Low code development has become increasingly popular thanks to its simplicity, speed, and convenience. Professional developers and power users alike can bypass meticulous hand-coding in favor of declarative features and drag-and-drop options. In this guide, we’ll compare two popular low code platforms: Microsoft Power and Oracle APEX. 

Oracle APEX is for professional and citizen developers

Oracle’s low code approach works well for both professional app developers and citizen developers. The platform has declarative features that eliminate the need to learn JavaScript, CSS, HTML, and other front-end technologies. The platform’s features are similar to WordPress for web designers, with adaptable plug-ins and custom coding options as needed. 

Oracle APEX also taps into existing Oracle Database features. If the application data is not on an Oracle Database, there are several ways to input it into APEX seamlessly. 

APEX wasn’t necessarily designed for amateur developers, but it does provide some training solutions that help citizens use the tools available to them. For example, several wizards are in place to guide developers through specific tasks and address frequently asked questions. Citizens may not be able to train exclusively through APEX, but they can receive sufficient guidance to create applications and utilize the tools within the platform. 

Microsoft Power apps are for Microsoft experts

Microsoft Power is mainly designed for users who have detailed knowledge of the existing Microsoft systems, specifically Microsoft Excel. The development language on the platform is called PowerApps script, and it is set up much like Excel formulas. If, for example, a finance expert wanted to develop an app, he or she may feel comfortable with Power apps because they have a familiar layout and language. 

Power apps include Power Automate, Power BI, and Power Virtual Agents. Users can take advantage of these services to gather data, create chatbots, automate select processes, and maximize the value of existing data. 

Non-developers who have extensive experience with Microsoft’s office tools may feel more confident navigating these solutions than they would something like APEX. However, a professional developer may find the language, macro scripting, and overall framework to be less convenient in this low-code approach. The tools that help a non-developer through the app development learning curve may be considered a burden for more experienced developers. 

Which low code platform is best?

There is no clear winner in the battle of low code platforms because they target entirely separate audiences. Microsoft Power and Oracle APEX both aim to simplify the app development process, but their approaches to this goal are vastly different. If you are extensively familiar with MS Excel, Power apps could be comfortable and user-friendly. If you’re a professional developer, Oracle is probably the better route for you. 

No tags for this post.