At its core, the no-code movement is just an evolution of core principles that has driven technological innovation for millennia: namely, the desire to democratize and scale processes, tools, and access to mediums which were formerly available only to a small set of people — and through that democratization, multiply the potential of what humankind can create.

Democratizing mediums to unleash creative potential 

Consider the following examples of tools and technologies that we’ve created to democratize access to formerly inaccessible mediums. Spoiler alert: the more access people have to a medium, and the easier we make that access, creativity and output and innovation go through the roof.

The democratization of publishing

Before the advent of the printing press, the only way to mass produce books was by hand. This made the spread of new information and knowledge not only slow, but also controlled by the institutional powers of the day (in the case of Europe, this was the church). 

The invention of the printing press in 1440 made the mass production and distribution of new texts possible in a dramatic new way. And if you were to trace the thread of publishing to the modern world, through typewriters and now word processing technology, publishing your ideas to the world is only a few clicks away. 

The results of this increasingly accessible world of publishing are unsurprising: consider the rise in the number of new book titles per 1 million people in the last 200 years.

The democratization of music production

Similarly, in the realm of music, technology and access have had a dramatic impact on the volume of music that we create. In the past, creating a record would have required industry connections, significant capital for studio time, and more.

Now, with the advent of home recording technology and publishing platforms like SoundCloud and Spotify, creating and sharing music is easier than ever.

The democratization of movie production

In the realm of movie production, the pattern has been the same. In the past, creating movies was an extraordinarily expensive affair, and so production was limited only to those who could afford it or fundraise significant amounts of capital.

As cameras have become more available, and independent filmmakers have had a chance to share their ideas without so much upfront capital, creativity has blossomed.

Nowadays many people have a video camera in their phone — and the rise of movie production in recent history attests to the fact that greater access to a medium impacts the output and creativity of an entire industry.

The democratization of software

The no-code movement continues this evolution — but simply in the realm of software. Put simply, the no-code movement rests upon the fundamental belief that technology should enable and facilitate creation, not be a barrier to entry. The potential for this movement, judging by the examples laid out above, is tremendous — and for those of us participating in shaping it, we really do have the potential to change the world.