Introduction: Do You Still Think Coding Is Essential? Think Again

For decades, software development relied on teams of engineers writing thousands of lines of code to build applications and enterprise solutions. This model, long considered the standard, is rapidly becoming obsolete.

With the rise of low-code, no-code, and artificial intelligence, the way software is created is undergoing a radical transformation. Businesses no longer want to wait months to see a project come to life. They demand immediate results, and they are getting them with no-code solutions.

Traditional development cycles have become too slow, too expensive, and too rigid. While some developers continue coding manually, the most innovative companies are building applications in just weeks—without writing a single line of code.

Software development as you know it is dying. Here’s why.

1. Handwritten Code Is Now a Barrier to Innovation

1.1. Development Timelines No Longer Align with Market Demands

The business world demands speed and agility, which traditional full-code development can no longer provide.

  • Traditional development: Projects take 6 to 12 months before becoming operational.

  • Low-code development: A complete application can be built in 4 to 6 weeks.

  • No-code + AI: Some applications can be developed in a matter of days or even hours.

Companies that embrace these new technologies can test and deploy solutions much faster. While some developers spend months writing and debugging code, others have already launched, refined, and optimized their product.

A six-month delay in development can mean losing a market opportunity or being outpaced by a more agile competitor.

1.2. The Developer Shortage Is Holding Businesses Back

The demand for skilled software engineers far exceeds supply, leading to high costs and project delays.

  • A senior developer can cost over $80,000 per year, a price many businesses cannot afford.

  • IT teams are overwhelmed, causing major project delays and preventing companies from innovating quickly.

  • Talent is scarce, and recruiting a qualified developer can take months.

Faced with this challenge, companies are increasingly turning to low-code and AI to bypass the shortage and accelerate development.

1.3. Technical Debt Is Crushing Businesses

Every line of code written today represents technical debt that will require maintenance and upgrades in the future.

  • 80% of IT budgets are spent on maintaining old systems instead of funding innovation.

  • The more complex a software system becomes, the harder it is to update and scale.

  • Custom-built applications can quickly become financial liabilities due to constant maintenance needs.

Companies have realized that less code means fewer problems. They are moving away from full-code projects and shifting to more agile solutions.

2. The Rise of Low-Code and No-Code Is Changing Everything

2.1. A Market That Is Exploding

The shift toward low-code and no-code is not just a passing trend. The numbers show that this transition is already well underway.

Businesses want faster results, lower costs, and greater flexibility. Low-code and no-code solutions provide exactly that.

2.2. Giving Business Teams More Autonomy

Previously, every technological project required an IT team, adding time and costs. Today, with tools like Softyflow, OutSystems, and Mendix, non-technical employees can build their own solutions.

  • A marketing manager can create a customer tracking application without writing a single line of code.

  • An HR department can automate a hiring process without depending on IT.

  • An entrepreneur can build a working prototype in days instead of months.

Software development is no longer exclusively in the hands of developers. It has become a strategic asset accessible to all teams.

2.3. AI Is Already Replacing Developers

Advancements in artificial intelligence are making manual coding increasingly obsolete.

  • GitHub Copilot can generate code automatically from simple natural language descriptions.

  • OpenAI Codex writes code based on user instructions, eliminating the need for programming knowledge.

  • Softyflow and other platforms combine AI with low-code to further automate development.

AI isn’t just assisting developers. It is starting to replace them.

3. What This Means for Developers and Businesses

3.1. Developers Must Adapt or Become Obsolete

The role of the developer is undergoing a fundamental transformation.

  • Writing code manually is becoming an obsolete skill for many applications.

  • Developers who want to remain competitive must learn how to orchestrate automated tools and low-code platforms.

  • Those who resist change risk seeing their profession disappear.

3.2. Businesses Must Integrate Low-Code Now

IT leaders and business executives must rethink their approach to software development.

  • Relying solely on full-code development teams is a major risk.

  • Low-code platforms must be integrated into IT strategies to speed up projects and reduce costs.

  • Companies that delay adaptation will be overtaken by faster, more agile competitors.

Kodak and Nokia underestimated technological revolutions. Don’t make the same mistake with low-code and AI.

4. How to Succeed in This New Era

4.1. Companies: Adopt Low-Code and AI Now

  • Implement a low-code platform like Softyflow, OutSystems, or Mendix.

  • Automate everything possible to accelerate development cycles.

  • Free up IT teams from unnecessary tasks and focus on true innovation.

4.2. Developers: Change Your Role Before It’s Too Late

  • Learn to use low-code and AI tools instead of coding manually.

  • Become an expert in automation and integration instead of just writing code.

  • Work with AI, not against it.

Conclusion: Software Development Has Changed. Are You Ready?

Software development as you know it is dead.

Companies that embrace low-code and AI:

  • Deliver projects in weeks instead of months

  • Reduce their dependency on developers

  • Gain an immediate competitive advantage

Those that continue coding as they did in 2010:

  • Spend too much on IT and maintenance

  • Are falling behind more agile businesses

Change is inevitable. The real question is: will you adapt and take advantage of it, or will you cling to an outdated model?