OutSystems is a well-known low-code software development platform that helps developer teams build and deploy software applications rapidly. Today’s review explores the features, benefits, and pricing of OutSystems and highlights its capabilities and use cases for development teams and organizations wanting to create applications with more efficiency.
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Features of OutSystems
OutSystems has the following software development features:
- Development environment
- Built-in templates
- Integrations
- Agile-friendly
- Mobile development
- Scalability
Development Environment
OutSystems features a unique visual development environment that makes the software development process much easier. Programmers using the low-code platform can create software by using a drag-and-drop interface, making it possible to developer applications regardless of whether you are a seasoned pro or a “citizen” coder. The visual interface increases coding productivity, reduces learning curves, and decreases the number of errors and bugs, making application development more expedient and less error-prone.
Built-in Templates
OutSystems comes with a large library of pre-built components and templates, which programmers can leverage to accelerate the development process. These libraries reduce the need for custom code and includes a wide range of user interface elements, integrations, and coding logic, once more resulting in developers being able to deliver software much faster.
Integrations
OutSystems has plenty of features built-in. That being said, the low-code tool also offers plenty of integrations, facilitating connectivity with external data sources, Enterprise systems, and APIs. Programmers can utilize existing infrastructures to develop integrated applications that work effortlessly with other systems and platforms. OutSystems provides connectors and tools to simplify integration processes, saving time and energy.
Agile-friendly
OutSystems has Agile software development features such as version control, programmer collaboration, and automated testing tools, making it very friendly for development teams that rely on Agile methodologies and programming approaches. This leads to better team collaboration, communication, and alignment between teams and stakeholders. OutSystems also supports continuous integration and continuous delivery for DevOps teams, enabling faster iterations and shorter release times.
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Mobile Development
Among its most valuable offerings, OutSystems allows developers to create native mobile apps for both Android and iOS platforms. It also has support for responsive design elements, offline data synchronization, device-specific features. This simplifies the mobile app development process. In addition, developers can reuse code across multiple platforms, reducing development time and making code more reusable and maintainable.
Scalability
OutSystems creates code that is optimized and highly efficient, resulting in scalable and performant software. The low-code platform handles the skeleton or underlying infrastructure of your applications, letting them handle larger loads without affecting performance. Applications created in OutSystems are easily scalable, meaning that, as you user base grows, they should not have an affected user experience.
Benefits of OutSystems
OutSystems is known for the following benefits to programmers and software development teams:
- Rapid Application Development (RAD)
- Cost-effectiveness
- Flexibility
- Enhanced collaboration
- Scalability
- Security
- Application Performance Monitoring
Rapid Application Development
OutSystems reduces software development time and the effort it takes to create applications through its low-code approach. Its visual development environment, integrations, and pre-built components allow programmers to rapidly create applications, resulting in accelerated delivery times and reduced time to market. It also enables beginning or non-programming coders to contribute to app creation, increasing the development team’s personnel power.
Cost-Effectiveness
One of the primary benefits of OutSystems is that it reduces the cost of software development. It does this minimizing the time needed to create extensive custom codebases. Its templates and pre-built components also increase efficiency, reduce errors, and lowers required maintenance, further contributing to savings.
Flexibility
OutSystems makes it so that software organizations are able to rapidly respond and adapt to changing business requirements and the needs of their clients. Using the visual environment and modular architecture of OutSystems, programmers can make changes or updates with less effort than through traditional coding practices. Software created with OutSystems is highly customizable, and is capable of evolving or scaling according to changing business needs.
Enhanced Collaboration
OutSystems is a great collaboration tool as well, as it fosters collaboration among not only developers, but other team members and stakeholders as well. Its visual interface and Agile features help to streamline collaboration and communication to ensure better alignment and understanding of business requirements. In addition, it offers a method for stakeholders to provide feedback throughout the development process, even if they are not “technically savvy”.
Scalability
We have discussed OutSystems scalability already, but it is worth mentioning once more that the low-code platform is known for generating code that is highly optimized and scalable. The platform is robust and highly reliable, which ensures that programs created using it enjoy seamless operation in a variety of environments. Programs created with OutSystems can scale in any direction, letting companies handle increased user demands without affect performance.
Security
OutSystems places a premium on application security. It offers many built-in security features, such as user authentication, role-based access, and data encryption. It also adheres to industry standard security best practices and updates security protocol on a regular basis to combat potential security threats.
Application Performance Monitoring (APM)
In addition to its low-code development features and tools, OutSystems also has strong analytics and application performance monitoring capabilities. It has tools for tracking app performance, user behavior, and overall system health. Project managers, developers, and team leads can use these insights to identify areas of improvement and optimize software performance, resulting in better user experience.
Community and Support
OutSystems enjoys an active community of developers who actively participate and share knowledge, offering advice on best practices, troubleshooting, debugging, and all manner of software development topics. OutSystems has a community forum and resource center where programmers can learn how to get the most out of the platform and troubleshoot issues should they arise. If that is not enough, OutSystems does offer support services, including technical support, training, and more.
OutSystems Pricing
OutSystems has several pricing options available, tailored to your development team’s specific needs. Factors that affect pricing include the number of applications and users, as well as the level of support required. For the most accurate pricing, we recommend contacting OutSystems sales team or requesting a price quote.
OutSystems Alternatives
Below is a list of some of the best low-code platform alternatives to OutSystems.
Mendix
Mendix is another popular low-code development platform that lets companies build and deploy software rapidly and efficiently. It is known for having the following features:
- Drag-and-drop interface for rapid application creation
- Pre-built templates for faster development and code reusability
- Integration with third-party systems and data sources
- Collaboration tools built-in
- Mobile application development tools
- Advanced security features
Appian
Appian is another low-code software and tool with a specific focus business process management (BPM) and workflow automations. It has the following features:
- Process modeling and workflow automation tools
- Low-code development environment
- Integrations with Enterprise systems, databases, APIs, and third-party services
- Real-time analytics and reporting
- Mobile app development support
- Security features and compliance with industry standards
Salesforce Lightning Platform
Salesforce Lightning Platform is a low-code platform that integrates with, and extends, the capabilities and features of the Salesforce platform. It has features for software developers that include:
- Development tools for building custom software and extending Salesforce
- Data integration and connectivity with Salesforce CRM
- Collaboration tools for programmers and user engagement
- AppExchange marketplace
- Mobile app development support
Learn more about Salesforce Lightning Platform.
These low-code platform alternatives to OutSystems offer similar capabilities and features for rapid application development, third-party integrations, collaboration, and tools for mobile app development. Each platform listed has its own strengths and weaknesses and caters to specific business requirements and needs. Always consider your specific project needs when evaluating a low-code development tool.
Final Thoughts on OutSystems Low-Code Platform
In this low-code development platform review, we learned that OutSystems is a powerful tool that helps programmers and organizations create software that is less prone to errors, is highly scalable, and is more performant, all while reducing costs and making the software development process more efficient. OutSystems also improves collaboration and communication between teams and stakeholders and reduces the time-to-market. Finally, its Agile features make it so that developers can quickly react to changes in the market and client needs.
Looking for more low-code software and tools? Check out our product highlight featuring the Best Low-Code Development Platforms.