Part 1 here

Limitations

Typically, most of what can be built in high-code can be built in low-code but low-code is not always the best way to build things. A main limitation of Low-Code is the lack of fine grain control of the underlying code and build structure. This is also part of what makes low-code development so easy to maintain as much of it is managed for you. Testing the application must happen from the outside as low-code vendors don't offer the ability to test components in the implementation. Low-code applications often will not scale past 1000s of simultaneous users without hitting the barriers and limitations of the host platform. Many expanding businesses will outgrow their low-code implementations and invest in high-code migration as they need to scale to larger user bases and higher quality. Stagetime went through this transformation. Low-code development is also often not the best choice for applications with specific performance needs, multimedia applications or extensive legacy system integration. Our client Soloist has a proprietary mobile application that can record and synchronize and play back multiple sound loops - this is outside the capabilities of current low-code platforms.

What is Low-Code best for?

Ultimately, where low-code shines is for minimum viable software products, and custom internal tools (like workflow management, data integration, custom CRMs, etc.). This is especially true when you need these built fast, or within a tighter budget.

The Future

With many low-code building platforms now allowing for easy integrations with AI, we are now seeing low-code being used to build even more advanced tools that have AI integrated into them. The current generation of AI models are error prone; however they are beginning to offer a significant acceleration for prototyping on low-code platforms. Businesses will build more tools for internal use that can add AI reasoning into their human managed workflows. At Future Wonder we are planning to explore this and other approaches in the summer of 2025 with our AI Charioteer project. Have you gotten an idea for a software build that you thought would be too expensive for your budget or take too long to build? Maybe it’s time to consider if a tool built in Low-Code is the right choice for you. To set up a free consultation for your potential low-code software development project contact us here

At Future Wonder, we believe that strong communities are built on collaboration, innovation, and shared vision. That’s why we’re excited to announce our new membership with the Bloomington Economic Development Corporation (BEDC). Since 1985, the BEDC has been a driving force behind Bloomington’s economic success, working to create new opportunities and attract high-quality jobs to the region. With over 100 member organizations—spanning private, public, and nonprofit sectors—the BEDC brings businesses together to drive progress. Among these, 56 are Sponsor Members, 41 are General Members (including us!), and 6 hold Special Memberships. Future Wonder is proud to be part of this dynamic network, working alongside other businesses to support local economic growth.

One of the BEDC’s most ambitious initiatives is the Economic Vitality Project (EVP), launched in 2022. This community-wide effort focuses on creating a shared vision for Bloomington’s future, strengthening its brand identity, and directing investments toward meaningful local initiatives. Phase one of the EVP gathered insights from 630+ community surveys, 140+ participants in committees, focus groups, and interviews, and a review of 40 strategic plans across Monroe County. As the project moves into its next phase, the BEDC is expanding its efforts to turn these insights into action, and we’re eager to support this work in any way we can.

By joining forces with the BEDC, we’re not just aligning with their mission—we’re actively contributing to it. This shared emphasis on collaboration and growth positions Future Wonder as an active participant in advancing the BEDC’s vision of a thriving, interconnected business community. With the BEDC’s resources and community-driven approach, we’re better positioned than ever to help attract opportunities, strengthen the local business landscape, and build a future where businesses and people alike can succeed. This is just the beginning, and we can’t wait to see what we’ll accomplish together.

Low-code development is an alternative method of software development that can be used to build easy-to-manage solutions that are faster and more affordable to build than more traditional high-code software development builds. You can build logic similar to what you can achieve by writing lines of high-code but without needing deep understanding of the syntax of traditional programming languages.

Platform choice

Instead of writing lines of code, like in traditional high-code, low-code applications are developed and deployed through using platforms like Bubble, Adalo or Webflow. These platforms simplify the process of building software into visual representations of workflows and data management. Whichever platform was used to build the low-code application is now where the tool must permanently live. You cannot export the implementation to another platform or a self-hosted solution.

Low-Code implementation

Procedural business can be developed and updated in Low-Code much quicker than in high-code. Many low-code applications including more advanced business logic are regularly just built by one developer. Extensive plug-in markets on each platform allow go to market additions like text notifications and payment processing. Quality can be a challenge as most low-code platforms don't yet offer any rigorous testing mechanisms. Future Wonder recommends adding an external automated test framework like testup.io or Lambdatest if there is more than one developer on the project.

Maintenance

Because of the visually representative nature of low-code, the learning curve of understanding how the app was built and can be maintained is significantly simpler compared to high-code, meaning that clients who aren’t very tech-savvy can often get the hang of how to update and change things in their low-code tools. More in part 2, where we discuss low-code limitations and how AI helps turn concepts into prototypes. Want to discuss your project with us? Visit our contact page here

User Experience (or UX) research studies how people interact with a product. In the world of web development, that doesn't just mean making things look nice -- it’s about ensuring web products are intuitive and keep users engaged. With the help of UX designers, businesses can use this research to move beyond assumptions and make design decisions based on real user needs.

UX designers study behavior, pain points, and expectations of the target audience while interacting with a product. Depending on the goals of the research, this can be as simple as directly watching how people use a website (usability testing) or conducting one-on-one interviews. Specific research methods can include surveys, heat maps, A/B testing, and analytics tools that track user behavior.

The key is to gather qualitative (why users do what they do) and quantitative (how often, how long, etc.) data to get a complete picture.

Once you have that data, UX research doesn't stop there -- it's paired with actionable recommendations. For example, if users struggle to find information on a site, the UX takeaway might be to improve navigation or add a search function. If they abandon a form halfway through, UX research might suggest simplifying it or reducing required fields.

The goal of UX research isn’t just to identify issues but to offer clear, practical solutions that enhance your product. At Future Wonder, that means creating a valuable experience on both mobile and desktop websites informed by data. All products we offer are design-first for this reason.

Contact us if you want to know more about UX design! Find out more about our design philosophy here.

Welcome to Soloist! The music social media app you’ll be able to say you knew before it was big because Future Wonder got to help with it 🎶.

In 2024, Soloist was featured in 4 global conferences: CES in Vegas, SXSW in Austin, Rally in Indy, and Music Tectonics in Santa Monica. They also spoke at the Music Bloom Summit in Chicago in December 2023. There’s a reason they’re everywhere: Techpoint's recent article shares that “Soloist simulates the experience of having bandmates for musicians who, on average, spend 90% of their time practicing their instrument alone”. You can record your own soundbites to turn into songs with friends or explore other artists through your personalized feed (and maybe find your next bandmates).

We have been helping them build their mobile app to their founder Parker Busick’s high standards and the product is making an impact. “In one year of validation, Soloist has bootstrapped $105,000; won three pitch competitions and two grants; and secured one private equity investment.” Come witness the future of social media in the collaborative music space.

We're excited to kick off our search for Summer 2025 interns! This year, we're expanding beyond our traditional web development internships to introduce a unique opportunity—an AI Charioteer internship. If you're eager to gain hands-on experience in web development or AI model development between May and August, check out our available positions on our jobs page. Don't miss your chance to work on cutting-edge technology with us this summer!