From Excel to a Full-Stack Application: A Low-Code Development Workflow

The text describes a low-code platform for building product list pages, emphasizing a model-driven approach. Development begins with an Excel-based data model defining database structure and relationships, which drives code generation. This Excel model can be created manually or reverse-engineered from existing databases or imported from design tools. The platform generates full-stack code, including API, database entities, services, and frontend view models, accelerating development. Customization is achieved through overriding generated components and adding custom logic, including entity methods, CRUD enhancements, and GraphQL endpoints. The frontend uses a visual designer based on the AMIS framework, allowing UI customization with live preview. The platform emphasizes delta customization, enabling modification without altering base code. Automated testing using a record-and-replay mechanism is also provided. The entire process follows a series of model transformations with optional steps, promoting reuse and flexibility. Key concepts include reversible computation, embedded metaprogramming, pipeline decomposition, and delta customization, enabling code generation with complete adaptability for unique business needs. The platform allows for building native executables with GraalVM.