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Democratizing Application Development with AppSheet
Democratizing Application Development with AppSheet

Democratizing Application Development with AppSheet: A citizen developer's guide to building rapid low-code apps with the powerful features of AppSheet

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Profile Icon Koichi Tsuji Profile Icon Takuya Miyai Profile Icon Suvrutt Gurjar
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Paperback Jan 2023 396 pages 1st Edition
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Arrow left icon
Profile Icon Koichi Tsuji Profile Icon Takuya Miyai Profile Icon Suvrutt Gurjar
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€27.99
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.8 (8 Ratings)
Paperback Jan 2023 396 pages 1st Edition
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Democratizing Application Development with AppSheet

Getting Started with AppSheet

AppSheet is a leading low-code platform for creating business apps. The platform was originally created to develop apps for mobile devices back in 2014 and has been growing ever since. AppSheet became a reputable Digital Transformation (DX) platform and helps app creators to develop business apps compatible with devices such as mobile phones, tablets, and laptops, most importantly, without writing a single line of code.

AppSheet will offer you a path to develop a robust application that could solve a challenge you face in your business without asking for coding skills and knowledge. AppSheet prepares a set of template apps with which you can start to build your own apps, and you can also create a new app from a scratch using data such as Excel and/or Google Sheets. The beauty of AppSheet is that everyone can get on board easily and start for free.

Google constantly keeps adding new features to enhance the functions of AppSheet. This means AppSheet can be used to create business applications with tons of advanced features to facilitate the daily jobs in your offices and solve your own business problems. However, once we start a journey with AppSheet by building our first app, you may notice that it is not easy to handle this platform to customize app behaviors to meet your own requirements. In the context of the comparison between no-code and full-code development, a no-code approach to building an application is far more efficient and productive than full coding in terms of the required number of man-hours to complete a project. However, to validate this comparison, app creators must be proficient as well as confident in no-coding tools such as AppSheet.

This story applies to AppSheet. An understanding of AppSheet is a key to success for efficient business applications. Hence, Learn AppSheet is an essential first step for all app creators who want to freely develop their own unique apps.

This book is designed for absolute beginners to AppSheet as well as those who have a small amount of experience to assist them in learning the platform in a structured manner. The process of development with AppSheet is generally consistent regardless of the type of app you build. It is vitally important to understand the AppSheet way of development when building your apps by learning the basics.

Throughout this book, you will learn the overall processes to develop apps from the beginning to the end to increase your level of confidence in handling the AppSheet Editor. Furthermore, we will touch upon some advanced skills and techniques for you to develop feature-rich applications with AppSheet.

By the end of this book, you should be able to grasp the full process of building an AppSheet app with basic features.

Your path as an AppSheet app creator is endless. Each time you learn something new, you will have something else to aim for ahead of you. We hope this book will provide you with a gateway to being a successful AppSheet creator.

In this chapter, we will cover the following topics:

  • How AppSheet apps are generally built
  • Prerequisites
  • Converting your ideas into an AppSheet app

How AppSheet apps are generally built

Whenever you create a new app, these basic steps are always followed:

  1. First, you prepare the data source, usually a spreadsheet on a cloud platform such as Google Drive.
  2. Next, you connect the data source to AppSheet. After you connect the data, AppSheet will automatically generate the app for you.
  3. Once the data is connected, the app development process moves to the AppSheet Editor. Through the AppSheet Editor, you define how the connected data will be used and configure various app settings, including creating actions for data manipulation and navigation, designing views and layout, and adding automation bots.
  4. You can invite test users to try the app for further improvement.
  5. When the app is ready, AppSheet provides an easy way to deploy the app to your team and colleagues.

In summary, those five steps are as follows:

  1. Connecting the data source
  2. Editing your app definition
  3. Deploying the app

By reading this book, you will learn the basic sequence of this app development process. All app developments occur in the AppSheet Editor. We will be covering all the important details of these steps to learn how to configure your app through the AppSheet Editor in the upcoming chapters.

