Connecting Airtable to AppGyver

I created a "reminder" app called "Memory Bank" on AppGyver a while back and I used local (client-side) storage as the data source for the application. That works alright if you want the app owner to be the only person accessing the app's data. If you want to share data with other people though, you need to use a server-side database like Airtable. I already had an account on Airtable so I decided to try creating a database there and connecting it to Memory Bank.

Here's the process I went through to modify Memory Bank:

• I went into my Airtable account and created a new base (called "Memory Bank") and made several entries:

• I had already built a "Memory Bank" application on AppGyver, so I headed on over to AppGyver and opened that app.  

• The first step in connecting my app to Airtable was to click on "Data" at the top of the Composer Pro page in AppGyver and select to create a "REST API direct integration source." 
  

• That took me to this screen:

I named the data resource "Reminders", which left 2 fields to fill in: the URL for my data source (in Airtable) and the authorization code required by the Airtable API. To find those two pieces of information I went to the Airtable API documentation and selected my Memory Bank app. The format of the "Resource URL" is always "https://api.airtable.com/v0/" plus the ID for your Airtable base. Once you select your base and go to the API "Introduction" page, you'll see the ID for your base:

Add that ID onto the end of the standard part of the URL and you've got your resource URL: https://api.airtable.com/v0/appLDk6vjj0I4wUXI/Reminders

• To get the API key I opened my Memory Bank base, clicked on "Account" and selected to generate the API key for Memory Bank. Once I had that key I clicked on "HTTP Header" on the AppGyver screen above, typed in "Authorization" as the key I was creating, "Auth" as the label, and pasted my API key into the "Value" field.

• Next, I clicked on "Get Collection" tab on the left side of the screen, which brought up this page:

 The "Relative path" is already filled in for you. AppGyver defines the "Response key path" as the "path to the key containing the relevant data in the response". I wasn't sure what that meant, so I decided to just go ahead, click on the "Test" tab, select "Run test" and see what would happen. 

• What happened was an error message: "The result was not an array. Maybe the data you're looking for is inside one of the response object keys?". At first that didn't exactly clear things up for me, but after looking at it for a while it occurred to me that the message was saying that it had received an object rather than an array of data records - and yes, my 3 records from Airtable were there inside the "records" object:

 

I would like to say that I immediately knew what to do to fix the problem, but the truth is that I fumbled around for a while until I went back to the "Get Collection" config screen and entered "records" in the "Response key path" field. Once I did that and re-ran the test I got just the array of data records from Airtable. 

•  Next, I clicked the "Set schema from response" button so that AppGyver would use the same configuration to accept data requests from Airtable. Then I opened my Memory Bank app in AppGyver,  added a "Reminders" data variable to my record listing page and tied the display elements on the page to the new data variable. 

• Finally, I launched Memory Bank on AppGyver and navigated to the listing page, which looked like this:

And there were my 3 entries from Airtable...

Of course there's more to connecting external sources to AppGyver, but this should give you the basic idea of how to use an API to exchange data with an external database. Also, if you're interested you can see how I developed the Memory Bank application in AppGyver in my book: "Building a Visual Programming (No Code) Mobile App on Adalo, AppGyver, Glide, GoodBarber, Honeycode and Mendix".

What Kind of Apps do People Build with No-Code?

If you've ever wondered what types of apps other people build using no-code platforms, here's a list of some of the templates you can find on no-code sites:

• How to design a mobile app - a template demonstrating how to create a simple but sophisticated mobile app with Bubble. It includes a loading page, a landing page, sign up and sign in pages, and a 5 page app design with headers and footers.
• A travel app that booking websites could offer their customers. The app allows users to search for hotel accommodations, vehicle, bike or boat rentals, guided tours, and interesting places to visit. In addition built-in APIs let you book airline tickets and other reservations online.
• An app template for dog sport enthusiasts - people who participate in canine agility, lure coursing, dock jumping, flyball and others. Users can view stories and photos from other handlers, upload their own stories, keep track of upcoming events, and even make travel plans right on the app.
• A template that provides brand names of food products that are good choices for people with heart problems. In addition the app can contain tips on exercise and stress-relieving activities, local aid and support groups, and the latest news affecting those with cardiovascular concerns.
• Comprehensive help with starting your own business. An app that is constantly updated with the latest information by state on how to register a new business, federal, state and local tax regulations, tips on hiring employees, marketing products and services, accounting requirements, and names, addresses and phone numbers of state and local agencies that a new business owner may need to know.
• A "dating" app, but for people who are simply looking for a friend - someone local who shares their interests and would like to go places together. There are people, especially senior citizens, whose family and friends are no longer around and who would like to get out more, but don't want to go alone.
• Language learning buddies - an app that lets you connect with others who are interested in learning a new language so that you can practice talking and/or texting to each other in that language.
• Neighborhood job board - post jobs, offers of services, recommendations, even offers to barter services for services. Help keep more business close to home.
• An analytics app, with each version designed for a specific client to highlight the most important data affecting their operation.

There are still lots of other possibilities for mobile apps that can find a market out there in the world. Hopefully one or two of these ideas can help you find a niche and get started building an app of your own.

No-Code Training Boot Camps

There are plenty of no-code training videos out there, but what if you learn best in a guided study environment? Many people focus better in a class setting, so where can you find a no-code programming camp? 

Here are a couple of options:

• The Canvas No-Code Programming Bootcamp - This free bootcamp uses Bubble's no-code platform to teach students how to create even complex web apps. It's taught by Airdev, a major development firm, and allows you to proceed at your own pace, working through a series of videos and challenges that show you how to build a full web application in just a few weeks. You can also get help from the community if you get stuck.

