Are there any no-code/low-code mobile app builders out there?
Hi!
I'm a mobile developer by trade. Often times when building an application I notice that there are same patterns going over and over again:
• Login page with username and social.
• Tab navigation at the bottom of screen. The last tab is settings.
• Some list with items in the home screen.
• Some details view that's basically a stack of elements.
• and so on...
So I've been wondering if it is possible to build a decent application with no-code/low-code?
I've seen several sites that allow you to design an app in the browser, but the outcome is awful. Really. The resulting application is either a web wrapped in an app container or a react native application with all custom elements. Overall the feel is like I'm using a weird web version of a site.
I'm considering building a new app builder to rule them all! and I would love to tell you more about how I'm planning on doing that.
But before that I'd like to validate my assumptions by asking two questions:
- What's the best app builder you know?
- Have you ever had a need to quickly hack together an app?
All feedback appreciated!
I've build DiveSiteReports.com and apps with Adalo and it's been pretty awesome.
The next most interesting one to me is Appgyver.
If Bubble had support built in for iOS/Android apps I'd take a bigger look at it, to me it feels older now, time for a refresh which people say has been coming for a couple years, but not sure if it's ever been rolled out.
Hi, thanks for sharing the end result!
Unfortunately the apps for Dive Site Reports illustrate what I've been ranting about.
!! Please note that I'm only judging the tool you used and generated code, not your idea ;)
So - the application feels weird. I noticed that:
• All screens scroll even if they have only two inputs and a button on them
• Swipe to go back doesn't work on iOS
• You can scroll drawer menu almost outside the screen
• The app randomly asks for push notifications in a place where it's not clear why
• Tapping on some buttons freeze the app until (what it seems) data is loaded and only then navigate to the next screen
The app does work and you can validate an idea with that, but that's far from what a good application is in my mind.
I believe that we deserve better. We need a tool to build beautiful apps
I just got started with some low-code tools, and I have to agree that the options are slow and frusterating at best.
I've been using Appgyver for my latest MVP. I really like the interface, but many aspects make it seem like it might actually be slower than just regular coding. For instance, it won't give me a proper explanation as to why my iOS build has been failing for the last 4 days, and now I'm at the mercy of the support team that can only be contacted through their forum! I can rant for a long time about the drawbacks, but this is definitely not the place.
If you're serious about starting this project, I might be interested in joining up depending on alignment. I think this is a huge emerging market with no dominant platform, and I love the concept of making tools more accessible - especially when a lot of the people using them aren't building anything technically difficult.
Here's a good email to reach me at: david@levelupmyfitness.com
I've used Adalo and it can do most things. It's got it's internal db, or you can connect to airtable or other db via rest APIs. For a while it suffered from scaling issues but it could be resolved by now. You can generate pwas, or native.
Have you checked the Flutterflow?
Not yet.
Took a quick look and I absolutely love the typography section there ❤️
Best app builder I know: Wappler.io
It won't be quick at first. But it'll be as good as you can build any app and faster as you learn the tool.
So it looks like Wappler is just an UI builder for Cordova. As far as I understand, you must write all the logic in the code anyways.
Do I get that right?
nope, you can build the logic (APIs) visually as well by connecting in your DB - this way your data is not locked-in with a vendor at all! you can still write your custom logic when/if required, Wappler is extensible on server side.
Already installing to check it out, thanks!
Do you know any application that is built with Wappler and published so I can check out the possible end result?
you can find many examples here: https://community.wappler.io/c/showcase/17
couple projects that we built with Wappler and are in public domain are: jgrnaut.in, endeexp.com