Low code/no code (LC/NC)
Uncovering the pros and cons of rapid tech deployment
10x looked at how LC/NC solutions can help civic tech developers build new tools and apps
Low-code and no-code development tools allow users to design and develop applications without needing to know how to code. They can also accelerate development if teams don't have a lot of time to code. 10x researched the fast-growing marketplace for these solutions, as they have gained traction in government in recent years. The team also explored whether there is a need to develop guidance about the use of such tools.
Agencies are sold LC/NC tools based on the promise of the significant time and budget savings they can provide, and on the ability to empower civil servants to solve their own business needs. But without proper guidance and training, agencies could face compromised information security and struggle with application maintainability due to the endless use of customizations and configurations. A guide on the advantages and risks of using LC/NC tools, as well as how to minimize problems with usability, maintenance, security, obsolescence, and governance could provide a significant value to agencies looking to adopt these methods.
In 10x's research, however, the team found the promise of LC/NC is often overshadowed by compromises in information security and the related challenges of application maintainability due to the myriad use of customizations and configurations. Another concern was that simplifying design code hides unavoidable back-end complexity, which could also lead to vendor lock-in and higher costs over the long run. The Phase Two team also found there isn't actually an agreed-upon definition of what solutions count as low code/no code, and that makes offering broad guidance difficult for 10x.
Ultimately, they concluded that the time is not quite right for further funding, but that 10x should revisit this space in a few years when there may be more of an appetite for this type of guidance, and to investigate how LC/NC solutions have evolved to address some of the trade-offs uncovered by the project team.
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