Edited by Martin Arborea
Open Source or No-Code? What's the Strategic Choice for Tomorrow's Software Projects
No-code platforms are steadily gaining ground on the market* , thanks to their ability to accelerate development and simplify the technical management of applications.
In this context, system integrators and software houses face a crucial decision: build customized solutions starting from open source components, or adopt a configurable no-code platform, delivered in PaaS or SaaS ? More metaphorically: remain in a safe harbor or be lured by the sirens of no-code ?
* According to Business Research Insights, the global low-code and no-code platforms market, valued at $32 billion in 2024, is expected to reach $207.25 billion by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 26.1% – Source link
We're specifically talking about all those solutions that aren't simple extensions of an ERP system. We're referring to complex applications that manage information and processes across the organization and often involve external stakeholders. Precisely because of their nature, they require design and implementation from scratch.
And this is where you face a strategic decision: should I develop the solution starting from a customized open source foundation or adopt a no-code collaborative platform, even better if delivered in PaaS/SaaS ? Each approach has advantages and disadvantages: the choice is not just about technology, but also touches on strategic issues such as time-to-market, economic sustainability, IT governance, and the competitiveness of the service model.
In this article, we analyze the advantages and trade-offs of both approaches, with particular attention to those who, such as system integrators and software houses, design and create complex applications for the B2B , addressing technical, operational, and, last but not least, market issues.
Time To Market
One of the main competitive factors in providing software solutions is the speed with which they can be implemented. It's true that open source allows for complete design freedom, but development is certainly slower: every building block must be designed, developed, and tested.
Furthermore, the need to employ a multidisciplinary and highly specialized team can contribute to lengthening development times. On the other hand, no-code platforms allow for the visual modeling of processes, rules, or user interfaces: this allows for much faster development, with a reduction in release times of up to 70%*. In many cases, this responsiveness can be a key strategic advantage , especially in sectors where time-to-market is a decisive factor.
* According to a Forrester analysis, no-code platforms can reduce development times by up to 70% compared to traditional methods, accelerating project delivery and improving market competitiveness. Link to source
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)
Open source is often perceived as a cheaper alternative because there's the illusion of zero costs. But that's only half the story! The real costs will be those of the development phase and, above all, the cost of managing the solution: technical staff, necessary infrastructure, security, updates, maintenance adjustments, and fixes. These costs fall entirely on the partner, who finds themselves faced with a TCO that's difficult to calculate and full of uncertainties.
In a no-code PaaS/SaaS model , however, the initial development cost is certainly lower given the increased development speed, also due to the configuration logic. Even more interesting is the recurring fee that includes cloud infrastructure, automatic updates, technical support, and guaranteed SLAs. This makes the overall cost much more predictable and scalable.
Operational Risks and IT Governance
When developing and managing an open source solution, the partner is responsible for the entire value chain. This is an aspect that is often overlooked; however, today, managing security , privacy , service availability, updates, and regulatory compliance requires ongoing investment in technical support and IT processes. GDPR issues .
By choosing a no-code approach based on a PaaS, many of these responsibilities are transferred to the platform provider, which, due to the nature of its business, must always be optimally organized for SaaS delivery, with managed environments, automatic backups, integrated
disaster Ultimately, the fee that, with open source, one might imagine saving money actually includes a whole series of tasks that the partner would have to undertake on a case-by-case basis for each customer, as they cannot count on the same economies of scale as a no-code platform . With the no-code approach, the partner can be freed from the burden of infrastructure, allowing them to instead focus on adding application value and managing the customer relationship.
Technical Flexibility and Customization
One of the greatest strengths of the open source model is, of course, its absolute flexibility: any functionality can be developed, without any limitations imposed by platform . However, this freedom comes at a price. Each intervention involves time, complexity, the risk of introducing regressions or technical debt, and high costs. Furthermore, it should not be overlooked that excessive customizations risk compromising maintainability over time and becoming heavily dependent on the team's expertise.
no-code platforms offer high flexibility, driven by configuration logic: not everything is possible, but in most cases, business processes can be effectively modeled, with rapid turnaround times and less exposure to errors. This flexibility is geared toward productivity and standardization, ideal for replicable and scalable solutions.
Delivery, maintenance and scalability
In the open source model, the partner must take responsibility for the entire solution lifecycle : environment management, deployment automation, monitoring, patching, updates, and scalability. This requires solid organizational structures and a sustained capacity for investment.
By basing the implementation on a no-code PaaS platform , delivery is entirely managed and governed by the platform: cloud , regular and zero-impact updates, and automatic scalability. The partner doesn't worry about infrastructure aspects, just the application logic and continuous service improvement.
Availability and training of resources
Another key factor to consider is human resources. In an open source landscape, the skills required are often highly varied and vertical: backend and frontend developers, DevOps specialists, security experts, and data engineers. Finding market-ready talent is increasingly challenging.
no-code world , however, the paradigm shifts: the required skills are more oriented towards understanding business processes and logical modeling skills. This makes it easier to find and develop profiles even among people with non-IT backgrounds , expanding the available talent pool and accelerating growth paths.
The questions to ask yourself are: where can I most easily find the necessary resources? Where can I train them most quickly? How critical is it for me to have a highly specialized team versus an agile, easily expandable one?
Which approach for which application?
Not all applications are equally suited to the two approaches .
Some solutions are best addressed with open source, while others are naturally better suited to the no-code approach . Open source is particularly useful for highly technically complex applications with advanced computing needs, custom algorithms, low-level integrations, or stringent performance constraints. In these cases, the ability to modify the source code is essential to achieving the desired results.
No-code platforms , on the other hand, are successful in document-based applications -organization process management In these contexts, speed of development, ease of updating, and the ability to delegate technical delivery are key factors.
