Mendix Makers｜Mendix helps developers deliver complex applications in 10 days and supports mobile presentation
Hello, Mendix community partners! My name is Bingxun Zhuang, but you can also call me Danny.
I have a background in computer science and, before discovering Mendix, worked at a publicly listed manufacturing company as a software engineer. I was responsible for internal software development and later took on the role of IT department manager, leading teams and projects, managing cross-departmental communication, planning and implementing new factory systems, and overseeing database administration.
Currently, I work as a consultant at Blue Technology, providing Mendix and MSSQL DBA consulting services to clients. Blue Technology is a dynamic SA company offering Oracle, SQL Server DB, low-code platform consulting, and infrastructure services. I’m honored that Siemens Mendix gave me this opportunity to share my Mendix journey with all of you.
MX: What tools did you and your team primarily use before adopting the Mendix low-code platform?
Danny: Due to legacy system dependencies, we used Delphi to maintain and expand features of older systems, primarily for Windows desktop applications. For other new systems, we used Java and C#, gradually transitioning from Delphi to C# for modern development.
MX: What were the limitations and challenges of the tools you previously used?
Danny: The primary challenges were:
- Delphi developers are scarce, and it’s not a popular choice for new systems. Most existing Delphi systems are legacy projects.
- While Java and C# have extensive community resources and talent pools, for small to medium enterprises, maintaining both old and new platforms while meeting continuous demands posed significant challenges in talent cultivation and maintenance costs.
MX: How did you learn about Mendix low-code?
Danny: Our company has been a long-term partner of Siemens industrial software. After learning about Mendix’s features and the growing low-code market, we decided to invest in it.
MX: How long have you been developing applications with Mendix?
Danny: Although Mendix is not my full-time focus, I started working with it in late 2021, so it’s been about two and a half years.
MX: What were the primary reasons for choosing Mendix as your development platform?
Danny: The main reasons are its development efficiency, multi-scenario support, and integration capabilities with heterogeneous systems. While Mendix might not specialize in certain domains like other niche products, it excels in generality, scalability, and reduced learning and maintenance costs.
MX: What applications have you and your team developed with Mendix, and who uses them?
Danny: Most of the applications we developed involve integrating Mendix with external data sources for forms, workflows, and APIs. Examples include procurement processes, quality scrap management, training expense management, weekly report systems, machine utilization dashboards, and customer service ticket management.
MX: Which Mendix components/modules have you used, and what are your impressions?
Danny: The most commonly used modules include:
- Community Commons: Provides many commonly used Java actions and serves as a dependency for various other modules.
- Database Connector: Essential for integrating external databases in projects.
- Workflow Commons: Crucial for workflow applications, offering many templates for developers to customize.
- Data Importer: Simplifies parsing Excel and CSV files in projects.
We’ve also extensively used REST API components, Signature components for drawing signatures, File Dropper for file uploads, and many others. Most customer requirements can be met with existing Mendix components, with minimal need for custom Java actions or JavaScript, significantly boosting development efficiency.
MX: Where do you go for help when facing challenges in Mendix development?
Danny: I first consult the official documentation and check the Marketplace for relevant components or modules. I also explore the community forum.
MX: Which application are you most proud of? Can you share details?
Danny: I’m most proud of the procurement process application. It involved integrating over 30 external data sources, including REST APIs, WSDL, SQL Server, and Excel, and implementing a complex workflow with more than 13 tasks. We delivered it within 10 working days.
MX: What benefits have these applications brought to users or clients?
Danny: Mendix’s value lies in its agility, generality, and scalability. While traditional coding could achieve similar functionality, Mendix enables rapid and flexible responses to evolving requirements, making it ideal for resource-limited environments.
MX: How do users or clients respond to these applications?
Danny: Clients are often surprised and satisfied with how Mendix achieves complex functionality with minimal coding. They view Mendix as a valuable long-term investment aligned with their goals.
MX: Compared to traditional development, what are Mendix’s main advantages?
Danny: Mendix’s modular platform encourages reusability. As familiarity with Mendix grows, reusable components accumulate, further accelerating development and reducing redundancies.
MX: What sets Mendix apart from other low-code platforms?
Danny: Mendix stands out in generality, deployment flexibility, and its vibrant community ecosystem, which signifies market acceptance and growth potential.
MX: What’s your experience with Mendix Pro IDE?
Danny: The interface is user-friendly, even for experienced developers. It’s easy to get started with minimal training. The frequent updates and responsive integration of community feedback into new features make it a pleasure to use.
MX: Would you recommend Mendix to other developers? How would you recommend it?
Danny: Absolutely! Low-code is a leading IT trend, and Mendix is the clear leader in this space. With free and abundant community resources, Mendix offers robust support across the software development lifecycle, making it a strategic asset for enterprise IT.