OutSystems Comprehensive Guide to Low-Code Development

9 min readApr 20, 2023

There has been a recent shift towards low-code development as businesses look for faster, more cost-effective ways to create applications. Low-code development platforms like OutSystems enable developers to build and deploy applications with minimal hand-coding, resulting in significant time and cost savings. This blog post will explore how OutSystems can help businesses with low-code development and guide you through building an application with this powerful platform.

What is Low-Code Development & How Can OutSystems Help?

Low-code development is a method of creating applications with little to no manual coding. Instead, low-code platforms like OutSystems offer visual interfaces that allow developers to drag and drop components, configure rules, and create logic flows using pre-built modules. This approach speeds up development time, reduces errors, and allows non-technical team members to participate.

OutSystems is a low-code application development platform that helps businesses build, deploy, and manage web and mobile applications quickly and easily. With OutSystems, anyone can create applications using a drag-and-drop interface that requires no coding expertise. OutSystems offers built-in features like scalability, security, and compliance, which can be customized to meet the specific needs of each application. The company was founded in 2001 in Lisbon, Portugal, by Paulo Rosado and 10 other co-founders. The company initially focused on developing enterprise software solutions for clients in the financial sector.

OutSystems’ low-code platform is designed to help businesses overcome the challenges of traditional development methods, such as time-consuming coding and testing processes. OutSystems simplifies application development by allowing developers to use pre-built components, templates, and workflows to build applications quickly and efficiently. This approach also reduces the risk of errors and improves the overall quality of the application.

OutSystems is a highly regarded low-code development platform with a strong track record of helping businesses streamline their app development processes. Here are some statistics related to OutSystems:

OutSystems have more than 435,000 community members, 350 partners, and thousands of active customers in 87 countries and across 22 industries.
OutSystems’ customers include companies such as Toyota, Deloitte, and Logitech.

Source: outsystems.com

OutSystems was named a Leader in Gartner’s 2021 Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Low-Code Application Platforms.

Source: gartner.com

Source: similartech.com

Step-by-Step Guide on Building an Application with OutSystems

Building an application with OutSystems is a straightforward process that can be accomplished in a few easy steps. Here is a step-by-step guide to building an application with OutSystems:

Define the application’s requirements:

The first step is to define the requirements for your application. What is the purpose of the application, who will use it, and what features are needed? By understanding the application’s requirements, you can determine the necessary functionality and scope of the project.

Create the data model:

Once you have defined the requirements, the next step is to create the data model for your application. This involves defining the data entities that will be used to store and retrieve data in the application.

Design the user interface:

The user interface is a critical component of any application, and OutSystems makes it easy to design and build a great user experience. With OutSystems, you can use pre-built templates, drag and drop elements, and customize the look and feel of your application to match your branding.

Add logic and workflows:

The next step is to add logic and workflows to your application. OutSystems makes it easy to create business rules, implement data validation, and configure workflows to automate processes and improve user experience.

Test and deploy the application:

Once you have built it, it’s time to test and deploy it. OutSystems provides automated testing tools that make testing your application easy and ensure it meets your requirements. Once testing is complete, you can deploy the application to the cloud, on-premises, or mobile devices.

If you’re new to low-code app development and want to create an application using OutSystems. With this step-by-step guide, you can create a professional-looking application using OutSystems’ low-code development platform, even without coding experience. OutSystems app development is a great choice for businesses looking to build custom applications quickly and efficiently.

Step 1: Sign up for an OutSystems account

The first step in building an application with OutSystems is to sign up for an account. You can sign up for a free account on the OutSystems website, which gives you access to a personal environment to create and test your application.

Step 2: Create a new application

Once you have signed up for an account, the next step is to create a new application. To do this, log in to your OutSystems environment and click the “New Application” button. Give your application a name and description, and select the type of application you want to create (web or mobile).

Step 3: Choose a theme

OutSystems offers several built-in themes that you can use to style your application. Choose a theme that matches your brand or design preferences, or create a custom theme if you have specific design requirements.

Step 4: Add screens

Once you have chosen a theme, it’s time to add screens to your application. Screens are the visual components of your application that users interact with. You can add screens using OutSystems’ drag-and-drop interface and pre-built components. You can customize each screen’s layout, styling, and functionality to meet your requirements.

Step 5: Add logic

In addition to screens, you’ll also need to add logic to your application. This includes defining the data model, creating business logic, and implementing workflows. OutSystems’ low-code platform makes it easy to define data structures and create logic using visual workflows and pre-built components.

Step 6: Test your application

Once you have built your application, it’s time to test it to ensure it works as expected. OutSystems provides automated testing tools that make it easy to test your application across different devices and platforms.

Step 7: Deploy your application

The final step in building an application with OutSystems is to deploy it to a production environment. OutSystems provides tools and services to help you manage the deployment process, including version control, deployment management, and performance monitoring.

Advantages & Disadvantages of using OutSystems for Low-Code App Development

OutSystems is a leading low-code application development platform that offers a range of benefits for businesses and developers. However, like any technology, there are advantages and disadvantages to using OutSystems for low-code app development. Before choosing OutSystems for low-code app development, businesses should consider the pros and cons and evaluate whether the platform suits their needs.

