Make mobile apps using Airtable, introducing miniAppMaker!

[Moe]

miniAppMaker is a tool that allows anyone to make a mobile app without coding by using Airtable as the backend. Here’s how it works:

1. Design your app in Airtable
2. Add your Airtable IDs (API, base, tables, fields) to miniAppMaker
3. Test your app. Wa-lah!

This project is inspired by Airtable’s mission to “democratize software creation”. People are already doing amazing things with Airtable. We believe its power can be magnified if we allow people to turn their creations into mobile apps to share with the world. Especially when an entire app can be made in 30 minutes!

Examples of apps that can be made:

• Internal business tools: operations manager for workflows, processes, tasks, inventory, delivery tracking…etc.
• Appointment/event management: classes, workshops, RSVPs or employee scheduling. For salons, spas, gyms, clinics, catering, tourism, photography…etc.
• Catalog/directory: a community-curated list of restaurants, recipes, apps, events…etc.
• Marketplace: for anything where there is supply and demand. Airbnb for X!

We’re just starting out in Beta and eager to hear your feedback. Try it out at miniAppMaker.com

Backstory: I first heard of Airtable when I was a freshman in UC Berkeley. I met the founder in 2014 while he was visiting campus. 5 years later, I’m still a big fan!

[Bill_French]

Moe:

Add your Airtable IDs (API, base, tables, fields) to miniAppMaker

I’ll bet you’re wishing for API access to the schema, eh?

[Moe]

That would be nice, but can’t complain! :grinning_face_with_sweat:

[Mac]

Awesome work! Been waiting for this! Any chance for offline capabilities in the future?

[Andre_Zijlstra]

I think it is Mac OS so far? I can’t find the app in my Android Playstore (Netherlands). I would love to use this!

Regards,
André

[Moe]

Mac:

Any chance for offline capabilities in the future?

We’re not planning to add complete offline support, but the app caches any data that the user accesses while online. So technically they can use the app offline, but they can’t update anything.

Andre_Zijlstra:

I think it is Mac OS so far?

The app maker tool itself is web based and can be used with any browser. However, the exported apps can be published on Apple’s App Store (and soon Google Play Store).

Let me know if you have more questions!

[Bill_French]

Moe,

Great product - I love seeing cool things like this emerge in the Airtable space. I’ve recommended it to a few clients - anxious to see if it sticks.

Moe:

Add your Airtable IDs (API, base, tables, fields) to miniAppMaker

Airborne uses this exact approach for creating an ElasticSearch-based index across workspaces, bases, and tables. This [seemingly] annoying process has one big advantage - it allows search implementors the ability to shape the index to fit domain and data-model nuances to meet the most ideal user search experiences.

I also designed it to create the smallest possible full-text indices with relevance scoring so that it would work well on mobile devices.

If you get to a point where fast, full-text search in a mobile context is important, we should chat.

[Moe]

Looks cool Bill! We’ll definitely reach out when the time comes

[Nilesh_Shep]

What is the timeline for android version? My entire user base is using Android phones.

[Moe]

We’re planning to bring Android support within 4-6 weeks. We’ve got it working, just need to finalize a couple of things. If you’d like support earlier, we can add you as an alpha tester.