DEV Community: Ben Tossel

The Ultimate Test: Low-Code in the Confines of a Submarine

Ben Tossel — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 00:40:34 +0000

One of the most striking and unconventional demonstrations of low-code potential took place in an environment few would associate with software development — aboard a submarine, submerged underwater. In a project dubbed “Extreme Cases: CPO on a Submarine”, Sophia Chen, Chief Product Officer at Appian, spent two hours inside a U.S. Navy training submarine, stationed in a deep testing pool, tasked with building a fully functional crew monitoring system while submerged. This extreme scenario was designed to illustrate how low-code platforms can deliver powerful, adaptive solutions even under the most challenging physical conditions.

Sophia’s mission was to build a real-time application for monitoring the oxygen levels and pressure readings of submarine crew members during underwater operations. Inside the dimly lit, confined compartments of the submarine, she worked wearing standard diving gear, with visibility limited to a few meters due to the naturally murky water — a realistic simulation of operational submarine conditions.

Thanks to the low-code visual development tools provided by Appian, Sophia was able to focus on assembling and configuring components visually, rather than writing code line-by-line — a task nearly impossible to perform with gloves and fogged goggles. The interface was modified for high contrast and oversized buttons, so it could still be operated even in poor visibility and through a waterproof tablet case. With drag-and-drop modules, she built dashboards showing each crew member’s oxygen saturation, ambient pressure at different compartments, and alerts triggered when readings exceeded safe thresholds.

This experiment showcased how low-code accelerates development cycles and enables iterative design even in unpredictable, high-stress situations. A task that could take weeks of coding and QA in a traditional environment was completed in under two hours, proving the platform’s flexibility and efficiency.

One of the project’s most innovative aspects was the integration of a gesture-based control system. Since typing or tapping on a touchscreen in the cramped and wet conditions of a submarine is cumbersome and error-prone, the application was configured to accept hand signals, which were captured via a waterproof GoPro camera and interpreted by an onboard gesture-recognition module.

Sophia defined a set of standard gestures — such as an open palm to confirm, a closed fist to cancel, or directional swipes to navigate between screens — and connected this module to the Appian app using ready-made connectors available in the platform’s library.

Data communication posed another challenge: radio signals do not travel well underwater. To overcome this, she connected the application to a specialized acoustic modem, which transmitted real-time sensor data to a surface relay station. This allowed the app to display live oxygen and pressure readings even while the submarine was submerged, simulating real mission conditions where normal Wi-Fi or cellular connections are impossible.

The demonstration attracted the attention of U.S. Navy observers, who were present aboard the submarine to evaluate the feasibility of using low-code platforms for operational software in extreme environments. During follow-up exercises, the app developed during the demo was deployed on the submarine crew, allowing command staff to monitor their status in real time while practicing emergency procedures.

Naval officers noted several key advantages: speed — the system was built and adjusted in hours, not months; adaptability — the app was easily customized for different sensor models and crew configurations without re-engineering; accessibility — the gesture-based interface allowed even non-technical sailors to interact with the system effectively.

Following the demonstration, the Navy initiated a pilot program to explore the use of low-code for rapidly prototyping other specialized tools in logistics, training, and mission-planning — where requirements can change quickly and traditional development cycles are too slow.

Sophia Chen’s underwater demo aboard the submarine proved that low-code platforms are more than just business tools for office workflows. They can be adapted to high-risk, constrained environments — even inside a submerged submarine — enabling users with minimal technical skills to configure, deploy, and operate mission-critical software on the fly.

In environments where communication is limited, visibility is poor, and time is scarce, the ability to assemble functional applications visually, and adapt them in real time, can be a decisive advantage. The project also highlighted how low-code democratizes development, allowing domain experts — such as sailors, engineers, or soldiers — to contribute directly to the creation of tools they will actually use.

The “CPO on a Submarine” case not only showcased technical innovation but also inspired confidence that low-code development has a place far beyond office walls — in the field, on a submarine, and wherever flexibility, speed, and resilience are needed.

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Karaoke Coding: How an App Was Built to Music

Ben Tossel — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 00:30:28 +0000

At the Microsoft Ignite conference, one of the most memorable and spectacular demonstrations of low‑code technology took place — unofficially dubbed “Karaoke Coding.” On stage, Charles Lamanna, Vice President of Microsoft Power Apps, created a fully functional smart home voice control application live… all while performing Queen’s legendary song “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

The essence of the demonstration lay not only in the striking combination of music and technology but also in showcasing the accessibility and flexibility of the platform in even the most unconventional scenarios. Using nothing but voice commands through a microphone, Charles step by step built the app, configuring its interface, logic, and external integrations — all seamlessly embedded into the lyrics of the song. Each vocal phrase triggered a specific feature: for example, “Is this the real life?” launched the creation of the home screen, “Open your eyes” initialized the setup of user windows, and at “Let me go,” the app synchronized with the cloud data store. The whole process unfolded as a carefully choreographed musical‑tech show where every sung line manifested as a new function of the system.

