Custom Widgets & UI with Low-code platform

4 min readMay 23, 2024

Creating custom widgets and user interfaces (UI) with a low-code platform involves leveraging the platform’s tools to design and implement unique, highly tailored components that meet specific requirements. Here’s a detailed guide on how to achieve this:

Key Steps for Creating Custom Widgets & UI with Low-Code Platforms

Understand Platform Capabilities:

Research: Explore the documentation and tutorials provided by thelow-code platforms to understand its capabilities and limitations regarding custom widgets and UI.
Community and Support: Engage with community forums and support resources to gather insights and best practices.

Design Your Custom UI:

Mockups and Wireframes: Start by creating detailed mockups or wireframes of your custom UI using design tools like Sketch, Figma, or Adobe XD.
User Experience (UX): Focus on creating an intuitive and user-friendly experience, ensuring the UI aligns with your application’s overall design language.

Utilize Visual Development Tools:

Drag-and-Drop Interface: Use the low-code platforms visual editor to design your UI. Many low-code platforms allow you to drag and drop UI elements, customize their properties, and arrange them as needed.
Custom Styles: Apply custom styles (CSS) to the components to match your design requirements. Some platforms provide advanced styling options for more control.

Incorporate Custom Widgets:

Pre-built Widgets: Start with the low-code platforms library of pre-built widgets and customize them as needed.
Custom Code: For more advanced customizations, some low-code platforms allow you to write custom code (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) to create entirely new widgets or extend existing ones.
Third-Party Libraries: Integrate third-party UI libraries and components if thelow-code platforms supports such integrations. This can significantly enhance the functionality and appearance of your widgets.

Define Widget Behavior:

Event Handling: Use the platform’s tools to define the behavior of your widgets in response to user actions (e.g., clicks, swipes, input).
Logic Implementation: Implement the business logic behind the widgets using the platform’s visual development tools or custom scripting capabilities.

Integrate Data Sources:

APIs and Databases: Connect your custom widgets to various data sources, such as REST APIs, databases, or other backend services.
Data Binding: Use data binding features to dynamically display and update data within your custom widgets.

Testing and Validation:

Preview and Debug: Use the platform’s preview and debugging tools to test the functionality and appearance of your custom widgets.
User Testing: Conduct user testing to gather feedback and identify areas for improvement.

Deployment:

Platform Deployment Tools: Use the low-code platform’s deployment tools to publish your app with the custom widgets to the relevant app stores (Apple App Store, Google Play Store) or internal distribution channels.
Continuous Updates: Regularly update your custom widgets and UI based on user feedback and evolving requirements.

Examples of Wave maker Low-Code Platforms Supporting Custom Widgets & UI

Wave maker Offers extensive customization capabilities with support for custom code and integration with external libraries.
Wave maker Provides a robust visual editor and advanced CSS control.
Wavemaker Supports custom widgets through its “Pluggable Widgets” feature, allowing developers to create reusable components using React.
Wavemaker Offers flexibility in styling and behavior customization.
Wavemaker Known for its flexibility in creating custom components and integrating third-party libraries.
Wavemaker Provides advanced logic and event-handling tools.
Wavemaker Focuses on ease of use with drag-and-drop customization but also allows for custom actions and integrations.
Wavemaker Suitable for creating visually appealing custom UIs quickly.
Wavemaker Enables the creation of custom components through its “Canvas Apps” feature.
Wavemaker Offers integration with the broader Wavemaker ecosystem, making it ideal for Wave maker enterprise applications.

Conclusion

Creating custom widgets and UI in low-code platforms involves a blend of visual design tools, custom coding, and integration capabilities. By leveraging the strengths of a low-code platform, you can efficiently build tailored and sophisticated interfaces that meet specific user needs while maintaining the speed and accessibility advantages of low-code development.

Wave maker

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