industry, and the belly capacity of aircrafts increasing by 3-4% a year, and the huge blows to revenue that the pandemic brought with it, the air cargo industry is under immense pressure.  It is the need of the hour for companies to consider automation to seize as many new opportunities as they can.

Redesigned automated processes can help them provide better service with higher quality and transparency. Automating booking, for instance, could make the process up to 90% faster. A fully digitized sales and customer-service experience could push direct shipper-carrier bookings up to 15-20%, from the 5% it sees today. 

In Conclusion

While automation is one of the most exciting revolutions set to disrupt the transportation industry, it’s not a change that will be seen overnight. All experts point to a slow but sure change – one that might take years, but will certainly transform the industry into something that is a completely different creature from the one we see today. 

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Farms across the globe have now started embracing digital technologies to improve and automate several of their daily tasks. Various new technologies are being employed by farmers including soil sensors, self-driven farm machines, livestock locators, etc. 

New farming techniques such as Hydroponics, Aquaponics,& Vertical farming are embracing digital technology too. Emerging technologies can improve efficiency and also can generate huge volumes of data of all farming activities. This data can then be analyzed to be used in the future for improving farming techniques and crop yields. 

Aqua Farms: How do they work?

Pisciculture farms or Aquafarms are essentially huge fish tanks with varieties of fish being farmed commercially for food. The main challenge of a pisciculture farm is the difficulty involved in monitoring the fish constantly and maintaining a healthy environment in the fish tanks. Various parameters need to be monitored in real-time to get a healthy harvest. It is almost impossible for a farm to collect and maintain accurate data on a daily basis.  

Feeding, Grading, and Moving are the most vital operations of a fish farm. Fishes are graded every week. As the fishes grow in length and size they are moved to larger tanks. Here in the new tanks, the fish are graded again and the process repeats itself. When they reach their maximum size, they are harvested for food.

How can Digital Technologies help?

As the digital consultant to a leading pisciculture farm in Australia, team blackrock made extensive visits to the farm and held discussions with the client to understand the challenges the farm faced and the opportunities digital technology could bring.

The main challenges the farm faced were in Tank Maintenance and Fish Management.  Even though the farm already has a lot of sensor-based alarms to monitor water quality, water filter status, oxygen rate, etc.,  and a variety of manual data collection methods, it was not able to improve its efficiency to the desired standards. 

Some of the data collected at the Farm included:  

1. Tank Maintenance

• Water Quality check ( Sensor-based alarm)
• Water Filter Status ( Staff updates, after checks at regular intervals)
• Oxygen rate (Sensor-based alarm)

2. Fish Management 

• Fish feeding program ( Created an algorithm using Pisciculture expertise )
• Fish grading program (Staff update) 
• Fish Movement (Staff update)
• Fish Mortality rate (Staff update)
• Fish harvest status (Staff update)

blackrock was able to create a custom solution that would be integrated with a variety of sensors deployed across the farm. The objective of the solution was to systematically collect, monitor, and report tank and fish-related data.

The mobile and web applications that blackrock subsequently built and deployed enabled the farm management team to monitor the maintenance and fish management operations in real-time. The data collected about the fish (growth, length, breadth) along with the tank data was used to improve and standardize the harvest of the farm. 

With the introduction of these new technologies, the client was able to;

• Bring down the early stage mortality of fish 
• Reduce the amount of fish food wasted 
• Improve the grading process
• Improve total fish harvest

By 2050,  there needs to be a 60% increase in food production to meet the rising demands of the world’s growing population.  Innovation and reduced wastage in the agriculture sector are key to being prepared for this eventuality. Digital technologies that fuse sensors & mobile and web technologies will help us improve farming techniques and increase productivity. 

With digital technology complimenting the latest biotech farming techniques, providing healthy, safe nutritious food for our future generations becomes an achievable reality. 

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The idea that computers will one day code themselves has been around for a while. Indeed, the recent pandemic has accelerated the adoption of low-code platforms by enterprises whose IT departments are short on time, but still need digital solutions to connect with their customers as companies have begun to work from home. 

The rise of no-code software and citizen developers sure does make it seem like this is what the future looks like. But what exactly is no-code? How is it different from low-code? What kind of applications can you build using no code, and how will this digital disruption impact the future of application development? 

Let’s take a deep dive into the world of no-code and understand it better.

What is no code software?

