How To Achieve Full Low-Code Customization?

Low code doesn’t provide customization options—this is a huge misconception. It’s 2025, and the low-code development platforms (LCDPs) we see today are far different from those introduced ten years ago as rigid, limited, and template-driven solutions. But let’s see how they have changed to enable full low-code customization.

The Myth About Low-Code Customization

Interestingly, the concept of low-code development has existed since the emergence of 4GLs (Fourth-Generation Programming Languages) that were developed from the 1970s through the 1990s, followed by “Rapid Application Development (RAD),” and “Model-Driven Development (MDD).” When Forrester first coined the term “low code” in 2014, they referred to “platforms that enable rapid delivery of business applications with a minimum of hand-coding and minimal upfront investment in setup, training, and deployment.”

An early example of one such platform is Oracle Forms, introduced in the 1970s. In the beginning, it was used as an Interactive Application Facility (IAF) with two key components – a compiler (Interactive Application Generator – IAG) and a runtime interpreter (Interactive Application Processor – IAP). Essentially, Oracle Forms allowed teams to create database-driven apps without hand-writing complex SQL queries. This way, it simplified and automated development to some extent, making it a predecessor to low-code platforms.

However, the tools now are more complex, scalable, and customizable. Otherwise, they would fail to cater to the specific needs of their users, businesses, and even the market dynamics. From instruments for building generic business apps, low-code tools like App Builder have grown to empower teams and companies to be extremely flexible when building pixel-perfect enterprise apps for various technologies and use cases.

With advantages like UI/UX Control, modular and framework-agnostic components, and cloud and AI integrations, low-code platforms can more easily integrate with current software development pipelines, extending the capabilities for building highly customizable apps with minimal coding.

How Low Code Enables Full Low-Code Customization

Developer freedom is key. Teams and businesses look for tools that help them foster innovation, scalability, and productivity. While low-code platforms like App Builder cater to these needs, some tools only strengthen the dangers of vendor lock-in or increase IT backlogs. There may be brand-specific user experiences, lack of advanced logic implementation, no option to modify or own the source code, proprietary scripting languages, etc.

However, advanced tools like App Builder are designed to enable full low-code customization through:

UI and Branding Control

When it comes to user interface and branding, teams focus their energy on modifying layouts, adjusting typography, and experimenting with colors and other elements. We observe a shift from requiring speed to gaining agility regarding the available choices and what people can do with their tools.

Platforms are now bridging the gap between rapid development and flexibility to provide full low-code customization. Tools like App Builder, for example, come with a rich visual design interface and seamless drag-and-drop functionality for crafting pixel-perfect apps. There are different layout configurations, colors, and more—guaranteeing brand alignment.

App Themes and Styling

Low-code tools typically come with preconfigured themes. These limited options are insufficient to build visually appealing and unique applications that respond to different end-user preferences. That’s why comprehensive platforms empower developers to create and edit their themes easily.

This way, they can maintain consistency across projects and ensure low-code customization. For flexibility in styling, supporting industry-standard design frameworks is key. These include Material Design, Fluent UI, and Bootstrap.

Seamless API Integrations

Many low-code tools now offer API support and advanced integration capabilities to enable developers to connect with third-party services, databases, etc., with reduced manual coding efforts. To ensure customization, agility, and backend connectivity, the App Builder data features let users add, edit, and use external data sources in the application they are developing.

There are two different ways to set up Rest API data sources – by using a Rest API URL with the data source or a Swagger URL or file definition. Developers can also perform CRUD operation, grid remote paging, or the latest Form Builder feature that lets people design HTML forms through a drag-and-drop experience.

Here’s a great step-by-step guide that illustrates our Northwind Web API in action using ASP.NET Core 6.

Extending to AI

In the Hype Cycle for AI in Software Engineering, 2024, Gartner points out that; “AI is transforming software engineering with tools like AI code assistants to enhance developer experience and productivity. Software engineering leaders are tasked with leveraging AI in new and existing applications.” Embracing these approaches and merging low code with AI is essential for driving innovation and, most importantly, guaranteeing customization and flexibility in development.

Functionalities like App Builder AI can be used to fully customize the app through visuals and complex data or generate AI views, for example. Users have to provide plain descriptions of what they need, and the feature will generate tailored results.

Performance

Building apps for performance is essential to providing excellent user experience. Modern-day low-code platforms provide complete control over database queries, front-end rendering, and backend operations, guaranteeing that the tool will function effectively even as it scales. Features like caching techniques, effective data fetching, and lazy loading improve app performance and responsiveness.

Furthermore, low-code platforms like App Builder generate clean, editable code for popular frameworks that follow industry best practices. This minimizes performance bottlenecks and ensures apps can easily scale when requirements change, or a new feature is requested.

For specific examples of best practices to improve performance, you can read the How to Improve the Performance of Angular Applications article.

How Service Providers Benefit From Full Low-Code Customization

Let’s look at some use cases to see what low-code customizations mean for service providers.

Suppose you have built a learning portal with low code and have to test it for user acceptance. People try checkboxes, explore tutors’ profiles, and click through courses. You’ve used different components like Rating, List, Icons, etc. However, users identify that the information they require to read about a course or a tutor is not presented as very user-friendly. Adding an Accordion component makes sense in that case. If you use a low-code tool that prioritizes customizations, you can drag and drop the new control without disruptions. Then, you can inspect the code quite easily side by side with the app.

Independent Software Vendors (ISVs)

ISVs use low code to create customizable software products that meet customers’ needs. With low code, they can provide white-label solutions, letting other companies easily brand apps as their own while maintaining complete functionality and code flexibility.

Building Enterprise Apps

Businesses frequently need specific apps that operate within their current processes and infrastructure. Low-code platforms, which provide customization across user interfaces, security setups, and feature sets, give developers the flexibility they need to create and manage enterprise-grade solutions. This eliminates the need for prolonged development cycles, allows businesses to tailor their apps, and even replaces legacy systems without causing disruption.

Wrap Up

With all this in mind, low code will continue to pave the way for innovation, business growth, and developer freedom. Stats by Forrester indicate that; “91% of IT and business decision-makers responsible for digital transformation initiatives at enterprises in the US, the UK, Canada, and Australia use low code to improve existing IT capabilities to promote agility and innovation.” While speed in development is extremely vital, it is no longer the only criterion for a great low-code tool. Low-code platforms today offer great flexibility and scalability, so different companies can create customized apps that satisfy specific requirements.