Your Top 10 Open Source No Code Platforms: A Quick Guide

As entrepreneurs, solopreneurs, and business owners look for ways to expand their reach more quickly and efficiently, many are choosing to use open-source no-code platforms. Open Source No Code Platforms provide users with an environment that is incredibly versatile, user-friendly, and cost-effective for creating customized websites, web applications, and mobile apps in a fraction of the time it would take if one had to start from scratch

Do you have a Digital Product idea, but not the coding experience to bring it to life? 

Your Top 10 Open Source Code Platforms are here! Our quick guide can help take your projects from concept to completion – all without any time spent in a code editor. Explore the best drag-and-drop builders in the market today and discover how easy it is to launch your digital products.

Say goodbye to spending hours trying to learn complex coding languages just so you can develop your website or apps. With our quick guide, get ready for speedier development with only minimal effort on your part. You don’t even need prior programming knowledge; just pick up one of these open source no-code platforms and start seeing results quickly!  

Check out this article now and find out which platform is right for you!

What is Open Source with no code?

A no-code platform is an easy and fast alternative to more traditional software development approaches. An open-source no-code development platform is a platform by which the source code is free and available to download and deploy by the end-user where that user can edit and upgrade the code as they see fit.

Its authors, usually part of a community or group make its source code available to others who would like to view that code, copy it, learn from it, alter it, or share it. It includes a family of tools that will take you from end to end on the development and deployment of applications using a visual interface.

Most of the time, it’s drag-and-drop, and sometimes even node-based, which allows you to program actions and functions using flow charts and other diagrams.

Here are the Top 9 Most Popular Open Source No-code Platforms:

You may have a specific use case for your no-code requirement so we have reviewed a few different platforms that specialize in their respective areas, including application development, automation, enterprise rivals, website, and the Internet of Things:

1. Bubble.io – The best way to build web apps without coding. Click here! (Affiliate Link)
2. Budibase – OS for the best application development
3. Joget – Simple and effective open-source platforms
4. Convertigo – The First Open Source Enterprise no-code platform
5. Huginn – Create and manage Zaps, just like Zapier
6. StackStorm – Enterprise Platform Without The Costs
7. WordPress – Trusted by the Best
8. REI3 – Best for Small to Medium Businesses
9. Base row – Manage and Create online databases with this app
10. Node-Red – IoT OS System
11. PyCaret – Machine Learning Platform

Through utilizing a user interface, it appeals and caters to not only developers but also citizen non-developers who are interested in creating either an MVP or a fully developed and deployed application.

No-code does allow for minimal hand-coding if it is desired, though the underlying functionality of the application is dependent upon the infrastructure that is laid down underneath the user interface.

The statistics below provide an overview of the scale of the no-code market:

• Accelerated adoption of no-code platforms will change how teams organize and Forrester predicts that in 2021, 75% of application development will use no-code platforms (source).
• Gartner Forecasts Worldwide Low-Code Development Technologies Market will increase in 2020 by 22.6% in 2021 (source).
• According to the market research study published by P&S Intelligence, the global no-code market will witness a 31.1% CAGR during 2020–2030 to reach $187.0 billion by 2030 (source).

It is clear that the industry and the ecosystem are growing at an increasing pace and the prevalence of citizen development and the reduced cost of no-code platforms to deploy will support this growth right into the late 2020s.

What is an Open-Source No-Code Development Platform?

A typical no-code development environment consists of these characteristics:

1. Drag and drop interfaces allow for easy development processes.
2. A visual modeling tool that allows you to create the UIs, data models, and functionality with the option to add in hand-written code when needed.
3. Connectors that handle the data structures, retrieval, and storage.
4. Out-of-the-box functionality allows you to skip having to build your core modules from scratch, and instead focus on building new code.
5. Automated application lifecycle manager that allows for building, deploying, debugging, and the staging and production process. Testing is possible here as well.
6. While no code software generally follows these guidelines, no two no code software are alike, and they are all designed to cater to specific functionality.

