(continued from last time) Microsoft was one of the first companies to sell low-code databases. The original version of Access first shipped in 1992. Targeted at average computer users, it was eventually bundled with Office products such as word processing software. People can now create databases and enter data as easily as taking notes.
Currently, the latest version of the toolset is called "Power Apps" and supports cutting-edge applications around databases. The tools are tightly integrated into basic Office and marketed to the same user groups. Users don't have to spend too much time worrying about where their data is, but many are likely connecting to SQL Server, the flagship of Microsoft's high-end.
Oracle databases used to be one of the hardest to install. But now the company also sells an “autonomous” version. Automated routines take care of many of the chores that were originally done manually by humans. They include "auto-scaling", "auto-tuning", "self-healing", "auto-provisioning", and even "auto-backup" and "auto-failover".
These features make the database administrator's job easier and other developers easier to handle the job at hand. There is also a web interface for database creation, but some sections are still too complicated for the average user.
SAP's Rapid Application Development provides tools for accessing data in the cloud. Ruum, for example, threads icons and sends data to SAP processes. The "Robotic Process Automation" tool has AI functions such as automatically converting data into data through character recognition and registering it in a database.
It's hard to draw the line between low-code databases and general applications. Many apps are just front-ends with limited database functionality, and users may unknowingly store information in traditional databases. The automation layer makes the flow easier, at least for common apps.
Some open source toolkits are designed to make this simple. Examples include Drupal and Joomla, content management systems designed to create databases for pages and articles. Drupal's Webform module has the ability to create detailed surveys, allowing users to enter their own data. Another content management system is WordPress, which has nearly the same functionality but is more focused on blogging and other text document creation.
The major cloud services offer multiple ways to add tools to create apps that store data within the cloud data service. Google's AppSheet is a service that makes it easy to organize apps that are tightly integrated into G Suite office products. It's one of the replacements for the recently discontinued App Maker. (Continued next time)
[via VentureBeat] @VentureBeat
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