Bubble: Coding with No-Code (Day 70)
Here is the real-estate listing page I've built with Glideapps in a few hours. Spent some more time to polish and build an API connection with Google Sheets so I can connect the listing with an existing app.
This is an amazing amount of work done with a few clicks! I used to spend as much time, if not more, on proto.io or protopie to build the UI for creating a visual demo. (These tools are simpler than the designer toolkits for prototyping: Figma, InVision, or Sketch, but good enough for an engineer to showcase some UI.) Glide allows me to get an actual working app with less work! I was so impressed but I also realized the limitations quickly.
First, I would like to use my own Auth so the user base can be connected. Then I want the app to connect to a database, not Google Sheets. Even though I found ways to connect to Google Sheets, it is not secure for handling sensitive data, and it does not scale.
Thanks to many fellow IH suggestions, @witsuma, @alex_portabella, @8bit, and @nanatoni to name a few, I checked out some more sophisticated tools. I played with Adalo a bit. I really like what I see but it does not support custom Auth, either. Bummer.
Eventually, all roads lead me back to Bubble. I first heard of Bubble in one of the entrepreneur hangouts organized by @8bit. I gave up immediately after signup, scared by the LONG tutorials triggered right away for onboarding.
Check out all these CRAZY tutorials! Are you kidding me???
https://bubble.io/how-to-build
So finally I spent time going through all the onboarding tutorials. I'm 11/12 now. One last tutorial before I graduate. No-code does not mean it has to be strictly no programming, as it's explained by most of these sites, code is produced by programming--and the way I see these no-code sites are the next-step for prototyping. Many common components and UI are standardized and should enable building an entire customizable app through composable components without writing your own code. (Very similar to the DeFi legos, right? There are no-code tools like DeFiZap and other projects making it possible to connect different DeFi products using drag-and-drop interfaces.)
The true power of the no-code app is when it allows workflow customization and connectivity to custom APIs. Now we can take away most of the frontend development time, no need for developers to re-create what designers have done, and build sophisticated apps much faster.
Hey Calvin, great write up and thank you for speaking so frankly about your experience.
I built mindfulstimulus.org on bubble in about a month, and I learned most of it on the go.
Send me a dm if you have questions on your bubble journey
Haha all the roads lead to Bubble. As the most advance "no-code" tool that builds pretty much everything. I've finished the tutorial too. But then don't have anything needing built yet. Somehow I understand how Bubble works better than Webflow. But whatever I make in Bubble looks terrible. Design doesn't feel to come first in Bubble.
I’m sold on using Bubble too. My background is UX/UI so this solution suites me well.
Like so many others have said, there is a learning curve. I'm a quick study, and will to put in the work. I’ve already completed a couple of courses, been reading the manual, looking into templates to see others approach the tools (one page, multiple pages, security/permissions, and APIs). Yet, I’m still having trouble breaking real ground.
Calvin ( @titans )did you watch any of those "How to Build videos" even if the app is nothing like the one you are trying to build? Did they cover real strategy with user and database types? Was there any solid information to learn about APIs? In short - were they helpful and why?
Unlike so many others trying to figure out their MVP, I’m creating a product that already has a market fit and I know exactly what to build - I’ve tried to partner up here on IH prior to pivoting to No Code.
For me, I feel it's important to first plan out my database - this is where I’m running into roadblocks. The SaaS model app I’m building is using a Feature Tier pricing strategy requiring 3 levels of subscription, so planning the User Roles with the subscription levels with each accessing different content has been difficult for me. All the videos out there seem to follow the SAME thought to introduce Bubble tools and a splash of APIs. My question, "Why can't I find REAL problems tutorials then the walk through intros?" I can't find an "up-to-date" API tutorial using Bubble current API plugin. Perhaps, no one feels they need to communicate these real complex training session, rather just basic prototype information?
What I’ve found when it comes to payment and subscriber management for a No Coder is www.servicebot.io - This 3rd party service provides the admin to manage my users and subscribers with Stripe. They appear to have solve all the concerns a real app requires. I feel their pricing is okay, but not clear why they are charging a percentage per transaction? Really? Stripe, of course, because they are your merchant account, why Servicebot?
What I like to find is a consultant/bubbler who would help me plan my database needs in detail then just saying I can build your app.
Any feedback is greatly appreciated : )
That's exactly what's keeping me from using Bubble. I'm totally spoiled by Webflow's designer tool.
Webflow is definitely very strong in design. Adobe level I would say compared to pretty much everything out there. People who need to go heavy on design should be quite satisfied with Webflow.
i love that you're demo'ing these and sharing your experience!
Looks good! What other limitations have you come across on bubble? Started some of the tutorials and seems a great tool but good to know some limitations before I get further into it.