Furthermore, the visual nature of the no-code approach facilitates client engagement and reduces the risk of misunderstanding between analysis and implementation. Understanding the type of application and its degree of native customization is therefore essential for choosing the most suitable technology. Both forcing a no-code approach on overly custom solutions and tackling fully custom applications that could be built faster and more sustainably with visual tools are potential pitfalls that should be addressed early.
Comparison table
Evaluation Voice | Open Source Custom | No-Code PaaS |
Platform License | Free (but without support) | Included in the fee |
Development cost (initial) | Top : Technical team, analytics, dev/test/infrastructure | Very low : visual modeling, configuration |
Development times | Long (months) | Short (days/weeks) |
Cloud / infrastructure cost | Partner-backed (server, security, backup, DR) | Included in the fee |
Recurring cost (evolutionary maintenance) | High and often unpredictable | Included in the service |
Updates and patches | Partner's Responsibility | Managed by the manufacturer |
Technical support | Internal or outsourced (for a fee) | Included in the fee |
Scalability | Paid by the partner (investments in architecture) | Managed by the manufacturer |
Hidden costs | Alti : testing, integrations, bug fixing, performance tuning, devops | Almost zero : centralized management |
Operational risks | Highs : downtime, human errors, security, GDPR | Low : shared responsibility with the provider |
Technical flexibility | Total : everything is achievable with high effort | High, but guided : configurability > coding |
Delivery | Partner-responsible (e.g. environments, deployment, CI/CD) | Managed entirely by the manufacturer |
Lock-in | Low (but watch out for technical debt) | Present, but compensated by speed and service |
Control over code and architecture | Total (with full responsibility) | Limited (externally managed platform) |
Conclusion
It's now clear that the decision between custom open source and a no-code platform isn't just a technical one, but a strategic one: if your core business is building and maintaining complex software architectures, open source can be a winning choice; if your goal is to deliver value in a scalable, replicable, and low-risk way, then no-code development on a PaaS (which allows me to deliver the solution as a SaaS) becomes the most efficient and sustainable choice in the long run. We're in a world of growing pressure on margins, speed, and security, so the question becomes:
“ Do we still want to invest in code or in the ability to generate value through it?”
Editorial by:
Martin Arborea
co-Founder and Marketing & Sales Director Openwork
Jamio's no-code training program for developers
Train people to create software solutions without writing code with Jamio .
Jamio Academy 2025 was created with this very purpose, offering a structured, inclusive, and accessible training space dedicated to users and designers who want to master the Jamio platform and embrace the no-code approach as a strategic lever for innovation.
A complete and modular training offer
The Jamio Academy is aimed at partners and customers who wish to train one or more people to tackle Jamio projects and/or communicate effectively with the supplier of a Jamio . The Jamio Academy is based on a progressive and concrete training model, combining independent training, interactive support, and on-the-job training .
The goal is to enable people to model real , immediately usable applications through a visual language that simplifies technical complexity.
The path starts with three self-training courses on Udemy:
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All courses are free and accessible through Udemy after requesting Openwork activation.
Tools and environments to get your hands dirty
In addition to the courses, Jamio Academy provides all the tools to start designing:
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A step further: advanced training and tailored support
For those who wish to continue beyond self-training, the Academy offers in-depth packages: supervised follow-up sessions to clarify doubts and verify what has been learned, and on-the-job training sessions.
Download the complete guide to Jamio Academy 2025 and discover all the useful links to start your journey now!
Jamio Community Day 2025:
Jamio's community event stops in Milan
The second edition dedicated to the Jamio Community is here: Jamio Community Day 2025 is the exclusive event designed for those who contribute every day to building innovation with the Jamio openwork platform.
Scheduled for May 28th in Milan , the event will be hosted by journalist Claudia Rossi of Soiel International and will offer a space for professionals, companies, and innovators who believe in the value of no-code to simplify processes and transform the way we work to meet and discuss ideas.
Jamio Community Day will discuss the technology trends redefining the role of IT in organizations, featuring real-world stories of digital transformation, the evolving role of the CIO , and roadmap for the future of the platform.
There will be no shortage of distinguished guests , inspirational contributions, and networking opportunities to strengthen the sense of belonging to a community that innovates every day.
Jamio Community Day 2025 is designed for Jamio users, those who promote it, customize it, or adopt it as a catalyst for transformation. It's an opportunity to share experiences, take stock of the present, and look to the future together.
PA Forum 2025: Openwork's contribution on "BPM, AI, and No-Code for the Digitalization of Public Administration"
At the PA 2025 Forum , a national event dedicated to innovation in Public Administration, Salvatore Latronico , CEO of Openwork, spoke on the topic of “BPM, Artificial Intelligence and No-Code to digitize the PA” .
In his speech, Latronico emphasized that the digital transformation of public administration can no longer be limited to the simple computerization of paper forms, but must translate into a complete rethinking of processes through agile, scalable, and accessible platforms capable of responding quickly and sustainably to the needs of citizens and administrations.
Starting from this vision, a concrete example of digitizing an administrative procedure , in which a citizen can electronically complete and sign an application online, track its processing, and receive automatic updates on the status of the application. The process enables intelligent sorting of requests , automatic document verification , the involvement of internal stakeholders according to organizational hierarchies, and integration with existing public administration services, such as SPID, certified email (PEC), and registration.
All this with reduced production times, maximum traceability, and a significant reduction in operational effort thanks to the use of intelligent agents that also support decision-making and communications with the end user.
A cloud solution created through the Jamio openwork platform , which allowed those present to experience first-hand the effectiveness of no-code technologies in supporting organizations operating in the public administration .
