Welcome to our engineer blog, where we share what we’re learning day to day. Recently, I had a chance to work with Git, so in this post, I’ll be explaining its basic concepts.
Have you ever saved multiple versions of the same file on an external hard drive or similar device, managing them by changing the filenames like this?
Multiple versions of the same file. “F” stands for “Final,” and the more F’s you have, the more “final” it seems.
This kind of versioning might be enough for personal files, but when it comes to managing source code in a large-scale project, a more precise and structured system is needed. That’s where Git comes in.
What Is Git?
Git is a Version Control System (VCS). Its role is to track and manage the history of changes to files. With this tracking, you can return files to a specific past state and compare or merge changes.
In particular, for projects involving multiple people, using Git makes it possible to visualize which files were changed, when, and by whom—helping to prevent accidental overwrites or unintended edits.
What Is a Repository?
The files managed by Git are stored in a repository. Repositories are generally classified into two types: local and remote. When saving files, it’s important to be aware of which repository your changes are being applied to.
Git is a distributed VCS, meaning each developer maintains a full history of the project in their local repository. This makes it possible to edit files and review history even while offline.
Remote repositories are hosted by providers like GitHub, GitLab, or Bitbucket. (Of course, you can also create and manage your own.) Because the storage is online, it becomes easy to share work and collaborate with others.
Types of Repositories
What Is a Branch?
When adding a new feature or making changes that might affect existing code in uncertain ways, it’s risky to update the main project source directly. In such cases, you can create an independent branch. This lets you safely develop and test features without impacting the main codebase.
Once the new feature or fix is complete and has passed testing, the branch can be merged into the main project to officially apply the changes.
Branching and Merging
Stay tuned for the next post in our Engineer Blog series!
Self-Introduction Hi, my name is Tim, and I work at Dandelions. I’m 28 years old, and this is my third year living in Japan. I’m originally from Kazakhstan, a fast-developing country in Central Asia with a strong focus on natural resources. Winters there can get extremely cold — around -30 to -35°C — so Japan often feels surprisingly warm to me!
I’ve had the opportunity to live in several countries, which has allowed me to thrive in dynamic, multicultural environments. I’m also used to working with people from diverse backgrounds and using multiple languages in professional settings.
Also, my favorite place in Japan is Takayama in Gifu Prefecture. Ever since I first visited Takayama, I was totally captivated by the traditional Japanese village atmosphere. Exploring places like Takayama always helps me find inner peace and really helps me relax from city life.
Below are some photos I took in that amazing place.
Why I Joined the Company While studying at a Japanese language school, I learned about the International Job Fair held at Wink Aichi. I spent the entire day there, speaking with various company representatives, and that’s when I discovered Dandelions. I immediately felt that the company’s mission and values aligned with what I was looking for.
What truly impressed me was the diversity within the team — we have members from nine different countries! I strongly believe that people from different backgrounds bring fresh ideas and unique perspectives, which drive innovation and teamwork. After having in-depth conversations with Dandelions employees, I became confident in taking the next step and joining the team.
My Impressions After Joining Since joining Dandelions, I’ve gained valuable skills and experiences. This is also my first time working in a Japanese company, and I truly value the opportunity.
Here are a few key points I’d like to highlight:
1. Language I studied Japanese for about two years before joining the company, but working in a professional environment took my learning to another level. Japanese is certainly more complex than the languages I’ve used in my previous work experiences. Although there are occasional language misunderstandings, my seniors and coworkers are always patient and supportive. Many of my colleagues from international backgrounds also speak English, and we’re always willing to help each other out.
2. Skills Development Working at Dandelions has significantly expanded my knowledge of the IT industry. The company fosters a growth-friendly environment where learning and experimenting are encouraged.
Before joining, I had experience in certain areas of marketing. Since coming on board, I’ve gained new skills in using AI for content creation, storytelling, and video editing — all of which are highly relevant in today’s fast-changing digital landscape.
3. Japanese Corporate Culture Another highlight has been learning about Japanese corporate culture, which is quite different from Western work environments. It has its own rhythm and charm. I’ve learned to pay attention to small details and to value the process itself — not just the end result.
I’m truly happy to be part of such a supportive and inspiring workplace. I look forward to continuing to grow and contributing to the team’s success.
We held an in-house study session, and I’d like to introduce it. The theme was “Basics of Security.” The session was led by Chicken Kiwi from Team 0.
During this study session, we learned about the risks involved when a security incident occurs and the basic measures that can be taken during daily work to prevent such incidents.
The session followed this flow:
The necessity of security ・Potential issues ・The five key principles of information security ・Security measures implemented by Dandelions ・Information security quiz ・Session Overview
The Necessity of Security
Here, we studied the necessity of security measures and the social, legal, and moral impacts on the company in case an incident occurs. We explored how security is crucial for maintaining the integrity and reputation of the company.
Potential Issues
In this part, we learned about possible security risks from actual case studies. We discussed not only the impact on the company from attacks but also the legal responsibilities of the company and management when security measures are insufficient, as well as how it can affect relationships between companies.
The Five Key Principles of Information Security
From the security guidelines published by IPA (Information-technology Promotion Agency), we learned about the key security measures individuals should take. We primarily reviewed the following points with examples and solutions:
Keep your OS and software up to date. Use antivirus software. Strengthen your passwords. Review sharing settings. Be aware of threats and attack methods.
Summary
This time, we studied the importance of security and basic countermeasures. The study session was based on the security guidelines published by IPA. IPA provides various resources on information security, so if you’re interested, please visit their website.