Additionally, if you are wondering what is no code software, then you should know that it is software specifically designed for business owners and citizen developers who do not have a background in coding at all.

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Why use Open-Source No-Code?

An open-source no-code development platform is an open-source solution that allows the user to create applications via a drag-and-drop interface, minimizing the amount of code required to write and maintain. Open-source no-code platforms are usually free. However, some platforms provide enterprise-grade features for a reasonable fee.

What’s the difference between closed and open-source software?

Some software has source code that only the person, team, or organization who created it—and maintains exclusive control over it—can modify. People call this kind of software “proprietary” or “closed source” software.

Only the original authors of proprietary software can legally copy, inspect, and alter that software. And to use proprietary software, computer users must agree (usually by signing a license displayed the first time they run this software) that they will not do anything with the software that the software’s authors have not expressly permitted. Microsoft Office and Adobe Photoshop are examples of proprietary software.

Open-source software is different. Its authors make its source code available to others who would like to view that code, copy it, learn from it, alter it, or share it.

The Pros and Cons of an Open Source No-Code Platform

Pros of No Code	Cons of No Code
Flexibility: For open-source software, flexibility is a critical feature that supports this method of software deployment. The end-user depending on the developer resources they have access to has ultimate customization potential without the worry of terms and conditions breached by the company.	Support and Warranty Limitations: As the open-source product is not profit or commercially-driven, user support could be managed by the community or by contractors who specialize in the product. This leads to disparate and often incomplete knowledge based on the product.
Control: Proprietary software is closed source and typically it is against the terms and conditions to reverse engineer the product. Open source flips this on its head and the end-user can customize and control the basic code behind the product for their own deployment. Companies with the resources can take advantage of this and create a product that is truly fit for purpose.	Sustainability and Orphan software: This potential issue is typical of both a commercial product and an open-source project. The worst case scenario is a hack or the product becomes orphaned due to a lack of community or developer interest over time. But again a company that manages its own resources can support these platforms into the future.
Reliability: Just like with orphan software, reliability can go either way with both open and proprietary software. The user relies on the company updating, patching, and enhancing the codebase as well as the community for open-source software. Updates and patches can be managed via the community and supported this way.	Changing licensing terms: The terms and conditions for open-source software are still community-driven and require an element of consensus but are typically open. This may lead to problems if you provide a service on top of the platform for your end-users (due to a lack of control from your side).
Transparency: The main use case for no-code platforms is the fact they are flexible and can be customized to the user’s requirements. Open source code is supportive of this where the users can review and customize the code and as the product are usually community-driven, the roadmap and product plans are a lot more transparent.	Enterprise usage fees: A small negative is the cost and resources required to deploy and run your own instance of the open-source product. This is minimal in the long run but can be a hurdle for the unsophisticated consumer looking for a cheap alternative.
Peer Review and Community: Open source community with passionate programmers and citizen coders means that the code can be peer-reviewed and supported by well-intentioned members. This is typical of the collective and supportive nature of the development crowd to open source projects (Wikipedia, GitHub, etc).
No vendor lock-in and Reduced Costs: Barring the terms and conditions of the open source project, basically “aperta” or open/free to use at your will. No locked-in terms and forced upgrades or payments which can render some platforms unsustainable to continue to use due to the high cost of ownership.

The Top 5 Open Sources No-code Platforms

1. Budibase – OS for the best application development

Budibase is an open-source no-code platform, and a faster way to build business apps that empower teams and improve productivity. Businesses like IBM, Deloitte, Proctor, Gamble, and Rakuten utilize the platform internally.

It utilizes internal databases but also has integrations into the leading DBs including ArangoDB, DynamoDB, Mongo DB, MySQL, S3, and more.

Product Features include:

• Build internal tools super fast for all team members.
• Set up and automate forms within your business.
• Create admin panels to manage data and
• Simple portals for teams and customers.

