LCNC Playbook for Building MVPs

This playbook provides practical guidance on leveraging low-code/no-code (LCNC) platforms to build minimum viable products (MVPs) and early stage products.

Overview

An MVP is a launchable version of a product with just enough features to enable initial user validation and feedback. MVPs focus on solving a core customer problem rather than having full capabilities.

LCNC provides a fast, low cost way to build and iterate on MVP versions before major coding investment. LCNC can also power ongoing iteration after launch.

Key benefits of using LCNC for MVPs:

  • Faster build speed – Create working prototypes in days/weeks rather than months
  • Lower cost – Reduce dev resources needed through configuration vs coding
  • Quick feedback loops – Shorten time between build and user feedback
  • Easy modifications – Improve and pivot dynamically based on feedback
  • Capture knowledge – Embed logic and integrations for reuse in production system
  • Cross-functional – Enable wider team participation in building

This playbook focuses on hands-on tips for developers, product managers, and citizen developers to utilize LCNC for MVP builds and post-launch releases.

Choosing LCNC Platforms

Numerous LCNC platforms exist across categories:

General Purpose Platforms

  • Appian, Mendix, OutSystems, Betty Blocks, Quickbase

Web Site Builders

  • Bubble, Webflow

Mobile App Builders

  • Thunkable, AppSheet

Process Automation

  • Zapier, Tray.io

Forms / Databases

  • Airtable, Smartsheet

Analytics / Business Intelligence

  • Knime, Tableau

Consider these factors when selecting LCNC platforms:

  • App needs – Web, mobile, IoT, database, etc
  • User skill levels – Coding vs no-coding interfaces
  • Learning curve – Ramp up time for proficiency
  • Scalability needs – Data, traffic volumes expected
  • Customization needs – Where unique code may be required
  • Integration needs – With legacy systems, data sources
  • Deployment requirements – Cloud, on-prem, hybrid
  • Security needs – Encryption, access controls
  • Community support – Open source libraries and connectors
  • Team collaboration – Concurrent user support

Evaluate options upfront based on technical and user workflow needs.

Web App Builders

Web app builders like Bubble and Webflow provide visual, declarative interfaces for building web applications without coding. Key features:

  • Drag and drop placement of UI components
  • Libraries of customizable widgets and templates
  • Responsive design adapts UIs across devices
  • Bind data, logic, and actions to components
  • Model data schemas and relationships
  • Build forms, charts, dashboards, reports
  • User registration, authentication, access control
  • Hosting, scalability, security handled natively
  • Export generated code to migrate elsewhere

With web app builders, entire working web apps can be built visually with minimal code.

When to Use

Ideal for prototyping and building admin dashboards, CRUD apps, workflows, and lightweight customer-facing sites.

Limitations

Limited ability to customize generated code and complex logic. Not suitable for apps with advanced functionality like gaming, 3D animation.

Example Build Checklist

  • Map key app screens and workflows
  • Define data models and relationships
  • Design responsive page layouts
  • Drag-and-drop UI components
  • Connect UI to data sources
  • Apply formulas and rules to components
  • Set up routing between pages
  • Model business logic workflows
  • Build forms for data entry
  • Create charts and dashboards
  • Set up user registration and login
  • Implement access control rules
  • Connect to external databases
  • Test across device sizes

Tips for Success

  • Start with a simple but useful core app flow rather than overcomplicated MVP
  • Iterate on UI/UX first before adding complex logic
  • Model required data structure upfront
  • Build reusable UI patterns and templates
  • Establish common governance practices early
  • Instrument analytics events and usage tracking
  • Enable concurrent users and collaboration

Process Automation Platforms

Tools like Zapier andTray.io allow creating integrations and task workflows between apps visually with no coding.

When to Use

Great for automating processes involving multiple SaaS apps. Example uses:

  • Sync data across sales, marketing, support systems
  • Automate lead handoffs from form fills to CRM
  • Trigger notifications on events
  • Pull data from documents to databases
  • Orchestrate multi-step workflows

Limitations

Light app logic. Challenging for complex logic beyond basic triggers and transformations.

Example Build Checklist

  • Identify apps involved in workflow
  • Catalog available triggers from each app
  • Map logical flow of steps
  • Use prebuilt connectors between apps
  • Configure branching logic
  • Shape and move data between apps
  • Set up notifications and alerts
  • Create dashboard to monitor automation
  • Handle errors and retries
  • Document process assumptions

Tips for Success

  • Complete manual process first to identify all edge cases
  • Address data consistency across apps
  • Pause automations rather than delete during changes
  • Test with subsets before full rollout
  • Check automation logs for performance visibility
  • Keep automations focused vs overly complex

Supplementary Coding

Some common cases where supplementary coding augments LCNC capabilities for MVPs:

  • Customizing generated code – Extend UI behavior and styling
  • Advanced logic – Unique algorithms or machine learning
  • Native device functionality – Mobile camera, GPS etc
  • 3rd party libraries – Visualization, frameworks
  • Performance optimizations – Processing large data volumes
  • Migrating legacy data – Importing existing databases
  • Custom endpoints – Exposing APIs not available in LCNC natively

Integrate code seamlessly into LCNC platforms via extensions, web components, hooks, and configuration APIs provided.

Post-Launch Considerations

LCNC remains highly relevant after initial product launch:

Ongoing User Feedback

  • Survey users to identify enhancements
  • Review feedback tickets to find trends
  • A/B test and experiment with new features

Usage Analytics

  • Analyze usage data to find adoption patterns
  • Identify low usage features to remove
  • Monitor performance to address bottlenecks

Iteration Cadence

  • Establish a release schedule to push updates
  • Develop feature roadmap aligning business goals

Customer Support

  • Build help documentation for common issues
  • Classify support tickets by theme
  • Proactively create self-help tools

Technical Debt Management

  • Audit and refactor code built up over releases
  • Maintain architecture docs and modularity
  • Retire legacy integrations and features

Using LCNC post-launch speeds responding to user feedback and changing business needs.

Team Structure Considerations

Optimizing use of LCNC requires adapting team structures and roles:

  • Citizen developers – Enable subject matter experts to build apps
  • LCNC specialists – Focus on platform expertise and governance
  • Product managers – Shift from features to problem discovery
  • Full stack developers – Develop shared services and data layers
  • Automation engineers – Build and manage automated processes
  • UX designers – Elevate user experience across products
  • Technical architects – Define integration patterns and data model standards

Blending professional developers with business teams enables maximizing productivity from LCNC.

Training Resources

Many resources exist for rapidly skilling up on popular LCNC platforms:

  • Vendor docs and tutorials – Official getting started guides
  • Community forums – Q&A from expert users
  • Online courses – Structured classes for ramp up
  • Video tutorials – Short form demos on YouTube
  • Templates and examples – Foundation to build upon
  • Conferences – Sessions with customer case studies
  • Certifications – Validating and recognizing expertise
  • Hackathons – Learning together by building apps

Take advantage of these resources to accelerate your LCNC journey.

In Closing

LCNC provides a fast track to build and iterate on MVP versions of products to validate market viability before major dev investments. Follow an iterative build-measure-learn approach:

  • Identify core user problem and minimum feature set
  • Prototype quickly with LCNC platforms
  • Release to small user segments and collect feedback
  • Analyze usage data and refine based on insights
  • Expand features incrementally while staying lean

Adopting LCNC allows small teams to punch above their weight in innovating successful digital products. Integrate LCNC into your toolset to build outstanding MVPs and beyond.