Advantages of using OutSystems for low-code app development:

Faster time-to-market:

OutSystems’ low-code development approach enables businesses to create applications faster than traditional development methods. This is because much of the coding is done visually, using drag-and-drop interfaces and pre-built components, which can significantly reduce development time.

Lower costs:

Because OutSystems allows developers to build applications faster, it can also help reduce development costs. Additionally, because OutSystems provides a range of pre-built components and tools, developers can spend less time building functionality from scratch, further reducing costs.

Customizable:

Despite being a low-code development platform, OutSystems is highly customizable. Developers can easily create custom components and integrations, and the platform provides full access to underlying code, making it easy to modify and extend applications as needed.

Scalability:

OutSystems is designed to be highly scalable, making it ideal for businesses that need to build applications that can grow and evolve. With OutSystems, developers can easily add new features and functionality, and the platform can easily handle large-scale deployments.

Disadvantages of using OutSystems for low-code app development:

Limited control over code:

While OutSystems provides full access to underlying code, it’s important to note that much of the coding is done visually, using pre-built components and drag-and-drop interfaces. This can limit developers’ control over the code, making it more difficult to troubleshoot issues or make custom modifications.

Learning curve:

While OutSystems is designed to be easy to use, there is still a learning curve involved, particularly for new developers. Developers will need to learn the platform’s ins and outs and may need to invest in training and education to get up to speed.

Limited integration options:

While OutSystems provides a range of integration options, some developers may find that the platform is not as flexible as they would like when integrating with third-party systems or technologies.

Vendor lock-in:

Because OutSystems is a proprietary platform, businesses may find that they are locked into the platform and may have difficulty migrating to other systems or technologies in the future.

Comparing OutSystems to Other Low-Code Platform Solutions in the Market

OutSystems is one of several low-code platform solutions available in the market. Here’s a brief comparison of OutSystems with some other popular low-code platforms:

Mendix: Like OutSystems, Mendix is a powerful low-code platform that allows developers to build enterprise-grade applications quickly and efficiently. Mendix offers a drag-and-drop interface, visual modeling tools, and a range of pre-built components, making it easy to develop complex applications. However, compared to OutSystems, Mendix may be less flexible regarding customization.

Appian: Appian is another low-code platform that offers a visual interface for building applications. Appian’s strengths lie in its business process management (BPM) capabilities, allowing developers to build and automate complex workflows quickly. Compared to OutSystems, Appian may be less focused on developing custom web and mobile applications.

Power Apps: Power Apps is a low-code platform offered by Microsoft that enables users to create custom applications quickly and easily. Power Apps offers a drag-and-drop interface and integrates with other Microsoft products such as SharePoint and Dynamics 365. However, compared to OutSystems, Power Apps may be less flexible in terms of customization and may require more technical expertise to create complex applications.

Salesforce Lightning: Salesforce Lightning is a low-code platform specifically designed for developing custom applications on the Salesforce platform. Lightning offers a range of pre-built components, drag-and-drop tools, and robust integration capabilities, making it a popular choice for Salesforce users. However, compared to OutSystems, Lightning may be less flexible for non-Salesforce users.

Overall, OutSystems stands out for its ease of use, powerful customization capabilities, and focus on developing custom web and mobile applications. Other low-code platforms may offer different strengths, depending on the developer’s or organization’s needs. It’s important to evaluate multiple low-code platform solutions and choose the one that best meets your specific requirements.

Conclusion

OutSystems has become popular for businesses looking to accelerate their digital transformation efforts. Here are some reasons why:

Speed and agility: OutSystems’ low-code platform allows businesses to develop custom applications quickly and efficiently, reducing time-to-market and enabling rapid iteration.
Customization: OutSystems provides a high degree of customization, allowing businesses to build applications that meet their specific needs and requirements.
Integration: OutSystems integrates with other technologies, making connecting applications to existing systems and data sources easy.
Security: OutSystems prioritizes security, with built-in features to protect sensitive data and information.

Leading app development companies can be valuable partners for businesses looking to leverage the power of OutSystem's low-code app development. OutSystems is a powerful platform that enables businesses to create custom applications quickly and efficiently. However, developing effective OutSystems applications requires various skills, including user experience design, software engineering, and application integration expertise. Leading app development companies have the experience, expertise, and resources to build high-quality OutSystems applications that meet business needs and deliver tangible results.

We help businesses with OutSystems low code app development in several ways:

Expertise and Experience: App development companies have extensive experience developing apps with OutSystems. They deeply understand the platform’s capabilities and limitations, allowing them to design and develop high-quality applications that meet business needs.

Customization: OutSystems provides a high degree of customization, and app development companies can help businesses take full advantage of this. They can design and develop custom applications that meet business requirements and deliver tangible results.

Integration: OutSystems integrates with various other technologies and app development companies can help businesses seamlessly integrate applications with existing systems and data sources. This ensures consistent workflows and a seamless user experience.

Ongoing Support and Maintenance: App development companies can provide ongoing support and maintenance for OutSystems applications, ensuring that they continue to meet business needs over time. This includes monitoring performance, identifying and resolving issues, and making necessary updates and upgrades.

Agile development: App development companies often follow agile development methodologies, which prioritize flexibility, collaboration, and rapid iteration. This allows businesses to get their applications to market quickly and make changes based on feedback and evolving business needs.

Originally published at https://www.addwebsolution.com.