AppSheet

AppSheet is a low-code platform for creating applications that can integrate with Google Workspace or cloud storage services. These applications can work both on the web browser and on mobile devices. Google acquired AppSheet in 2020 and has integrated it within its cloud portfolio.

Low-Code Platform

A low-code development platform provides a quick way to create application software through a drag/drop UI instead of the traditional hand-coded programming techniques.

The AppSheet application can use logical, conditional workflows to automate sequential tasks. It can be used for any kind of application, such as surfacing information to users, filling out a form, initiating an action, or updating data sources based on user actions.

AppSheet is available in four editions:

• Starter: Allows app creation with available Google Workspace connectors, and manages apps based on individual users or according to the domain.
• Core: Includes advanced features such as natural language processing and scheduling automation, and advanced security features such as managing apps based on user roles.
• Enterprise Standard: Includes advanced authentication and data features such as connectors to cloud data storage services, shared data sources, and shared authentication sources.
• Enterprise Plus: Includes advanced connectors and governance reports for auditing.

All these editions include support services provided by AppSheet.

As part of Google's acquisition of AppSheet, Google Workspace Enterprise Plus domains get the AppSheet Core edition at no additional cost. All other Google Workspace editions will get the free tier of AppSheet. All Google Workspace domains are eligible to purchase higher tiers of AppSheet.

In this section, we will first see how to enable AppSheet from the Google Admin console and then we will build an application using AppSheet.

Enabling AppSheet

Depending on the Google Workspace edition being used, users can either use the AppSheet free tier or purchase an AppSheet subscription.

Once the subscription is confirmed, the service can be enabled for users from the Google Admin console by following these steps:

1. Log in to the Google Admin console.
2. Click on Apps on the left-hand side panel.
3. Select Additional Google Services.
4. Select AppSheet and enable it for the intended OU or group of users.
5. Click Save.

Figure 6.23 – AppSheet enablement in the Google Admin console

Once enabled, it's time to assign AppSheet licenses to the users. We have covered the process of assigning licenses to individual users in Chapter 2, Configuring Users and Apps. The same process applies to the AppSheet subscription as well:

1. Log in to the Google Admin console.
2. Click on Users from the left-hand side panel.
3. Select the users to whom you would like to assign licenses.
4. Click More and assign and select an AppSheet license from the list of subscriptions.
5. Click Save.

Similarly, all users within an org unit can be assigned AppSheet licenses using the auto-assign feature. For initial use, if a lot of users need to be assigned licenses, administrators can tap into the bulk user assignment feature as discussed in Chapter 2, Configuring Users and Apps.

With the foundation laid on AppSheet, it's time to look at how to build a simple application by taking advantage of the rich feature set that AppSheet provides.

Build an app using AppSheet

AppSheet is a SaaS platform and can be accessed by visiting https://www.appsheet.com/. AppSheet supports authentication with different providers, and we will choose and log in using Google authentication. Users can use their Google Workspace email to log in to AppSheet.

Figure 6.24 – Different authentication providers to choose from in AppSheet

When you log in to AppSheet for the first time, you will be prompted to provide authorization to AppSheet to read, edit, and delete files in Google Drive. Once you allow proper access, you are all set to create your first application with AppSheet. Here's what the AppSheet Quick Start page looks like:

Figure 6.25 – AppSheet Quick Start page

For this example, we are going to build an application to allow users to register for a book release event. Since we have an idea, in the following screen, go ahead and select Start with an idea:

Figure 6.26 – Project types with AppSheet

Once AppSheet knows the type of project you are working on, it prompts the user for context-sensitive questions for it to build the database to store application data.

Figure 6.27 – Context-sensitive questions to guide users in AppSheet

Once the idea has been entered, the preview of the app is displayed on the right-side panel. The idea can further be developed by selecting whether users can edit their registration or delete their registration, and so on.

Figure 6.28 – App preview on the right-side panel

The preview can be updated to show the app on a web user interface or on a mobile device. After selecting all user actions, such as Edit, Delete, View events, and View charts, click on the Save & Refine button to enter the customization view for this app.

This customization view has more options for adjusting the data source, logical behavior, the user view for various roles, security, and so on, as you can see in the following screenshot:

Figure 6.29 – AppSheet UI for app customization

Making each change to the properties on the left-hand side will alter the preview displayed on the right-side panel. Switching to tablet mode on the top of the preview section will display the preview for a tablet-sized user interface.

Within a few minutes, we have built an app and are ready for this app to be deployed for wider use. Now that all changes are complete and ready for deployment, click on Manage from the left-side panel and select the Deploy tab. This executes a deployment check to verify whether all information required for this app is configured according to coding best practices:

Figure 6.30 – Deployment check in AppSheet

When you run the deployment check feature in AppSheet against your sample application, you will see the feature is highlighting the fact that App description is missing in the interface. We can focus on fixing this and other recommended fixes prior to deployment.

Once these are fixed, the app is ready to be moved to a deployed state. This generates an app URL that can be distributed to users for them to start using this app.

As we have seen, it's very simple to put together simple applications that solve everyday, non-complex use cases. Instead of building an application from scratch, there are templates available for use as well. This facility helps administrators build applications on the go in an agile, fast-paced manner to meet immediate requirements emerging for the organization. AppSheet and other low-code platforms will revolutionize how applications are built in the future.