News

OutSystems Unveils AI Powered Mentor

• By John K. Waters
• October 18, 2024

OutSystems, provider of a high-performance, low-code development platform, has introduced what it is calling the industry's first AI-powered digital worker for the full software development  life cycle (SDLC). Announced at the 2024 OutSystems ONE Conference, generative-AI-driven "Mentor" was created to allow for rapid app generation, delivery, and monitoring by leveraging low-code and generative AI (GenAI).

Known previously as Project Morpheus, the platform was designed to transform development workflows into a strategic advantage for companies. It automates crucial processes—such as AI-driven app generation, automated quality checks, and governance—giving developers a significant boost in productivity without sacrificing security or quality.

Mentor was unveiled by OutSystems CEO Paulo Rosado, who said the tool marked a new era in software development. "The Generative Software Cycle is here," he said. "With 93% of executives planning to increase their investment in AI-powered solutions, it's crucial that speed doesn't come at the cost of security or technical debt. Mentor ensures apps are built right from the start, changing how software development gets done."

Mentor uses a "shift-left" approach, allowing developers to initiate their work earlier in the SDLC, beginning with discovery and rapid prototyping. Developers can describe their app's vision, and Mentor generates a fully functional version, including front-end functionality, data models, and embedded business logic. This automation significantly cuts development time, enabling faster prototyping and iteration while ensuring best-in-class code quality.

Key Features of OutSystems Mentor:

• AI-Driven App Generation: Developers can create full-stack, scalable applications in minutes using GenAI, accelerating development time.
• AI-Powered Suggestions: Applications can continuously evolve with AI-generated iterations, streamlining updates and enhancements.
• Embedded AI Agents: By embedding AI agents, developers can add natural language understanding to applications, creating more intuitive user interactions without needing to code.
• Code Validation & Quality Control: Mentor’s AI reviews code automatically, ensuring that apps adhere to the highest standards of security, performance, and long-term maintainability.
• Formerly known as Project Morpheus, Mentor builds on OutSystems’ AI-driven strategy. The platform addresses common challenges like orphaned code, poor-quality outputs, and lack of transparency, ensuring that developers have full control over their software while keeping technical debt to a minimum.

John Bratincevic and Diego Lo Giudice, analysts at Forrester, commented on the evolution of the SDLC in the age of AI in a press statement, noting that traditional boundaries between roles such as ideation, design, and development are increasingly being dissolved. AI, they suggested, allows for a more seamless, integrated approach to software creation.

OutSystems is offering an early access program for Mentor, with full GenAI-powered capabilities set to launch in early 2025. For more information, developers and IT leaders can visit the Mentor homepage.