Mendix Makers | A low-code development platform with strong community support

Currently, I am working at Continental Automotive Systems (Shanghai) Co., Ltd., where I am mainly responsible for planning and designing specific projects to help factories transition to Industry 4.0.

MX: Before using the Mendix low-code platform to develop applications, what development tools did you primarily use? What tools does your department/team mainly use?

Jianfeng Wang: Since I spent most of my career in factories, where it is crucial to quickly and timely reflect production line conditions to the relevant personnel, I mainly used backend software and development tools like VS and IDEA for data processing and logic editing.

MX: What limitations or issues did the previously used development tools have?

Jianfeng Wang: Our team was quite experienced in backend data processing, but we lacked expertise in frontend design, debugging, and optimization. Often, we spent more time on frontend work than backend, and the products we developed were frequently deemed usable internally but not presentable externally.

The WYSIWYG features of Mendix perfectly solved our pain points, greatly improving our efficiency in frontend development.

Additionally, Mendix supports simultaneous development for PC, mobile, and tablet platforms, avoiding the drawbacks of traditional tools requiring multiple development cycles and significantly saving time.

MX: How did you get to know about the Mendix low-code platform?

Jianfeng Wang: I learned about the Mendix low-code development platform at the end of 2023 after joining my current company and being introduced to it as part of my work assignments.

MX: How long have you been using the Mendix low-code platform for development?

Jianfeng Wang: After learning about Mendix, I spent a week self-learning on the Mendix Academy website and obtained the Rapid Developer certification. I then explored potential use cases for Mendix projects within my company, while continuing self-learning through video tutorials on Bilibili. By late February to early March, I officially started developing my first project with Mendix. That project is now completed, and I am currently working on my second Mendix project.

Since the launch of my first project, other team members at Continental Shanghai have also begun experimenting with Mendix projects.

MX: What are the main reasons for adopting Mendix as your application development platform?

Jianfeng Wang: The main reasons are:

1. Group strategy: Continental has chosen CLAP as its primary web development tool, so the Shanghai factory naturally followed suit with pilot projects and promotions.
2. During the development of my first application, Mendix’s ability to support simultaneous PC, mobile, and tablet development greatly appealed to me. As Industry 4.0 progresses, mobile development will inevitably increase, and a tool that can handle three platforms simultaneously is highly efficient.
3. As a low-code tool, Mendix significantly lowers the barrier to web development, enabling general personnel to develop applications after basic training. Professional IT staff can transition to advisory roles, reducing their workload.

MX: What applications have you and your team developed using Mendix so far? Are these applications used within your department or by other business units?

Jianfeng Wang: At Continental Shanghai, the use of Mendix is still in its early stages. We have one application officially launched, with five more in development or planned. These applications serve various departments (Quality, Production, Logistics, EHS, etc.).

MX: Which Mendix components/modules have you used in your applications? What are your thoughts/feedback?

Jianfeng Wang: Typically, the Continental Mendix team provides developers with an internal template containing basic components and modules (including Database Connector, Community Commons, Email Connector, NanoflowCommons, etc.), which meets most development needs.

We are still in the process of familiarizing ourselves with the platform. Compared to traditional tools, Mendix feels faster and simpler, making it beginner-friendly. When the template components fall short of our needs, we either look for components in the Marketplace or develop our own.

MX: When you encounter challenges while developing with Mendix, where do you typically find help or answers?

Jianfeng Wang: We first search for similar cases in the Mendix community (in both Chinese and English). If no solutions are found, we post queries for help, which are usually answered within a day. If the issue persists, we seek assistance from Mendix experts.

MX: Compared to traditional development, what do you think are Mendix’s main advantages?

Jianfeng Wang: Compared to traditional development, Mendix’s biggest advantage is the significant reduction in the barrier to software development. Previously, software required highly specialized personnel for coding and development, but with Mendix, a general user can begin simple development after about a month of training. Under the guidance of professionals, they can also undertake more advanced development. This allows factories to address department needs effectively even with limited resources.

MX: Compared to other low-code platforms on the market, what do you think are Mendix’s advantages?

Jianfeng Wang: I have limited experience with other platforms, mainly Power Automate and UiPath. Compared to these RPA tools, Mendix has numerous advantages, particularly in versatility. Its ecosystem is richer, and its community activity and availability of components far surpass those of its competitors, making it a leader in the low-code space.

MX: What are your impressions of the Mendix Pro IDE environment?

Jianfeng Wang: This can be approached from two perspectives:

• For those with development experience, Mendix IDE is quite similar to other tools, making it friendly and easy to adapt to quickly.
• For those without development experience, the environment may take some time to adapt to, but Mendix improves onboarding by defaulting to open the App Explorer and Toolbox, significantly aiding beginners.

MX: Do you have any upcoming application development plans that will use the Mendix low-code platform?

Jianfeng Wang: In our roadmap, all future web application development will be done using the Mendix platform rather than other tools.

MX: Would you recommend Mendix to other application developers? How would you recommend it?

Jianfeng Wang: Absolutely. I believe low-code development will become the mainstream trend in project development, and Mendix is a leader in this field. As its user base grows, its ecosystem will become increasingly robust, and Mendix’s convenience will only improve.