Methods for application development by non-programmers: A systematic literature review

Abstract

The facilitation of software development for individuals lacking programming expertise has gained popularity owing to the imperative of expeditiously and efficiently delivering software products. The advent and evolution of Rapid Application Development (RAD) methodologies has facilitated the empowerment of non-programmers, particularly those with extensive business process expertise, to develop software, thus giving rise to the term’Citizen Developers’. Currently, there exist numerous approaches encompassing frameworks, platforms, and tools that facilitate citizen development, including low-code platforms, no-code platforms, code automations, and spreadsheet-driven development. Nevertheless, the industry and software development community have yet to widely adopt these methods. Through an examination of the benefits and drawbacks of Re-CRUD code automation, it is anticipated that this approach may offer potential as a software development solution for individuals without programming expertise. However, enhancements to its ease of use and accessibility are necessary. The outcomes and suggestions derived from this analysis would furnish a more robust foundation for the assimilation and advancements of the methodologies of citizen development among the sector and the wider software development populace.