Transcript
You need to understand databases. Even if you're not a developer, even if you don't consider yourself all that technical, you need to understand databases because we are all software developers now.
At least if you want to be, there's nothing to stop you from creating the perfect replacement for that expensive SaaS tool you spend $79 per month per user on that frustrates you. Why not just create your own tool?
In order to do that, we still need to understand the fundamentals of how software works. Most people understand the front end. This is for non-developers, traditionally speaking.
[.blog-callout]
Note from Softr: A great way to build your front end and back end simultaneously is with the AI co-builder. Just prompt for what you want, and it builds complete App templates or custom pages instantly.
[.blog-callout]
We can click around on stuff and generally get the job done. This is a portal where I can see clients, what projects are in progress, and access contacts without being the slightest bit technical.
If you've ever used a visual page builder to make a website, you've designed a front end. Here, I'm using a tool called Softr.
In Softr, they call it the interface. I can click on things and redesign how it looks, but the important part is the back end, which is the database.
Really, the visual interface is the front end, and the back end is the database. That's where we're going to focus because the database makes the front end function.
Softr gives you a ton of different templates so that if you want to create your own application, you can use them as a launchpad. If you like to start from scratch, you can do that as well.
[.blog-callout]
Note from Softr: While Softr integrates with 17+ external sources, Softr Databases is the powerful, native way to manage data directly within Softr for maximum performance.
[.blog-callout]
Visually, a database looks a lot like a spreadsheet. It functions similarly, but with some more advanced features.
What we're looking at here is called a table. This is the users table where we see all the people who can use this tool.
All software works this way. If you want to have users, you'll need to have a database connected that has a list of the users allowed to use the tool.
In this client portal template, we also have companies. We have a list of companies that are our clients and fields that tell us information about them, like industry and size.
Inside of those tables, we have what are called fields. Those are basically like the column headers, and we can add as many fields as we want.
Each individual item, like an entry in our users table, is called a record. So we have tables, fields, and then records.
Let's go to the front end and connect the dots. I am logged in as an employee, and I can see a list of projects I am involved in.
I don't want every employee to see all projects. Inside the database, I can see which projects a specific user is a member of.
If I wanted to assign a user to an additional project, I could edit the database directly, though we usually set up forms and automations for this.
In Softr, if I double-click into a cell, I can see all the projects available in my database. It automatically refreshes the front end.
How does Softr know there's a relationship between users and projects? That's because we have a special kind of field called a relationship field.
Related records connect tables together. Most fields like text, files, and dates are self-explanatory, but relationship fields are what make the software powerful.
After we choose a related table, we get options like the ability to link multiple records. This allows users to be part of multiple projects.
Changes you make in the database appear on your application immediately. Generally, you won't need to look at the database on a regular basis once the app is set up.
In the interface editor, I can swap out fields and customize the view. It is super easy to click and drag things exactly where you want them.
[.blog-callout]
Note from Softr: If a native block doesn't fit your specific design needs, you can use the Vibe-Coding block to prompt for the exact custom component you want, and it will connect to your database seamlessly.
[.blog-callout]
We can also set permissions so different sections are visible to different users, like clients versus administrators. Different user groups see different things.
I can set conditional filters so a user only sees projects they are assigned to. Connecting the back end to the front end like this previously took hours of coding.
Now it's time to talk about AI. There are many ways to integrate AI into your workflow to speed up your life and stay ahead of the curve.
You can use an AI agent inside of Softr Databases. For example, I can prompt it to read a project description and provide a bulleted list of deliverables automatically.
You can set it to run when a record is created or updated. This is much easier than reading an entire project description manually.
We can also use AI for formulas. Rather than writing complex spreadsheet logic, I can just ask AI to calculate things like the average price per project.
AI extends to the front end too. You can enable Ask AI on an invoices block so your users can chat with their data.
A user could ask what the total amount of money received is, and the AI will query the database and answer in simple terms.
[.blog-callout]
Note from Softr: You can start building today with our free plan. Softr now offers Unlimited Published Apps across all plans, including the Free plan.
[.blog-callout]
Softr offers a generous free plan, and as you grow, you can upgrade based on the number of records you need. It is a very efficient way to run a business.
Using well-built templates from the library is a great way to ensure your data organization is solid from the start. This is foundational to your business.
Finally, let's talk about workflows. You can think of this as your built-in automation platform within Softr.
[.blog-callout]
Note from Softr: Softr Workflows allow you to keep your logic close to your design, reducing reliance on third-party tools like Zapier or Make.
[.blog-callout]
When a new record is added, you can trigger a workflow to get information from a website or summarize data with AI.
You unlock so much power by combining a custom application, a way to store data in a database, and built-in automation to tie it together.
It is not just stuck in the Softr ecosystem. There are integrations with many third-party tools to pull in data from just about anywhere.