No code platforms allow anyone to build an application, without needing to write a single line of code. It works with a pre-written code that lays a foundation for the visual elements that you then use to build your application. No-code software platforms aren’t new.  Tools like Dreamweaver allowed anyone to build a website using drag and drop tools even two decades ago. So no-code still means coding, just not for the person building the application.

No code platforms typically work using a user interface builder which allows people to drag and drop web pages together, visual modeling to work with data, reusing bits of old applications to build new applications, and allowing for integrations with most web services in the IT landscape.

Low code Vs No code

The terms low code and no code are often mistakenly used interchangeably. Although their functions are similar, they are not the same thing. 

No Code software is for people with absolutely no coding knowledge. It uses declarative coding and is more about what you want your application to do, rather than how you get your application to do it. In traditional software application, the code would tell the system how to implement the functionalities you desire. With no code, you get to say what the app does, and the platform will build it for you.

Low Code Software platforms can also be used by those who don’t know how to code, but at some point, you will need a professional to intervene. Low code platforms typically have pre-built functionalities that allow users to build the application they need up to a certain point, after which a professional coder would have to step into the scene to complete the build. Developers have the skill to tell the application how they want the components to work.

What kind of applications can you build using no code?

No Code tools allow you to build back office, web, and mobile applications. Some examples of fully functional apps you can create using no-code platforms are CMS-driven sites using Webflow, e-commerce shops with Shopify, Facebook Messenger bots for your shop powered by Octane AI, or web apps using Bubble, and many others. 

However, the rigid templates that no-code platforms work with can limit what a person can build with it – the templates and components are configured to meet the needs of a set number of use cases. As soon as a little out-of-the-box solution needs to be implemented, a specific piece of business logic that’s imperative to the application, the inevitable dead end will be hit. These scenarios will force people to find costly and complex workarounds that could have probably been easily avoided. Finally, after making the application work within the constraints of the no-code provider, all that’s left with is a piece of software more rigid and costly than a bespoke solution ever would have been.

How will this cause digital disruption, if it even is one?

At first glance, no code and low code platforms if implemented properly feel too good to be true. The speed at which a new application can be rolled out, along with the cost-effectiveness of being able to do it without a developer seems to be the perfect answer to the software solution needs of enterprises and startups. 

While building a basic website is something you can easily do with no-code tools,  building large, enterprise-scale applications with complex requirements is still something you need professional developers for. Something that seems cost-effective in the short-term has the potential to cost you much more than you bargained for later down the line. Taking the total cost of ownership of any application that’s being built is crucial to the success of a software project.

As the complexity of the requirements increases, the need for a professional developer gets more and more clear. For example, even though a person knows exactly what the house he wants needs to look like, and he has all the building materials ready to start construction, he still needs an architect to draw out the plan and tell him why his idea for a glass wall on the east-facing side of the house is a bad idea.

What does No code mean to my data and information security?

Not knowing your code from the inside out, not knowing the technology stack used to build it, and having no control over the company that provided the no-code platform can lead to several security risks. When a no-code path is chosen, it is often at the cost of the security and reliability of the application being built. 

And finally, using a no-code platform usually means the company doesn’t own its source code. If the decision to move away from no-code is made, problems like vendor lock-ins crop up, leading to the inability to switch providers or huge costs to do so. 

In conclusion, is this the future? Probably not.

Programming as we know it isn’t going away any time soon.

In the words of Amit Zavery, vice president and head of Platform for Google Cloud, “Big, complex applications are just that, big and complex. No amount of abstraction will replace the need to understand how an application functions at the line-of-code level. If I’m building a very sophisticated e-commerce website, if I’m building an Uber or an Airbnb … you are not able to build any of the things using those tools. No-code. Low-code – It doesn’t make any difference. It’s going to be done by professional developers using professional tools.”

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As the call progressed, the client laid out their objectives and requirements, and it went something like this:

“The module should allow us to capture depositions, and as the case progresses, we need to be able to record subpoena related documents too, if any.”

Deposition? Subpoena? Latin had always seemed like a useless, dead language to our young, enthusiastic team of engineers. Until today, that is. 

As the call progressed, the conversation continued to be peppered with Latin terminology that nobody in the team could understand. The project team, especially the Business Analysis (BA)  team, was in deep trouble.

Realizing the anxiety that was threatening to overwhelm his team, the Senior Project Manager at Experion, in a stroke of genius, found an unconventional yet perfectly efficient solution. The best way to learn these Latin words, and understand how to use them in context, was to hear it being used in its home ground – an American courtroom. So as part of the homework for the project, everyone on the Business Analyst team was instructed to watch the NETFLIX Drama Series Suits.