Prerequisites

To work with AppSheet, it is helpful if you are familiar with spreadsheets such as Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel; AppSheet uses its own expressions but most of them are identical to Google Sheet formulas. The syntax can sometimes be slightly different, but the idea is mostly the same. Also, having an understanding of the basic concepts of how spreadsheets work will help you to build your app’s foundation. However, don’t worry if you are not familiar with Google Sheets – you will get to know it in the following chapters. In fact, there are a number of AppSheet expressions that are unique to AppSheet and not found in other spreadsheet services. We will cover AppSheet expressions throughout this book, especially in Chapter 4, Manipulate Data with Expressions and Formulas.

In addition to familiarity with spreadsheets and formulae, it is helpful if you know a thing or two about databases. AppSheet is a database-driven platform; the concept of the relational database is one of the basic foundations of AppSheet. However, this is not absolutely required, as you learn what you need to know while learning AppSheet.

Converting your ideas into an AppSheet app

We wish to highlight some important concepts before we begin looking at AppSheet.

Whenever you develop apps with AppSheet, your requirements for the application come first. Building apps means that your ideas are converted to AppSheet apps. You should always have an idea of what you want and expect from your app. For example, you may wish to develop an app with a function to help a company’s internal approval process for applications for holidays. You also may wish to add a function to send notifications to concerned parties once the applications are approved.

Once you have a clear idea of what you want, think about what you need to do with the AppSheet Editor. AppSheet provides a wide range of options to customize the behavior of your app. To achieve your goals using the AppSheet Editor, you need to know where in the AppSheet Editor to go and how you need to define your own logic. Finding the shortest paths through the AppSheet Editor is key to making your app development process efficient. To gain that skill, you need to understand AppSheet’s basic processes.

Summary

We hope that you now have an AppSheet account prepared and are ready to start the journey with us. As stated in this chapter, the app-development process consists of certain routine steps, regardless of the kind of app you are trying to create. By learning these essential steps in detail, you will be able to master AppSheet.

In the following chapter, we will start with data preparation and creating a new app, which is always the first step in AppSheet app development. Let’s start learning now!

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Key benefits

  • Learn how the AppSheet Editor works to configure, test, and deploy a business app without writing lines of code
  • Get hands-on experience with AppSheet by building a real-world application throughout the book
  • Explore useful tips and tricks to develop custom functionalities in the app to meet unique business needs

Description

Many citizen developers regularly use spreadsheets in their business and day-to-day jobs. With AppSheet, you can take your spreadsheets to the next level by enhancing their ease of use. The platform allows you to run your business efficiently and manage it in the field outside of an office or indoor environment. This book enables you to create your own simple or medium to complex hybrid apps for business or personal use. As a beginner to AppSheet, this book will show you how the AppSheet Editor works and how it is used to configure, test, and deploy an app and share it with others as users or co-authors. You’ll learn about widely used features such as how to use data sources, create app views and actions, construct expressions with AppSheet functions, and make your app secure through security and UX options. Next, you’ll create email/attachment templates and develop reports/documents based on templates, store in the cloud, and send files through emails. You’ll also understand how to integrate third-party services and monitor various usage statistics of your app. As you progress, you’ll explore various features with the help of sample apps that you create using the book. By the end of this book, you’ll have learned how to make the most of AppSheet to build powerful and efficient applications.

Who is this book for?

This book is for beginner and intermediate-level citizen application developers in small or medium size businesses and business users who want to develop their own apps. Basic knowledge of Google Sheets or Excel and an understanding of different spreadsheet formulas are required. Knowledge of SQL and basic software development will be beneficial but not necessary.

