The advent of low-code and no-code development platforms has revolutionized the way organizations approach app development and digital transformation. These platforms enable faster development cycles, improved collaboration, and greater agility in meeting evolving business needs. Among the various solutions available, open-source low-code platforms have gained attention due to their transparency, flexibility, and community-driven nature. However, while open-source solutions offer several benefits, they also come with certain drawbacks that organizations must carefully consider.

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In this article, we will explore the advantages and disadvantages of open-source low-code platforms, compare leading vendors in the space, and provide guidance on key criteria to consider when making a purchasing decision. We will also introduce Superblocks, a proprietary low-code platform that combines the best of both worlds – the transparency and flexibility of open source with the speed, quality, and enterprise-grade features of closed-source solutions.

What are open-source low-code platforms?

Low-code platforms are software development tools that allow users to create internal applications using drag-and-drop components, pre-built templates, and automated workflows. They typically dramatically reduce the time it takes to create functional applications by automating or abstracting many of the repetitive elements of software development.

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Open-source refers to any software tool where the source code is made publicly available so that developers can inspect, modify, and contribute to the code base. These projects are often popular amongst developers since they are typically cost effective, easily audited for security concerns, and adaptable to their unique needs. In our case, an open-source low-code platform simply refers to a low-code platform with community-driven development and fully public source code.

Buying considerations and criteria

When evaluating open-source low-code platforms, decision makers should consider several key factors to ensure the platform aligns with their organization's needs and priorities. These factors include:

• Development velocity: Evaluate the platform's visual tools, pre-built components, integrations, and ease of deploying applications from development to production environments with minimal manual effort.
• Product quality: Evaluate the platform's stability, performance, and reliability to ensure it meets enterprise-grade standards.
• Security: Consider the platform's security features, vulnerability management practices, and compliance with industry standards to safeguard sensitive data and mitigate risks.
• Scalability: Determine the platform's scalability, flexibility, and support for scaling resources according to demand to accommodate growing user bases and workloads.
• Out-of-the-box features and capabilities: Explore the platform's built-in functionalities, customization options, and extensibility to meet specific use cases and business requirements.
• Support: Assess the platform's support offerings, including documentation, community forums, and professional services, to ensure timely assistance and resolution of issues.

Advantages of open-source low-code platforms

• Transparency and trust: Open-source platforms provide visibility into the codebase, allowing organizations to audit the software for security vulnerabilities, performance issues, and compliance. This transparency builds trust and confidence in the solution.
• Community-driven: Open-source options benefit from the collective knowledge and contributions of a wide developer community. This collaborative approach facilitates innovation, knowledge sharing, and rapid problem-solving, leading to continual improvement of the platform.
• Cost savings: Open-source low-code platforms often come with lower upfront costs compared to proprietary solutions. Organizations can have more control over their stack, reducing vendor lock-in and long-term licensing costs.

Disadvantages of open-source low-code platforms

• Less consistent product quality: Open-source projects may rely on volunteer contributions and community support, which can result in slower development cycles and inconsistent product quality compared to well-funded proprietary solutions. This lack of dedicated resources can impact the platform's stability, performance, and feature richness, potentially requiring organizations to constantly build in new features themselves, ultimately defeating the purpose of a low-code solution.
• Lack of enterprise-grade features: Open-source low-code platforms may lack certain enterprise-grade features and capabilities that are critical for large-scale deployments. These may include advanced security measures, comprehensive monitoring and analytics, and scalability limitations due to infrastructure constraints and self-hosting, as seen with platforms like Appsmith.
• Inadequate support and documentation: While open-source communities provide valuable support through forums and knowledge bases, the level of support and documentation may vary. Organizations may need to rely on internal expertise or hire external consultants to address complex issues or customization requirements.
• Cost considerations: While some open-source low-code platforms offer lower or no subscription fees for community tiers, self-hosting and maintaining these platforms can be expensive. Additionally, many open-source platforms still have subscription fees for enterprise features and support, which can add to the total cost of ownership.

3 popular open-source low-code platforms

In the competitive landscape of open-source low-code platforms, several vendors offer unique features, strengths, and limitations. We will compare three prominent options: Appsmith, Budibase, and Tooljet, to help you make an informed decision based on your organization's needs and priorities. Each platform has its own set of strengths and weaknesses, which we will discuss in the following sections.

Appsmith

Appsmith, founded in 2019 and headquartered in India, is an open-source low-code platform that enables developers to create internal dashboards and applications. The internal dev tool offers a library of drag-and-drop components for building user interfaces and integrates with diverse data sources including databases, APIs, and third-party services.

Strengths

• Extensive component library for easy UI crafting using drag-and-drop
• Frontend JavaScript support for dynamic behavior and data manipulation
• Integration library for connecting with various tools, databases, and APIs
• Open-source codebase ensuring transparency and trust
• Active community collaboration and knowledge sharing
• Customizable component styling for a tailored look and feel
• User-centric pricing model based on end-users of applications

Weaknesses

• Lackluster performance due to browser-based architecture and JavaScript limitations
• Limited extensibility with code, supporting only client-side JavaScript
• Absence of production-ready built-in workflow and scheduled job features
• Legacy on-premise deployment for self-hosting, leading to higher ownership costs
• Lack of U.S.-based support, which may be crucial for U.S.-based enterprises

Budibase

Budibase, founded in 2019 and headquartered in the United Kingdom, is a no-code open-source internal tooling platform offering automated workflows, a component library, and significant out-of-the-box capabilities to help users get up and running quickly.

