The Rise of Low-code Development Platforms in Embedded Systems
Crank | AMETEK
Accelerating the development of sophisticated #EmbeddedGUI products for exceptional #UX.
Time has always been a priority in the fast-paced digital landscape. Engineers and software developers are always under constant pressure to provide robust, reliable, and easy-to-use applications in the lowest possible timeframe, and this is also applicable in embedded GUI development. Low-code development platforms are playing a vital role in facilitating it and have been a game changer in the way we think about UI/UX design and development.
The low-code development platform market worldwide is set to bring in $187.0 billion by 2030, up from $10.3 billion in 2019. According to some experts it is expected to grow at a rate of 31.1% each year from 2020 to 2030. These low-code tools are replacing the traditional development platforms in all areas including the UI/UX design and development in embedded systems. They are making things easier by letting designers and developers build complex user interfaces without needing to be coding experts.
What is Low-code Development?
Imagine building a sophisticated HMI design application with minimal coding. Low-code tools offer a visual platform where developers can drag and drop off-the-shelf modules, build complex workflows, and deploy those prototypes faster than before
In the case of fast-moving consumer goods or critical healthcare applications, time-to-market and cost management are critical. Designers and developers do not have the privilege to go through multiple iterations and code everything from scratch. In such scenarios, low-code tools offer a much-needed boost in efficiency.
Embedded Industry and Low-Code
Think of the benefits when you can build an application without code it from scratch, then debug and optimize the code to enhance performance and scalability. Low-code platforms achieve this by including built-in modules, templates, or What You See Is What You Get (WYSIWYG) editors that employ proven components. With more time and resources at your disposal, you can focus your coding efforts on refining your application, adding advanced functionalities, and boosting performance. That is why companies in any industry are rapidly adopting low-code platforms.
The following are some of the factors boosting the adoption of low-code development platforms:
Speed and Efficiency: Embedded systems often involve intricate workflows and hardware dependencies. Low-code platforms remove the requirement for coding repetitive tasks by hand, thus allowing the teams to concentrate on innovation instead of it.
Enhanced Collaboration: Using visual aids and easy-to-learn interfaces, even non-specialist users can participate in the UI/UX design process. This team-based strategy guarantees that if the project commences an end-user need on the agenda, it will be at the heart of each step.
Iterative Prototyping: Precise development is required in embedded HMI development and low-code tools are particularly suited to support rapid prototyping. Teams can test and tweak designs in real time, reducing costly delays.
Flexibility and Scalability: With customizable templates and easy integration, low-code platforms allow for quick adjustments and prototyping, vital for adapting to changing user needs or market demands. These tools often come with features that scale easily, making them ideal for designing complex user interfaces in products with varying levels of sophistication.
Reduce bugs: As the components/libraries you incorporate have already been tested and they need just small modifications to be used for your tasks.
Benefits for UI/UX in Embedded Systems
The user interface is the soul of any embedded product, from automotive panels to medical equipment. Low-code platforms can offer multiple benefits, especially when you are tight on resources and need to quickly develop a proof of concept (PoC), prototype, or even the final product within a tight deadline. Some of the benefits are listed below:
Streamlined Design Process: Pre-built parts and blueprints allow teams to produce professional UIs without having to start from scratch.
Cross-Platform Compatibility: Several low-code tools have been designed right from the start with scalability, thus being easily deployable on multiple devices.
User-Centric Focus: Minimizing backend complexity allows developers to focus on user experience and create intuitive and compelling interfaces.
Think of the Savings: By streamlining workflows and reducing the need for specialized coding knowledge, these tools offer huge benefits when it comes to time, cost, and quality.
Embedded systems rely on a seamless integration of the hardware platform and multiple interconnected software applications. While the concept of low-code development platform has existed for a while, its applicability to embedded systems remains a topic of debate. However, platforms like Crank Storyboard, specifically designed for embedded GUI development, demonstrate how low-code solutions can effectively address the unique challenges of embedded systems.
The Crank Storyboard Advantage
Low-code embedded GUI development platform, such as Crank Software's Storyboard, illustrate how low-code environments enable innovation in embedded UI/UX design. Storyboard is platform agnostic and can be used with any hardware or OS platform.
Storyboard allows teams to prototype, evolve, and implement high-speed, customizable UIs at higher speed, flexibility, and efficiency, a perfect solution to the stringent needs of the embedded market. Storyboard’s unique decoupled development architecture is crafted by a team of seasoned software engineers to remove the issues typically associated with traditional UI development tools.
What’s Next for Low-Code in Embedded Systems?
Low-code development environments will continue to further reduce design and development cycles and drive innovation. Whether you’re developing wearables, industrial controls, or cutting-edge automotive interfaces, embracing low-code is soon going to be a mainstream necessity.
To get more insight into some of the promising trends in the embedded systems and HMI design trends, head over to our latest blogs.
Highlights
Release of Storyboard 8.2
What’s New in Storyboard 8.2: Smarter, Faster, and Easier Embedded GUI Development
The new version, Storyboard 8.2, is full of great improvements for anyone building GUIs for embedded devices. Be it an automotive display or a medical device or consumer electronics, Storyboard 8.2 brings powerful new features, more streamlined workflows, and performance enhancements to support innovative edge UI development.
Recent Blog
Real-Time Performance Optimization in HMI Design & Development for Embedded Systems
This article probes the challenges and the best practices in achieving real-time performance in HMI design and development, especially for the needs of embedded systems, and highlights how UI development tools, such as Crank’s Storyboard, can play an important role in that optimization.
Upcoming Events Where You Can Meet Our Embedded GUI Experts in Person!
If you have missed visiting the Crank team at any of the past events, you still have a chance to meet them in person and discuss your upcoming embedded GUI project.
Join the Crank team on 23rd-24th April in London, at Hardware Pioneers Max 25 - the UK's largest exhibition and conference for cutting-edge technology.
Let Crank take the hassle out of your UI development process so that you can focus on refining your product to perfection.
Use code SPEX50 to get 50% discount on both STANDARD and PREMIUM tickets. Register Now to secure your spot!
Thank you for reading! To learn more about CRANK and Storyboard, visit our website and follow us on LinkedIn.