Why is No Code testing important in software development

No code platforms have been all the rave in the past few years, and with great beneficial reasons. Initially, coders were apprehensive of this concept. Meaning, they perceived it as a tool beneath their skillset. Or it was intended for those who could not code. In contrast, the no code movement has offered far more advantages for developers with the infusion of artificial intelligence and machine learning.

“The possibilities this opens for developers frees their time for more innovation and productivity when they are focused on their craft versus non-coding tasks.”

In this article, we will explore the vital components of no code platforms and how AI and ML play a dominant role in the movement.

What is No Code?

No code platforms offer users the ability to build advanced applications without writing code themselves. It is the culmination of APIs meeting software developers meeting UI designers. Some of the greatest benefits beyond the non-dependence of programming language knowledge are the reduced costs of development and speed at which products can be moved to market.

Benefits of No Code platforms

In summary:

• No installation required
• Drag and drop application building
• No programming language knowledge necessarily needed
• Faster to market
• Opens more capabilities by allowing custom code integration

No code platforms require no additional installation of software in most cases. Many of them operate from the “cloud.” It becomes as easy as using a GUI (graphical user interface) to drag and drop components together to build an application. Under the hood, third-party integrations and APIs drive the engine for functionality.

A tool like Zapier can connect other web services without writing a single line of code. For example, a business owner could user Zapier to automatically create MailChimp emailing list subscribers from Typeform entries. All three tools can be created, configured, and integrated by non-coders from their respective GUIs.

No code platforms should not prohibit the ability to add code. They should embrace it! Offering advanced users the capability to integrate custom code opens a world of possibilities. In Autify, an AI-based test automation tool, users can augment any step with JavaScript.

Say a QA tester wanted to click the Nth item in a list. Instead of manually recording the action of selecting all items in the list until the Nth item is chosen, they can record the initial selection and use JavaScript to expand logic in selecting the Nth item.

Are coders obsolete in a No Code world?

There are some who believe the no code movement should not allow any coding at all. They believe that any newly written line of code is a line that must be debugged. Let’s just be realistic here… The point of no code or even a low code movement is to allow an easier barrier for entry to building applications that would normally only be accessible by skilled coders.

For example, a business owner with a boutique brick-and-mortar store could in essence create their own e-commerce version of their store online with platforms like Shopify. They can add products, track inventory, create discounts, and even market by email. They can integrate their social media channels and even transform their online stores into native iOS and Android apps with Shopify plugins such as Tapcart.

These no code tools allow a non-coder (also known as a “citizen developer”) the ability to build an app by dragging and dropping components or filling out pre-defined and undefined fields.

Does this make coders obsolete? Absolutely not!

In fact, it creates more demand for developers behind these platforms. It also allows them to focus on more innovation rather than coding bug fixes.

Why is No Code testing important?

Let’s examine testing as an example. Most DevOps teams test their applications manually. The teams that use automated testing tools must require yet another programming skillset to learn for writing test scripts. And if a test fails, or if the application grows, maintenance of manual tests becomes a nightmare.

Codeless test automation software should include an easy to use interface. It should allow for intuitive record-and-playback test scripts. It should capture screenshots of each step, automatically add assertions, and allow for editing pre-recorded steps. More importantly, if an element changes in the UI it should offer some intelligence to detect the change. Autify does this with the power of artificial intelligence. Cumbersome maintenance become a thing of the past with machine learning.

In the screenshot above, you can see a side by side comparison of test results. If this were manually written by a QA tester it would result in failure. The testers would then have to take time to determine why the test failed, then modify their test script, and ultimately re-run it. All that effort just to determine the “Cancel” button was removed from a constantly changing iteration of the UI.

With Autify, the change was automatically detected, the test passed but was noted for the tester’s evaluation later. They even have the option to Save as Failed if they desire. This is the power of artificial intelligence. The possibilities this opens for developers frees their time for more innovation and productivity when they are focused on their craft versus non-coding tasks.

Conclusion

In summary, no code platforms require no additional programming skills or extra no installations. They have easy to use GUIs, oft imploring drag and drop application building which helps bring products to market faster.

The no code movement is booming with a wealth of tools playing vital roles in its growth. The key differentiator going forward is scale. Integrating big data, automation, and repetitious tasks can only scale well with machines doing the exhaustive work. Applying artificial intelligence to recognize evolving patterns and training cognitive models to learn from applications, in my opinion, is the next wave. Autify is already advancing in this area as it relates to testing automation. Give Autify a try today!

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