Strengths

• Open-source accessibility promotes transparency, security, and collaboration
• Extensive component library utilizing Adobe's Spectrum for easy UI design
• Automation with multi-step APIs for simplifying backend processes and integrations
• Pre-built templates expedite development with ready-to-use designs and features

Weaknesses

• Full on-premise deployment hinders timely updates and increases the total cost of ownership
• Lack of version control for Git, preventing developers from managing different application versions
• Absence of native observability integrations with providers like Datadog, Splunk, or New Relic
• No AI-Copilot for code generation, error detection, and optimization, potentially slowing down development

Tooljet

Founded in 2021, Tooljet provides a visual development environment that allows users to create custom applications using drag-and-drop components, pre-built templates, and integrated functionalities. The platform offers a wide range of built-in components, such as forms, tables, and charts, as well as integrations with popular services and APIs for data exchange and interaction.

Strengths

• User-friendly interface enables both developers and non-technical users to build applications easily
• Highly flexible and customizable to suit unique business needs
• Integration with third-party services and APIs for leveraging existing data sources and functionalities
• Real-time collaboration allows multiple users to work on the same application simultaneously

Weaknesses

• Limited app builder customization due to absolute grid positioning of components (no responsive layouts), lack of theming controls, and limited custom component offering relying on a single HTML file with web-based imports
• Legacy on-premise deployment requires DevOps engineers, dedicated infrastructure, and downtime for upgrades
• No US-based support, often critical for US-based enterprises
• According to G2 reviews, Tooljet users have reported poor performance when working with large datasets within the app. This can be a significant drawback for enterprises managing substantial amounts of data, as it may hinder productivity and the user experience

Conclusions

Appsmith, Budibase, and Tooljet are three competitive open-source low-code platforms that offer businesses and developers the ability to rapidly create custom applications with minimal coding. While these platforms share many similarities, they each have unique nuances in terms of available integrations, extensibility, and intended use cases. These distinct characteristics can sway organizations towards one platform or another based on their specific requirements and priorities.

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Ultimately, the choice between these platforms depends on the specific needs and priorities of the organization. Factors such as development speed, extensibility, scalability, and ease of use should be carefully considered when evaluating these low-code solutions. 

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Appsmith might be the ideal choice for smaller organizations prioritizing an open-source platform prioritizing the user-centric pricing model. However, its browser-based architecture and limited extensibility may impact performance and scalability. 

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Budibase could be a better fit for smaller teams seeking a no-code platform, making it accessible to non-technical users, albeit with limitations in version control and observability. 

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Tooljet, on the other hand, may appeal to businesses looking for a user-friendly interface, flexibility in customization, and real-time collaboration features, but it may lack advanced enterprise functionality and have limited mobile app support. 

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By aligning these platform-specific strengths and limitations with their business goals, organizations can make informed decisions and leverage the power of low-code development to drive innovation.

Introducing Superblocks: An enterprise-ready platform with transparency

For businesses looking for a premier enterprise-ready low-code platform with open-source transparency where it matters most, Superblocks is an optimal choice.

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Superblocks is a platform for building custom internal applications, automated workflows, and scheduled jobs. Developers can extend Superblocks infinitely with code, build faster with an AI Copilot, self-host without the overhead, and deliver performant apps at scale, all while adopting affordably across their organization.

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Superblocks differentaites itself through a hybrid proprietary and open-source platform. Specifically, the Superblocks On-Premise Agent, which enterprises deploy into their VPC to connect to data sources and execute code, is open-source and available on Github. 

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Since the On-Premise Agent is responsible for connecting to sensitive enterprise data, transparency, auditability, and security are critical. Because the agent source code is open source, security teams can run full audits on code and dependencies, and developers can contribute directly to the codebase.In summary, Superblocks eliminates the tradeoff between a top-quality, US-based low-code platform and the transparency of open-source software.

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Enterprises rely on key features in Superblocks that are not available in other proprietary or open-source low-code platforms, such as:

• Scalable architecture for premier performance: The SaaS platform benefits from the speed and quality of closed-source development. Superblocks offers multi-threaded front-ends for quality UI performance and elastic back-end queries for enterprise-grade scalability.
• Unlimited extensibility with code: Superblocks allows developers to infinitely extend the platform with code, enabling the development of complex backend APIs and custom components.
• Comprehensive AI assistance: Superblocks' AI Copilot assists developers with code generation, debugging, and integration capabilities, enhancing productivity and efficiency.
• Production monitoring and observability: Superblocks integrates with observability providers like Datadog, Splunk, and New Relic, enabling real-time monitoring and troubleshooting.
• Support for real-time streaming apps: Superblocks natively supports event-driven architectures like Kafka and Kinesis, enabling developers to build real-time applications effortlessly.
• Industry-leading customer support: Superblocks provides world-class support at every customer tier, ensuring a seamless experience for users at all levels.

Conclusion

Open-source low-code platforms offer several benefits, including transparency, flexibility, and community-driven innovation. However, they also come with certain drawbacks, such as limited resourcing, and lack of enterprise-grade features. Organizations must carefully evaluate their specific needs and consider the benefits and tradeoffs of open-source solutions.

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Superblocks offers a compelling alternative, combining the best aspects of open source and proprietary platforms. With its open source agent, proprietary SaaS platform, unlimited extensibility, AI support, and enterprise-grade features, Superblocks empowers organizations to build high-quality applications rapidly while maintaining transparency and flexibility.