What are development tools?

First, we will explain some basic information about development tools.

Overview of Development Tools

Development tools are tools that assist in the development of software applications. Since many processes can be automated, development can be made labor-saving and manpower-saving. The advantage is that development time can be shortened and development can be carried out even if the developer has only basic knowledge and is somewhat inexperienced.

A wide variety of development tools are now available, and in many cases, a combination of various tools is used according to development objectives. Since development proceeds in stages, tools are utilized according to each stage of system development, such as requirement definition, outline design, detailed design, test design, and coding.

Development tools are available in all types, including general-purpose tools and tools specialized for certain fields, so that they can be used for different purposes.

Role of Development Tools

Development tools have various roles depending on their purpose.

They can automate processes, speed up development, and improve accuracy beyond manual development by automatically generating standardized source code using templates, automatically generating design documents through program analysis, and using integrated development environments to perform simple repetitive tasks all in one place.

In addition, the use of development tools facilitates notification and coordination among development team members, facilitating collaborative development. Development tools are playing an increasingly important role in shortening and continuously improving software development.

In today's world of short timeframes for model changes and time-to-market, it is becoming increasingly difficult to respond to business needs if development is based on program code understood only by a few people. Some development tools are capable of handling everything from low-code to full development, making it possible for companies to develop their own business applications even if they cannot obtain skilled technical personnel.

Types of Development Tools

The main types of development tools include the following

• API (Application Programming Interface)

Tools that work to link multiple different applications together.

• Integrated Development Environment

Development software that combines multiple development tools into a single GUI

• Development Man-hour Management Tools

Tools to manage man-hours and improve work efficiency and productivity

• Ultra-fast development tools

Tools to reduce development processes and man-hours by automatically generating source code and accelerating batch processing

• Test Automation Tools

Tools to perform software testing automatically

• Version control tools

Tools to record and manage file change history

Recent trends in development tools

In business application development, "no-code development" and "low-code development" have been attracting attention since around 2018. No-code development" is a method of developing applications without writing any source code. Low-code development, on the other hand, is a method of developing applications with less source code.

Conventional pro-code development is generally done from scratch using programming languages such as "COBOL," "C/C++," and "Java. However, by utilizing development tools, it is possible for development tools to take care of processes such as design, programming, and testing. Therefore, as long as you have design skills, you can proceed with system development. This reduces the need to train and secure highly skilled engineers, leading to savings in human resources.

The No-Code/Low-Code development tool enables development of applications using parts (components) and templates of various functions, combining them only by drag-and-drop operation of the mouse on the GUI. No-code and low-code are highly effective in bringing system development in-house, shortening development periods, and reducing costs, and are being introduced by government agencies as well.

On the other hand, there is also a movement to change business operations to match system specifications: companies that have been using groupware such as Notes are shifting to new development tools that lead to changes in on-site work styles, and many companies are streamlining their existing operations accordingly. The effect will be more significant for large companies whose operations tend to be bloated.

The introduction of development tools is a countermeasure to the shortage of human resources and the black box nature of systems, and helps promote DX in companies. This is an effective solution.

Issues and causes after introducing development tools

In some cases, even if a new system is introduced, it may not work. The main problems and causes are as follows

• Trouble occurs with development tools, and work does not progress as expected.

The difficulty level of the development tool may make it impossible to handle any problems that may occur during operation of the development tool. Bug handling and troubleshooting cannot be done properly, causing stumbling blocks in the application production process.

• Unexpected costs for operation and maintenance

This is a case where operational costs are higher than expected at the time of introduction, or it takes a great deal of time and effort to modify the system to match your company's needs. The reason for this is the lack of sufficient confirmation of the forecast of the company's operational situation and the corresponding ancillary pricing of the product.

• Unable to integrate with other systems

In some cases, it is difficult to automatically generate the parts of the system that relate to integration with existing systems. The main cause is a lack of prior confirmation of what systems the development tool can handle and to what extent.

• The system does not contribute to the business

If the focus is on function development and the objectives are unclear, this can cause the business contribution to be unobtainable. As a result, a return on investment cannot be expected to be commensurate with the cost of implementation.

• System does not respond to changes in business

Insufficient understanding of the on-site situation may cause the system to not match changes in workflow or business expansion in response to changing conditions. In such cases, even after implementation, system use in the field is not promoted, and cost-effectiveness is not achieved.

How to Select Development Tools

In order to get the best results from the introduction of the system, the following points should be kept in mind when selecting a development tool.

• Is the system fully capable of handling complex operations?

The nature of business varies greatly from company to company. If the development tool does not meet diverse needs and accommodate complex workflows unique to the company, its implementation will be less meaningful.

• Is programming easy?

One of the purposes of development tools is to simplify and save manpower. It is desirable to have a tool that can be handled by employees without advanced development knowledge.

• Does it meet the development objectives?

There are various types of development tools available, and it is important that they are appropriate for the purpose of development, such as web applications and mobile applications.

• Is it suitable for the development and operating environment?

Make sure that the factors related to the development tool are appropriate for your company, such as the operating environment in the development environment and execution environment, and the approval of the license to use the tool.

• Can the system be smoothly migrated from existing systems such as Notes?

As mentioned in the previous issue, poor integration and migration with external systems can cause confusion in business operations. Smooth integration is an important condition for selecting a development tool.

The above considerations apply not only when introducing a new system, but also during system migration. In order to improve your development capabilities, keep these points in mind when migrating to a new system and make them conditions for choosing a development tool.

Choose the right tool for software development that meets your company's needs.

Software is an important part of business operations in modern corporate activities. Furthermore, each company's software needs are different. It is important to choose a development tool that meets your company's needs in order to shorten software development time and ensure sustainable operation.

ArielAirOne Framework (workflow development tool)" is a development tool that can handle complex corporate operations because of its low-code development and excellent customizability. Please consider using it when you are having trouble developing your own business applications. Please take a look at the introduction materials.

Product introduction materials

ArielAirOne Framework" workflow and development tool

The ArielAirOne Framework provides a platform for non-programming development of company-specific business applications with the advanced functionality required by major companies.

Check it out now!