Suits is an American legal drama television series, and it turned out to be the perfect classroom to understand the American legal system, as it follows the journey of an attorney who starts working for a New York law firm. 

Watching Suits helped Experion’s business analysts grasp a better contextual understanding of words such as subpoenas, deposition, affidavit, class action, and discovery in the context of an American courtroom. This helped the team comprehend almost all the common legal terminologies used by the client with relative ease. Armed with the understanding gathered from watching SUITS, the Business Analyst team’s confidence improved dramatically (don’t mind the pun). Interviews and brainstorming sessions with the client stakeholders during the requirement elicitation phase of the project became easier than what the BA team expected after that first call. 

This helped Experion’s project team to swiftly develop and deploy the web-based legal process management solution.As the project closed its first major phase on a triumphant note, the end-users were thrilled at how easy their lives had become with this solution in place. The attorneys’ promised drinks and dinner for the team when they came to visit New York.

Who’d have thought that something as inconsequential as watching a TV show could have a butterfly effect on so many lives? This only goes to prove how a little bit of unconventional thinking can yield spectacular results!

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E-learning platforms have been around for many decades, but haven’t been able to create the kind of  ‘transformational’ impact that has long been promised. With the Coronavirus ‘black swan’ event, all of these remote learning platforms have gotten a sudden push into the mainstream, even in places where people could not envision such options earlier due to poor infrastructure and other socio-economic issues. 

The size of the E-learning market had already been pegged to cross USD 240 Billion by 2023, and now this projection is going to go up further. It is no wonder then, that in the coming days we will see newer companies entering the remote learning race utilizing emerging technologies like Artificial Intelligence, Big Data Analytics, Cloud Computing & Augmented and Virtual Reality to compete with established market leaders.  

Emerging technologies that are set to take e-learning solutions to the next level

Artificial Intelligence

According to Forbes, “Artificial intelligence can act as a virtual tutor and answer questions on the fly”.

Artificial Intelligence-powered E-learning platforms will be equipped to identify and assess learners’ levels of understanding and suggest customized paths of learning. Content analytics powered by AI makes personalized and learner-centered approaches possible – these would be based on the learner’s intellectual level, from kindergarten through higher education to even corporate training. Developing these solutions is no longer a daunting task with the advent of AIaaS or “AI as a Service” – now these solutions are easy to implement and come with enticing benefits. 

Augmented Reality (AR)

AR solutions bring more engagement, excitement, and innovation to e-learning platforms making content more consumable, enjoyable, and valuable. Augmented Reality techniques will be widely utilized to increase engagement for learners through activities, rather than the traditional read and write learning methodology. Augmented reality can also be used to offer customized learning options to suit differently-abled students with special needs to learn better, as AR includes gesture, voice recognition, and image rendering experiences.

Virtual and Remote Laboratories

Laboratories are some of the best places to learn – they allow students to acquire knowledge, experiment with different methods of arriving at answers, and experience real equipment, inculcating active learning and the development of skills based on solving challenges. Simulating labs virtually makes it possible for the users to stay connected through the internet to a remote physical system, and conduct web-based technical experiments. Students can extend their depth of knowledge in areas of control systems, programming, database, various other web-based applications, tools, and technologies. 

Virtual labs are also extremely beneficial to run experiments that are normally too expensive, unsafe to run, or unavailable.  They also allow students to repeat an experiment multiple times,  giving them the opportunity to see how changed parameters and settings affect the outcome without wasting resources.

The Internet of Things

The number of devices that will be a part of the Internet of Things (IoT) by 2025 will be around 75 billion in number. The rise in IoT is going to further improve the e-learning experience. Already we see how mobile learning allows learners to access E-learning courses with absolute freedom of time and place. In the future, we are going to see more content in the form of images and videos.  24X7 access to the internet across a number of wearables will make teachers redesign assessment from “remembering and writing down”, to “evaluate and elucidate concepts on the go”.

If you’re thinking of using these technologies to your advantage to build or improve your E-learning systems and solutions, reach out to the expert technology consultants at Black Rock IT Solutions. blackrock has built spectacular EduTech platforms for organizations across the globe – with our years of experience and know-how in the latest technologies such as AI and AR/VR, blackrock is certain to deliver the best solution with minimum time investment.

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