The camp curriculum covers both Bubble and Canvas, a framework designed to work with Bubble (one of the most advanced visual programming platforms on the Internet). There are four sections to the course: Introduction to Bubble (2 hours), Bubble Basics (12 hours), Introduction to Canvas (22 hours), and API & Canvas (18 hours). You can find more information at: https://canvas.airdev.co/bootcamp

• MVP Bootcamp by No Code MBA - An online bootcamp designed to teach you how to build, launch and make money with your no-code apps. The camp includes 6 weeks of training on building an app, along with advice on creating an effective business model. Time commitment is 2 hours per week of online instruction, and a recommended total of 4 hours of offline work per week. 

Also included are weekly meetings to discuss the progress of your project and to review videos and articles pertaining to monetizing your app. In addition you get lifetime access to the bootcamp community forum, along with personal assistance from your instructor and peers in your cohort.

Pricing is quoted as being $1990 although the first cohort to go through the bootcamp will only pay $750 (no information on whether or not a group has already been assembled for the first camp). For more details go to: 

https://www.nocode.mba/bootcamp-mvp#faqs

•  MillionLabs.co.uk - MLabs offers an 8-week no-code camp focused on business applications and learning how to use Bubble (www.bubble.io). The course covers esponsive UI design, workflows, data architecture, advanced bubbling skills and integrating external services through plugins and APIs. Pricing for the bootcamp is listed as starting from $600. Get more information at: https://millionlabs.co.uk/bootcamp.

• Bubble.io - Bubble offers their own bootcamps, providing 3 different types: A course in fundamentals (4 sessions in 4 weeks), a bootcamp on building and launching your own product idea (8 sessions in 8 weeks), and an advanced course for professionals (8 sessions in 8 weeks). Prices generally range from $600 to $800. Go to https://bubble.io/bootcamps for more information.

Nintendo's Visual Programming Game Building App

Nintendo just released "Game Builder Garage", a new app for anyone who wants to learn the basics of video game building. Game Builder Garage uses a visual programming language that lets you connect characters called “Nodon” that have different properties. By combining guided lessons with a variety of Nodon characters and objects Nintendo hopes to make game building as much fun as playing a video game.

The app has two different modes: Lesson mode and Free Programming mode. Lesson mode consists of interactive lessons that include puzzles and tasks for the user to solve. It's designed to introduce the beginner to the mechanics involved in video game design and to reinforce that material by means of the tasks that have to be completed. 

Free Programming mode allows users to design and create their own games. In this mode you can switch between programming and game playing just by pressing a button, so you can test your design and make changes quickly and easily. In addition, you can upload your game to a "game hub" where other learners can download it and you can download their games, play them and study how they were constructed.

Game Builder Garage is designed for the Nintendo Switch and is available in the Nintendo eShop for $29.99. To see a video of Game Builder Garage in action go to: https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/game-builder-garage-switch/ 

OpenAI's Codex (Update)

OpenAi's new product Codex translates natural English language into ready-to-use program code, in any one of a number of different programming languages. Codex is currently in beta testing, but will eventually be available to everyone through an API. For a detailed look at how Codex works, go to:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGUCcjHTmGY

This video, put together by OpenAI's founders, covers the development of Codex and several examples of how it can be used in practice.

Airtable Acquires Bayes.com

The hottest trends in no-code right now are workflow automation, machine learning, and data visualization. Airtable just made a move to bolster its ability to provide data analysis visualization options for Airtable users by buying Bayes.com. 

Bayes' system proactively recommends ways to look at and analyze your data as soon as you upload your data file. Many of those data visualization methods are reminiscent of what users try to do with Excel - which should fit right in with Airtable's spreadsheet format. 

With Bayes you also have the ability to easily export your charts and graphs to emails, Power Point presentations or other media. And you can also use your data visualizations in an interactive mode, allowing others to view and comment on each example.

It's probably going to take a little while for Airtable to get the new forms of data analysis integrated into their platform, but it should add an important feature to their system.

OpenAI Codex - A New Brand of No-Code

A few days ago OpenAI (www.openai.com) announced the release of a new version of OpenAI Codex, their Al system that translates natural language statements into program code. Now you can use English to describe what you want your software project to do, and OpenAl’s Al model will automatically generate the corresponding computer code, in whatever programming language you choose. 

OpenAI Codex is a "descendent" of GPT-3 (a neural network machine learning model) and is capable of producing code in Python, JavaScript, Go, Perl, PHP, Ruby, Swift and TypeScript. Codex is basically a version of GPT-3, but one that has been trained on program code instead of ordinary text material. That allows Codex to do things like complete lines of code or entire routines, but originally it wasn't truly a tool the non-coders could easily use.

That’s changed with the new API version, which interprets everyday requests like “make the ball bounce off the sides of the screen” or “download this data using the public API and sort it by date,” and creates working program code in any one of a dozen languages. Also, in addition to being "fluent" in a variety of coding languages, the fact that Codex is trained on pretty much all the public code on GitHub (and other repositories), means it’s aware of standard practices in coding. 

Because of its ability to handle Natural Language processing, Codex can be used to interact with other software, to perform functions within that software that aren't built into the application. OpenAI also says that Codex can convert or "translate" code from one programming language to another, providing code portability. 

Right now Codex is only available to a select group of beta testers. Once, its made available to a wider segment of the public I'll attempt to get a copy and work out an actual example or two. Until then, Codex may be a product to keep a close eye on.