Since then, more of our team members have gained experience with OutSystems, prompting us to conduct another trend analysis to explore the future outlook of low-code tools.
What Are Low-Code and No-Code?
The adoption of low-code and no-code tools is increasing to improve app development efficiency, enabling faster development and cost reduction.
Low-Code: Requires minimal coding for app development. Some programming knowledge is necessary, but it allows for flexible customization.
No-Code: Enables intuitive app creation without coding. However, customization options are more limited.
[Comparison table with representative tools]
Comparison of Major Low-Code & No-Code PlatformsThe market share of low-code and no-code platforms is primarily based on industry recognition and the number of companies adopting them. Below are the leading platforms ranked by market share:
Microsoft Power Apps
A widely adopted platform due to its strong integration with Microsoft products (especially Office 365 and Azure). As part of the Microsoft ecosystem, it allows businesses to easily create and manage applications.
Adoption: Used by organizations of all sizes worldwide, from small businesses to large enterprises.
OutSystems
A low-code platform specializing in enterprise solutions, excelling in large-scale and complex app development. It features strong automation and AI functionalities and is particularly popular among large corporations.
Adoption: Commonly used in industries like finance, manufacturing, and public institutions.
Mendix
A low-code platform designed for enterprise applications, known for its integration with SAP and industry-specific approach. It supports both cloud-based and on-premises deployment, providing an advanced development environment.
Adoption: Frequently used in manufacturing and logistics industries.
Appian
Specialized in Business Process Management (BPM), this platform excels in process automation and complex workflow management. It is designed for enterprises looking to optimize business operations.
Adoption: Popular in industries such as banking, insurance, and pharmaceuticals.
Future of Low-Code and No-Code
The future of low-code and no-code tools looks promising, with market growth and technological advancements driving increased adoption. The integration of AI will further enhance development speed and expand possibilities for both enterprises and individual developers.
Market Growth
The global low-code/no-code market was valued at $17 billion in 2022.
It is projected to grow to $45 billion by 2027.
The market is expected to expand rapidly over the next 5–10 years.
Key Trends in the Low-Code/No-Code Market
Stronger Integration Between AI & Low-Code/No-Code AI will automate development processes, allowing for natural language-based app development, eliminating the need for manual coding. Additionally, AI will optimize UI/UX design and code generation.
Examples of AI Integration:
Power Apps’ “Copilot” and OutSystems’ “AI Mentor”
Developers can input commands like “Create a product management app”, and AI will automatically generate the application.
AI will analyze user behavior and optimize UI layout automatically.
With further AI advancements, even complex logic and data analysis will be handled by AI, accelerating the shift toward true no-code development.
Developers’ roles will transition from coding to designing and managing applications.
Conclusion
Based on market share, Microsoft Power Apps dominates the low-code space due to its strong integration with Microsoft’s ecosystem. However, OutSystems also maintains a strong position, particularly in enterprise applications.
While large enterprises have been the primary adopters, the question remains whether low-code tools will expand further into SMEs and general users.
Looking ahead, as low-code tools and AI continue to merge, developers will focus more on designing applications, while AI handles coding. Exploring how OutSystems can integrate with AI will be a key consideration moving forward.
For our next post, we’ll explore the potential of OutSystems and AI integration and what it can achieve. Stay tuned!
Thank you for taking the time to read this. Nice to meet you! My name is “Su,” and I joined Dandelions in August last year.
Self-Introduction
Before joining Dandelions, I lived in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture. Nagaoka is a charming city with rich nature and a relaxed atmosphere. But the most unforgettable experience for me was definitely the Nagaoka Fireworks Festival!
Nagaoka Fireworks Festival
When I saw it for the first time, I was truly amazed. The breathtaking fireworks filling the night sky made me feel as if I had stepped into another world. A local resident told me, “It’s one of the biggest fireworks festivals in Japan.” I also learned that for the people of Nagaoka, this event is particularly special—it has been held as a tribute to post-war recovery and continues to carry deep historical significance. Knowing this background made the experience even more moving.
What Led Me to Join the Company
I joined Dandelions in August 2024. When I came across the company’s official website on a job search platform, I felt that the atmosphere seemed enjoyable. I was looking to shift my career to web development, as I have always been fascinated by the ever-evolving world of technology. I wanted to grow while learning the latest technologies and believed that being involved in various projects would allow me to gain diverse experience and skills. Dandelions offers plenty of opportunities for this, providing an environment where I can pursue personal growth.
Additionally, Dandelions has many employees from different countries, and I was strongly attracted to the workplace environment where I could collaborate with people from diverse cultural and professional backgrounds. I was convinced that working in such a diverse setting, where different perspectives are valued, would contribute to my own growth as well.
Impressions After Joining
Since I had no prior experience working in the IT industry, I initially lacked confidence and felt anxious. However, Dandelions offers well-structured training programs for newcomers, allowing me to learn the fundamentals thoroughly. Thanks to this supportive environment, I was able to ease into my work with confidence. Through training, I gradually acquired the skills and knowledge necessary for practical work, which helped me build my confidence step by step.
The workplace atmosphere is also excellent. My senior colleagues are kind and provide guidance patiently. Their everyday conversations help create a relaxed and welcoming work environment, making it easier to focus on my tasks without worry. Thanks to this warm support, my initial concerns have gradually faded, and I now feel fulfilled in my daily work.
Moving forward, I hope to continue learning and growing through my experiences at Dandelions. With the support of those around me, I will keep improving myself and strive to achieve even better results.