This approach highlighted Power Apps’ capabilities from an unexpected angle: not only does the platform support voice control and natural language input, but it also allows you to integrate such features in real time without writing any code. Beyond screen and connection setup, the demonstration also showcased integration with smart home IoT devices — lights, thermostats, and multimedia systems — which, at the grand finale, responded to voice commands from the app by turning on lights, playing music, and opening blinds, all live before the audience.

The audience’s reaction was electric: they gave Charles a standing ovation at the end, and the video of the performance quickly became one of Ignite’s most viewed moments. Later, this case was featured in Microsoft’s key presentations as an example of a creative yet technically robust way to showcase low‑code capabilities.

This unusual approach not only delivered a wow factor but also conveyed an important message: low‑code platforms can be powerful, flexible, and accessible even in the most creative and unconventional scenarios. The demonstration broke the stereotype of app development being dry and routine, instead presenting it as exciting, inspiring, and even entertaining. The very idea of “karaoke coding” became a symbol that technology can be delivered in a way that’s engaging, fun, and easy to grasp even for non‑technical audiences.

Throughout the conference, participants continued discussing Charles’s performance, with many saying it gave them a completely new perspective on Power Apps, showing it as a tool not only for business but also for creativity. This creative case strengthened Microsoft’s image as a company capable of not only building world‑class technology but also finding fresh, unconventional ways to communicate its power to the audience.

Big Stage: OutSystems Co‑Founder Builds an App Live on TEDx in 15 Minutes

Ben Tossel — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 00:08:49 +0000

On the stage of TEDx, an impressive demonstration of low‑code technology inspired entrepreneurs and developers around the world. Paulo Rosado, co‑founder of the OutSystems platform, created a fully functional mobile app for booking parking spots in just 15 minutes, live in front of the audience during his talk titled “The Future of Software Development.”

The goal of the demonstration was to show that developing digital products no longer has to be lengthy, expensive, or reserved only for professional programmers. Using only the visual drag‑and‑drop interface of OutSystems, Paulo step by step built an app that included a parking map integrated with Google Maps API, the ability to select and reserve a parking space, and a connection to the Stripe payment system for online payments — all without writing a single line of code.

On stage, he dragged and configured ready‑made components, connected external services, and showed how a fully working prototype could be assembled in just a few minutes. This striking moment, which begins around the 8‑minute mark of the video, sparked an enthusiastic response from the audience and clearly demonstrated that the future of development lies in tools that shorten the path from idea to finished product.

The talk has gathered over 2 million views on YouTube and has become one of the most well‑known examples of the power of the low‑code approach. It convincingly showed that even complex applications with integrations and external APIs can be built in minutes, involving not only programmers but also business users. Paulo Rosado’s demonstration became a symbol of how digital products can be developed faster, more easily, and more affordably, helping companies respond more quickly to market needs and reduce costs.

How IKEA Built a Virtual Furniture Designer on Low‑Code in 14 Days and Boosted Conversion by 37%

Ben Tossel — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 00:02:08 +0000

IKEA demonstrated how modern technology can help quickly implement innovation and make the shopping experience more convenient for customers. Using the low‑code platform Mendix, the team developed an AR application in just 14 days, enabling customers to “try on” furniture from the catalog directly in their own space using their smartphone camera and save their designs to the cloud. The project became a clear example of how low‑code empowers businesses to deliver complex, in‑demand solutions without the need for a large team of professional developers. Unlike traditional development, which could have taken around six months, this application was largely built by store managers with no programming experience. They used Mendix’s visual builder to design the interfaces, configure the application logic, and integrate ready‑made AR SDKs for working with 3D models, while technical specialists only helped connect advanced external libraries and optimize graphics performance. Testing took place directly in the stores, with real customers, which allowed the team to gather feedback instantly, adapt to real usage scenarios, and quickly implement improvements. This approach not only significantly reduced development costs and time‑to‑market but also ensured that the application closely matched customer expectations. As a result, the AR application delivered a 37% increase in conversion, helped customers make more confident decisions, and improved their satisfaction with the furniture shopping experience. This case clearly shows that low‑code is an excellent choice for projects where speed, business‑user involvement, and cost savings are crucial: the platform enables businesses to independently create and enhance digital products, leaving only technically complex tasks — such as integrating external services or optimizing performance — to professional developers.