You can find out more about Budibase at https://budibase.com/ and their resources page at https://docs.budibase.com/

Company Using Open Source No Code Software

2. Joget – Simple and effective open-source platforms

Joget DX is considered the new generation open source no code platform which is typically built for faster, simpler digital transformation (DX). Joget combines the best of Rapid Application Development, Business Process Automation, and Workflow Management.

Joget empowers business users, non-coders, or coders with a single platform to easily build, deliver, monitor, and maintain enterprise applications. Joget DX combines the best of business process automation, workflow management, and no-code application development in a simple, flexible, and open platform.

With more than 200,000 open-source downloads and more than 12,000 community members since inception, the latest major release Joget DX is the next-generation successor to Joget Workflow. Jogged DX combines the best of process automation, workflow management, and no-code application development in a simple, flexible, and open platform. 

Product Features include:

• Progressive Web Apps (PWA) and User Experience (UX)
• Web Push Notification and Offline Support
• Built-in Application Performance Management
• Web App Log Viewer
• Embedded Git Integration for Collaborative Development and Deployment
• Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Smart Decisions
• Bundled No Code TensorFlow AI Plugin
• Bundled No Code Rules Engine Plugin
• Extensibility via Add-On Builders, and
• Enhanced Workflow

Check out the product here https://www.joget.org/product/ for further information, you can check out the community here – https://www.joget.org/community/.

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3. Convertigo – Accelerate Your Projects with No Code

Imagine you can make any app you want. From simple handy workforce apps to Enterprise grade multi-device transactional applications helping companies to accelerate their business.

Check out Convertigo here.

Get live sooner with No Code platform application development which makes your Enterprise get in business success more efficiently, delivering complete applications, similar to Pro Code but faster and cheaper.

Convertigo’s solution offers the following benefits:

1. Data security and User Authentication,
2. Offline Data and Task Scheduling,
3. Activity Monitoring,
4. Data and API Connectors,
5. Web and Mobile Responsive,
6. Back-end Business Logic and & workflows.

Convertigo Monthly Pricing

4. Huginn – Create and manage Zaps, just like Zapier

Just like Zapier and Integromat, Huginn is the open-source version that supports users to create no-code automation and inter-software connections. Huginn has a super active community with over 30k stars on the GitHub platform and Huginn is an easy choice if you have to go open-source solid when choosing a no-code automation platform.https://www.youtube.com/embed/LkYPZ6xxK6U?feature=oembed

Product Features include:

• Set up and scrape websites for their data and even receive an email when they change.
• Connect to Jabber, JIRA, MQTT, next bus, Pushbullet, RSS, Slack, StubHub, translation APIs, Twilio, Twitter, etc
• Send digest emails to your audience at controlled times.
• Track counts of high-frequency events and send an SMS within moments when they spike.
• Send and receive WebHooks
• Track a location for equipment or persons over time

5. StackStorm – Enterprise Platform Without The Costs

Companies Using StackStorm

StackStorm is part of the Linux Foundation as one of their premier projects. It offers robust features including an “If This Then That” platform where users can set up simple or complex automatons. Another brilliant feature of the platform is its powerful events-driven automation process, in which complex workflows can be automated using the following steps:

1. Sensors – These sensors are Python software-based sensors that watch out for any event that is required to trigger the StackStorm system into action.
2. Triggers – External events that kick off a required thing to happen. There are generic triggers (e.g. timers, webhooks) and integration triggers (e.g. Sensu alert, JIRA issue updated). A new trigger type can be defined by writing a sensor plugin.
3. Actions – Generic actions such as ssh, REST call, or integrations (OpenStack, Docker, Puppet) occur after the input trigger occurs. These actions can be invoked directly by the user via CLI or API, or used and called as part of rules and workflows.
4. Rules – Think about this like a map of the flows and how the events can run through the system. You have to match the action with the required output.
5. Workflows – Workflows connect actions into flows, defining the order, transition conditions, and passing the data. Most automation is typically more than one step and thus needs more than one action.
6. Packs – User-created workflows can be downloaded as “packs” by grouping integrations (triggers and actions) and automation (rules and workflows). These can be downloaded on the StackStorm Exchange.
7. Audits – Audit logs are perfect for tracking and managing your development logs for your platform.

