Published on July 26, 2022.

The demand for NetSuite developers has been extremely high for quite awhile now, and that demand shows no sign of letting up. There is also increased demand for external applications that integrate with NetSuite, from Web apps and Web portals, to mobile apps for distributed sales teams, field service organizations, and so on. To put it simply, there are not enough NetSuite developers available to meet this seemingly ever-growing demand.

I believe that we can help solve this problem by using low-code application development tools. In this post, I'm going to explain what low-code is, why I think it's needed in the NetSuite space, what to look for in a low-code tool, and why I chose Xojo as my low-code development tool.

Introducing Low-Code

Low-code is a category of software development tools that make the process of designing and developing software easy. They normally provide a drag-and-drop, graphical interface, along with an easy-to-use, high-level programming language. Instead of writing a lot of code by hand, you develop visually. The promise of low-code tools is that they can be used to build applications faster and more easily than with traditional software development tools and techniques.

It might appear that low-code development tools are intended for use by workers whose primary job responsibility isn't IT-related. This type of developer is sometimes referred to as a "citizen developer." Low-code tools certainly empower these workers, and in some cases the tools can serve as a sort of "on-ramp" for those who are interested in moving into formal software development careers.

But low-code development tools can also be helpful to experienced, professional developers as well. They give professional developers a way to get more done, more quickly. Developers can focus their efforts on the more complicated, technical aspects of the applications that they are building, and address the "easier" aspects of the applications by utilizing the tool's functionality and abstractions. For example, a developer can use the tool's graphical IDE to visually create an app's user interface, and then write the code needed to wire the interface up to a data source.

Here's something else that you should know about low-code: It's use and adoption is growing, and it's growing very quickly. Based on recent studies, Forrester Research is predicting that the low-code market is going to grow 40% this year, and total $21 billion. So companies are clearly investing in these tools. In addition, Gartner is predicting that by 2024, 65% of all application development will be done using low-code tools.

Low-Code and NetSuite

As I mentioned above, the demand for NetSuite developers is incredibly high, and that demand seems to be increasing. Many businesses that choose NetSuite as their ERP system do so because of its ability to be customized and extended. It's in the customizations and extensions that businesses often find and unlock additional value from NetSuite.

In most cases, developers build what we call "NetSuite-native applications." These are apps that are built inside of NetSuite, and they are developed using SuiteScript, workflows, and so on.

With low-code tools, we can develop applications that are built outside of NetSuite, and that integrate with NetSuite to provide access to its data and functionality. For example, we can build a Web application that can be used by customers to check order status, request support or RMAs, and so on. We can build desktop applications that help uses to work with data in NetSuite in unique and powerful ways. We can build mobile apps for remote, distributed sales teams, or even third parties (such as customers, vendors, or partners).

It's been my experience that to successfully use a low-code tool to develop an app that integrates with NetSuite, you need to be familiar with tool itself, and you need a reliable, easy way to handle the integration.

As far as the tool goes, you need to understand its strengths and its weaknesses, and determine whether or not the tool is capable of building the desired app. My advice is to always keep things simple. Simple, uncluttered interfaces. Simple functionality. Don't overcomplicate things unnecessarily.

With regards to how you handle the integration with NetSuite, you have options. You can use NetSuite's SuiteTalk Web APIs. You can develop your own custom RESTlets. Or you can choose to use an Integration-Platform-as-a-Service (iPaaS). As a developer, I lean towards developing and using custom RESTlets. But depending on the nature of the app and your team's capabilities, using SuiteTalk or an iPaaS (such as Celigo) might be a better choice.

Regardless of the integration method that you choose, you need to be sure that the low-code development tool that you are considering is capable of making the API calls that will be needed. Can it handle the authentication process? Is it reliable?

Low-Code Tool Considerations

I've been a fan of low-code development tools for a long time, and I've had opportunities to use many of the more popular tools that are available. And in using and evaluating those tools, I started to put together a list of the things that I found to be important in selecting a low-code tool.

Here's what I've been looking for in a low-code development tool:
• It can be used to develop multiple types of applications. Web apps, desktop apps, mobile apps, and so on.
• It can be used to develop apps that run on a wide range of devices. macOS, Windows, and Linux-based PCs, iOS and Android mobile devices, and so on.
• It provides an IDE that is easy-to-use and stable.
• It provides an intuitive, consistent programming language.
• It's affordable, both in terms of initial cost, ongoing maintenance, deployment licensing / deployment.
• It's being provided by an established, reliable company.

I also generally prefer tools that run locally. I've found that many low-code tools are cloud-based, and in many cases, the way that you deploy apps built with them is impacted.

Why I Chose Xojo

Xojo is a cross-platform application development tool. You can use it to develop desktop apps (for macOS, Windows, Linux), mobile apps (currently only for iOS, but Android support is coming soon), Web apps, and console apps. You can even use it to develop apps that run on Raspberry Pi devices.

With Xojo, you can build apps, and then run them in debug mode for as long as you'd like, all at no charge. If you reach a point where you'd like to build (compile) an app and run it as an executable, then you'll need to purchase a license. The license that you'll need is based on the types of apps that you want to compile and distribute. There are licenses specifically for compiling desktop apps, Web apps, mobile apps, and so on. But Xojo also provides Pro and Pro Plus licenses, which can be used to compile everything.

Based on my list of things to look for in a low-code tool, how does Xojo stack up?

As I mentioned earlier, Xojo can can be used to develop many types of applications, including Web apps, desktop apps, mobile apps, and even console apps. It can compile apps for use on macOS, Windows, and Linux-based PCs, iOS and Android mobile devices, and even Raspberry Pis. So it certainly meets my first two criteria.

I've always found Xojo's IDE to be intuitive and reliable. I like that I can use it to logically organize the components of the application that I'm working on. Here's a short animation showing an iOS app in the Xojo IDE.

Click the image to view a larger version.

I also find the Xojo language to be intuitive, and while many changes have been made to it in recent years, the pace and number of changes seem to be winding down lately. And while some of those changes did mean that we needed to refactor some of our apps, the improved consistency of the Xojo language seems to me to have been worth the effort.

As far as affordability goes, I think it's hard to beat Xojo. As I mentioned above, you can evaluate Xojo for free for as long as you'd like, developing apps with it and running them in the Xojo debugger. Licenses are only needed when you're ready to compile and deploy an app, and license prices are as low as $149. My advice is, if you think you're going to want to use Xojo for a variety of projects, and you're a solo developer, invest in the Pro license. If you're a development firm or NetSuite partner, you should look into the Pro Plus option.

With regards to ongoing costs and maintenance, Xojo's licenses do expire. However, you can continue to build with any Xojo releases prior to the license expiration date, and do so indefinitely. But you can also choose to extend a license with a renewal, or buy a new license. By extending a license, you get an additional 12 months of new releases and features.

And finally, as far as being an "established, reliable company," Xojo's certainly got that covered. Xojo, Inc. was founded all the way back in 1997. Xojo's team is small, and I've had concerns about that in the past. But I've come to realize that the team's small size has its advantages, including clarity and alignment on the company's goals, the ability to execute on its vision, and more.

I also mentioned that I prefer development tools that I can run locally. The Xojo IDE is a desktop application that can run on macOS, Windows, and Linux-based PCs. And when you compile an app, it's a true, native app. There's no need to distribute it with a "player" or any other third-party app. So you have a lot of options for deploying Xojo-built apps.