What you will learn

  • Discover how the AppSheet app is presented for app users
  • Explore the different views you can use and how to format your data with colors and icons
  • Understand AppSheet functions such as yes/no, text, math, list, date and time and build expressions with those functions
  • Explore different actions such as data change, app navigation, external communication, and CSV import/export
  • Add/delete and define editing permissions and learn to broadcast notifications and inform users of changes
  • Build a bot through the AppSheet Automation feature to automate various business workflows
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Table of Contents

19 Chapters
Part 1 – Introduction and Getting Started Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 1: Getting Started with AppSheet Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 2 – App Editor and Main Features Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 2: Understanding App Editor and Data Sources Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 3: Presenting App Data with UX/Views Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 4: Manipulating Data with Functions and Expressions Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 5: Manipulating Data with Behaviors and Actions Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 6: Controlling App Users and Data Security Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 7: Managing the App Environment Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 3 – Advanced Features and External Services Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 8: Automating Recurring Data Changes and Scheduling Tasks Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 9: Using Intelligence and Advanced Features Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 10: Extending App Capabilities with Third-Party Services Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Part 4 – App Templates and Tricks for App Building Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 11: Building More Apps with App Templates Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 12: Tips and Tricks Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Chapter 13: Appendix Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Index Chevron down icon Chevron up icon
Other Books You May Enjoy Chevron down icon Chevron up icon

Customer reviews

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Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Half star icon 4.8
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4 star 25%
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Mdenmeht Jan 13, 2023
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I recently read a book that I found to be extremely helpful for beginners using the AppSheet platform. The book is specifically tailored for "citizen developers" - those who may not have a background in software development but are looking to build business apps for their own business or organization. The author does an excellent job of providing a concise guide for onboarding to the AppSheet platform and helps readers understand how to build simple to medium complex business apps.The book covers various platform features in a step-by-step manner, making it easy to understand for those who may not have a lot of experience. The author explains the AppSheet app editor in detail, which is used to configure apps. I particularly appreciated the coverage of advanced features such as views, actions, app functions and expressions, AppSheet automation, data security, managing app users, managing app environments, and tips and tricks.The author also mentions that having a familiarity with spreadsheets and basic database knowledge will enhance the reader's understanding of the concepts covered in the book. I found this to be true as I found it easier to understand the concepts explained in the book because of my background in spreadsheets and databases.Overall, I highly recommend this book to anyone looking to build business apps using the AppSheet platform. It is a great resource for beginners and is written in a way that is easy to understand.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Saifali Suleman Jan 31, 2023
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
I am reading the book and even though I don’t have the bandwidth to create an app myself right now, I am liking the tips provided by the authors. It’s an amazing read with lots of focus on doing things step by step in the right manner. You can read the book to learn more about AppSheet or keep the book at your desk when you create your next application. The book helps you learn everything that’s necessary to build an application with AppSheet and the detailed coverage of all concepts is the best part of the book. It’s definitely a great read for all no code developers.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Gulraj Jan 31, 2023
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
This book is for everyone who has tried to create an application on a no code platform. It may be a bit overwhelming for you if you come from a non-technical background, however the authors have explained all elements in a pretty extensive manner with all necessary steps. This book can be helpful for techies as well if you want to create an application in a quicker time period.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Mahendra Lokhande Jan 31, 2023
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
The book ‘Democratizing Application Development with AppSheet’ is a resourceful text to know more about creating apps using AppSheet. AppSheet is a no code platform that was acquired by Google recently and the authors have done a commendable job by writing a book that takes you through the process of creating an app with the platform. You can read the book and create your own application without any coding. The book covers important elements, right from data preparation to the app’s UX development in detail. There is an extensive information on data management as well within the appI would totally suggest this book to anyone who is looking for a no code platform to create apps for business.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
Sanna Jan 31, 2023
Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon Full star icon 5
The book provides a deep understanding of AppSheet & lists all the necessary details for creating applications using the tool.Even though I have intermediate coding knowledge, it wasn't required at all & anyone with no coding experience can create apps of their own by following the steps in the book.Highly recommended for professionals looking for a fresh approach towards No code tools.
Amazon Verified review Amazon
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