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Bubble.io’s real power is in the database and API functions

bubble

What is bubble.io?

Bubble was founded in 2012. It’s a nocode / no-code / visual development application that allows non-technical creators to build web and mobile applications without writing traditional code also referred to as programming.

Source – According to quikStarts

At a higher level, Bubble is a tool that empowers creators to build software without writing traditional code. Bubble has a user interface that allows for:

  1. Visual click and drag functionality.
  2. Database.
  3. API (Consumption AND Serving)
  4. File storage.
  5. App hosting.

These are all powerful features and benefits. However, where, I believe the true power of bubble resides is in the database and the API features. The database itself functions like any other database at it’s core, eg. PostgreSQL, MySQL, Microsoft SQL, etc.

Database

Time Saving

What’s a bit different is the ability to define data types and fields (know as tables in other database solutions) through the interface n realtime as the app is developed. This saves a lot of time and makes it easier to make changes that are discovered as the logic is being built after the planning phase.

In addition, linking database tables using primary and foreign keys is not required in Bubble. Bubble cares for building relationships to database types out of the box. There are techniques that can be used to make linking more robust if needed. This is another huge time saver.

API

Power through integration

Bubbles interface contains a native feature called the API Connecter. It makes consuming APIs less complex than writing code for this purpose. Think of a very light version of Postman ( a tool used for consuming, writing, and testing APIs). What would normally require weeks of development can now be done in hours or minutes.

Move past this benefit and onto the possibilities. A creator now has at their disposal the ability to integrate some, all, or a mixture of a wide variety of features and functionality for your application. Zeroqode has a list of available APIs. Be advised that this list inst all-inclusive and that any API can be consumed by bubble.

Reverse power through integration

Similarly to the potential when consuming APIs, bubble empowers creators to serve their app’s content by providing APIs. A creator now has at their disposal the ability to trigger functions or provide data for some, all, or a mixture of it’s features and functionality for other applications. This function allows creators apps to become platforms. The possibilities are endless.

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Does Stripe integrate with PayPal (Updated 2020)

Originally published on 2/17/2017 – Updated 9/18/2020

NOTE: If you have been using Stripe by now you’ve discovered that your customers need to update credit card info in order to prevent failed payments. A solution is now available at CloudSwipe.net

Kyle and Stripes Co-Founder Patrick, chatting at MicroConf

No, Stripe doesn’t integrate with PayPal — we currently support credit and debit card payments.

Don’t take my word for it. Patrick Collison – who happens to be one of the co-founders of Stripe – used these exact words. In fact those are his words https://www.quora.com/Can-customers-pay-with-PayPal-via-Stripes-API/answer/Patrick-Collison

The fact is that PayPal and Stripe both serve the same purpose and that is processing debit and credit card payments. Merchant Maverick gets into much more detail on this comparison.

I speak to people all the time that ask me if they can integrate PayPal with Stripe. Continue reading “Does Stripe integrate with PayPal (Updated 2020)”

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What is nocode?

Nocode is a term that describes a method used by both computer programmers and non-computer programmers to build web and mobile applications (apps) using a graphical user interface instead of code.

Nocode is also known as, No Code, No-Code, visual programming. The idea itself is not a new one. There have been attempts, or rather what some refer to as early versions, at nocode tools that reduce the amount of programming required to build software applications in the past.

A few of them are Adobe’s Dreamweaver, Macromedia’s Flash (now Adobe Animate), and Microsofts Visual Basic.

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Remote Life in the Covid-19 era

coronavirus-image

I am sure that you have been reading and hearing a lot about remote work and remote education since the COVID – 19 pandemic began. I certainly have. In fact, I’ve been hearing about and talking about the pros and cons of remote work and education for most of my IT career.

I’ve been in IT for three decades so doing things – work, education, socializing, etc – in a remote manner has been a part of my life for some time, so there is some bias just so you know. This article contains both my opinion and some facts.

Arguments that I typically read or hear for why remote work and education do not work:

Continue reading “Remote Life in the Covid-19 era”
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Learn Javascript

Objective: To teach Javascript using code snippets with explanations for practical use.  There will be random consistent updates made. I will try to answer questions in the comments section.

Note: These are not theory based lessons. They are being shared for those that learn by looking at practical detailed samples, then doing.

How to use these lessons:

    • When you see “//” followed by words, it is because it allows – generally text and not code – to be displayed for the author/s and is usually an explanation of the code.
    • When you see “console.log( );” It is a function that displays output to the screen so that you can see it. In most cases exist to show that the code is working as expected and not required.
    • Most of the snippets that you see here can be seen in real-time in any modern browsers console.

How to sum all of the numbers in an array range

Continue reading “Learn Javascript”