6. WordPress – Trusted by the Best

Started in 2003, WordPress was forked from a copy of the b2/catalog by two gentlemen called Mike Little and Matt Mullenweg. This open-source project aimed to close the gap in the market where there was the need for an elegant, well-architected personal publishing system that could be managed by a user in a drag-and-drop manner.

WordPress is licensed under the General Public License (GPLv2 or later) which provides four core freedoms, purpose, change, copy, and redistribute.

WordPress Features and Benefits

Today, forty-three percent of the web uses WordPress, from hobby blogs to the biggest news sites online. Beautiful designs, powerful features, and the freedom to build anything you want. WordPress is both free and priceless at the same time. You can learn more at https://wordpress.org/about/

Product Features include:

• Customizable designs.
• SEO friendly.
• Responsive mobile sites.
• High performance.
• Manage on the go.
• High security.
• Powerful media management.
• Easy and accessible.

7. Rei3 – Who is REI3 for?

REI3 is ideal for small- to medium-sized enterprises. For basic functionalities, ready-to-use applications are already available and can be deployed with vanilla implementation. You can check out our full review here. However, for more complex functions, resources with basic coding skills are required.

The Pros and Cons of REI3:

Here are the factors that make REI3 a viable option as a development platform:

1. The platform is free to use and is open-source with no user limit.
2. Applications developed through the platform are lean and not resource-heavy; they are automatically compressed and cached.
3. REI3’s builder is easy to set up.
4. Users can benefit from regular updates and releases that extend the platform’s capabilities.
5. Applications can be exported, transferred into other instances, and shared within the REI3 community.

On the flip side, here are some drawbacks of the platform:

1. The interface of the builder can sometimes become clunky depending on the server.
2. For complex logic and business solutions, coding with PostgreSQL is needed.
3. The platform is relatively new to the low-code sphere.

We have a few other platforms that you can review and sink your teeth into after reviewing the ones above:

8. Baserow –  and Edit Databases with Ease

Base row is a database-oriented no-code platform that allows users to create, edit and manage databases right in their web browser. What’s unique about Baserow is its focus on relational data – like foreign keys, one-to-many relationships, and many-to-many relations create and manage databases with this no-code free app.

9. Node-Red – Best for IoT apps –

Node-Red is an open-source no-code platform that is optimized for IoT projects. It provides a browser-based editor that makes it easy to wire together flows using the wide range of nodes in the palette that can be deployed to its runtime in a single click.

It comes with an extensive library of nodes and predefined flows to help you create your automated workflows quickly and easily. The drag-and-drop editor allows you to add, remove, or alter any node in your workflow. You can also connect multiple systems such as databases or Zapier – Automate your Processes.

10. PyCaret – Best for machine learning –

PyCaret PyCaret isn’t just for data scientists – it’s a free and open-source no-code platform that is perfect for anyone familiar with Python who needs a machine learning tool to classify, cluster, or predict data.

PyCaret provides an interactive environment where users can quickly prototype models, and create custom pipelines for ML work, there are also a few drawbacks to using PyCaret:

The platform has limited functionality compared to other no-code solutions.

• PyCaret is restricted to Python users only.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Open Source No Code Platforms

Bottom Line

Open-source no-code development provides an efficient and economical way of creating applications without the need to learn how to code. By employing platforms such as ServiceNow App Engine, Appy Pie, Glide, Airtable, and many more, developers can easily design, develop, test, and deploy their applications for their business needs. With the rise of tools, it is now possible for individuals to create their applications without the need to learn complex coding languages.

No-code development platforms are becoming more popular and widely used as they provide a cost-effective solution for businesses. It remains to be seen how organizations will leverage these open source no-code tools to drive innovation, productivity, and profitability wise, the future of software development looks promising.

Other than that, your no-code solution will cover all the bases that are needed to satisfy the demands, wants, needs, and hesitations of your customer base, while keeping you agile and ahead of the competition.