Is an Open-Source Low-Code Platform Really Right for You?

Some users and even software vendors seem to think that open-source and low-code platforms compete with one another. I’ll be honest, the title of this article even came from one such vendor. And, it is a crazy line of thought, in the same way as the Mattermost vs Slack argument in the field of open-source chat. It’s futile without putting the respective feature sets front and center. Whether an open-source low-code platform is the best choice for your organisation or not is dependent on the feature set and quality of the product – not that the software code is available in the public domain or not.

Yes, the Right Open-source Low-Code Platform is Really Right for You!

Let’s start with the obvious. If, like Corteza, the low-code tool upon which you’re basing your new application or even an entire digital transformation strategy is fully-featured and open-source, then you get the best of both worlds. On top of that, Crust Technology now formally supports the foundation-backed Corteza for many of its customers.

Many rapid application development platforms have bpm engines at the heart of their offering. And what is a bpms without the right supporting tools? Building data models have to be intuitive and comprehensive. Interfaces need to be easy to configure, access controls should be granular etc. If your bmps tool can be an open-source bpms and all your automation can be open-source workflow automation, then the availability of every single last line of code enables your business to cover the maximum of eventual scenarios.

What’s the most Important in a Low-Code Platform?

However, what’s most important in a low-code solution is that it works well for its intended audience. Corteza leads the way in user-friendly features for building records-based management applications. We’ve delivered one of the very best free crms on the market, a gigantic leap forward for any open-source CRM suite and the quintessential open-source Salesforce alternative – all on our low-code platform. It’s also a notable advance on SugarCRM legacy applications which continue to pepper the open-source CRM market.

Pick any example of software application development for records-based management, workflow and automation systems. What you will see it that Corteza can compete strongly – be it a business app creator, smart schooling or even building an alternative to Jira from Atlassian to support your further software development if you like!

Not having all options or tools available to you actually adds risk to your organisation. A low-code solution that closes off your access to the software code upon which it is built is not just an excuse to charge you extra. In fact, it opens up the possibility that you could be charged extortionate rates for a platform you’ve made your business dependent upon. Knowing that you have all the original source code safeguards you. In the case of Corteza, where that code is standards oriented in almost every respect, you will always be free to choose your provider. Who knows, maybe someday you’ll even want to run the entire platform with your own developers?

Conclusion

Is an open-source low-code platform really right for you?

Yes, of course it is 🙂