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Amazon Honeycode – build web and mobile apps without writing code

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Re: Amazon Honeycode – build web and mobile apps without writing code

#321

Post by cbsmith »

nickff wrote: post #81
cbdumas wrote: post #73

I think the thing that "coding without code" fundamentally misses is that learning to actually write Python or Java or whatever is not the hard part of being productive in a business context. The hard part of creating useful software is that you have to understand a business process and its requirements so precisely that you can write it down for the computer to do. I work with business stakeholders creating internal…

I think you are radically underestimating the perceived barriers to entry with programming. You sound a lot like the Linux advocates who think everyone should just memorize a bunch of commands, and get used to using shell. This type of insider view is often referred to as 'the curse of knowledge'.

I think the emphasis here ought to be on "perceived".

Having taught people to code, there's a lot of "perception" about what is hard that you need to overcome, but in practice, people learn that part comparatively easily.

Re: Amazon Honeycode – build web and mobile apps without writing code

#322

Post by shmooth »

i was hoping for something at least semi-interesting. not so much. airtable, with a google aesthetic. eh.

i feel like Anvil is on the right, almost perfect, track -- except for their choice of Python over Javascript. They chose self.Python over javascript. ok. life is full of decisions. in their defense, callbackjavascript is...not so promising.

bubble went with..something. right idea. not the best execution. still, a step in the right direction.

saw a couple other tools out there that are trying to cross the chasm, but nothing as good as VB yet.

Re: Amazon Honeycode – build web and mobile apps without writing code

#323

Post by psmithsfhn »

i was hoping for something at least semi-interesting. not so much. airtable, with a google aesthetic. eh.

i feel like Anvil is on the right, almost perfect, track -- except for their choice of Python over Javascript. They chose self.Python over javascript. ok. life is full of decisions. in their defense, callbackjavascript is...not so promising.

bubble went with..something. right idea. not the best execution. still, a step in the right direction.

saw a couple other tools out there that are trying to cross the chasm, but nothing as good as VB yet.

Re: Amazon Honeycode – build web and mobile apps without writing code

#324

Post by nslindtner »

careyrouse wrote: post #157

Co-Founder of https://www.cloudternal.com . I'm really surprised they have a limit of 100k records on their tables. They will have the same issue that Airtable has, it's just not suited for enterprise. We believe there is still a gap in the "database app for non-technical users" space, so we created one that can handle millions of records, provides granular permissions down to the cell level and targets those creativ…

Looks awesome

FYI: When you try to request early access, I get an SSL error.

Re: Amazon Honeycode – build web and mobile apps without writing code

#325

Post by HeavyStorm »

cbdumas wrote: post #73

I think the thing that "coding without code" fundamentally misses is that learning to actually write Python or Java or whatever is not the hard part of being productive in a business context. The hard part of creating useful software is that you have to understand a business process and its requirements so precisely that you can write it down for the computer to do. I work with business stakeholders creating internal…

This comment spawned a whole thread that completely fails to acknowledge that there are successful no-code and low code platforms. In fact, Honeycode isn't novel, it's just Amazon's response to Microsoft PowerApps.

Surely, building apps with such accelerators is limited. You're trading customization power for speed to market, and you get a lower barrier to entry which enables business focused people to build stuff they need.

Those apps aren't for everyone and I don't think any enterprise will be able to live with just these platforms, but enabling users to live without IT has a lot of value.

Re: Amazon Honeycode – build web and mobile apps without writing code

#326

Post by cultofmetatron »

kinj28 wrote: post #315
cbdumas wrote: post #73

I think the thing that "coding without code" fundamentally misses is that learning to actually write Python or Java or whatever is not the hard part of being productive in a business context. The hard part of creating useful software is that you have to understand a business process and its requirements so precisely that you can write it down for the computer to do. I work with business stakeholders creating internal…

I agree. I am a NoCode fan. I run a small operations of a few million dollars and to run it in Systemic way I built a lot of systems with NoCode as i didn’t have the luxury of putting engineers on the job. While I am an engineer myself, my day job was to run the ship and which meant I had little time available to make systems. 1st google spreadsheet is where I started and quickly made apps for recording attendance an…

what tools do you use to set all that up? I'm bootstrapping my own startup and most of my brain is occupied for a few critical areas and would love to be able to better ration my "coding mental energy"

Re: Amazon Honeycode – build web and mobile apps without writing code

#327

Post by thomasrognon »

nslindtner wrote: post #324
careyrouse wrote: post #157

Co-Founder of https://www.cloudternal.com . I'm really surprised they have a limit of 100k records on their tables. They will have the same issue that Airtable has, it's just not suited for enterprise. We believe there is still a gap in the "database app for non-technical users" space, so we created one that can handle millions of records, provides granular permissions down to the cell level and targets those creativ…

Looks awesome FYI: When you try to request early access, I get an SSL error.

Hey there, I set that up. The request early access link is a Google Form so it was an issue somewhere between you and Google. It works for me now, but if it still doesn't work for you, please email Carey personally (email is in his HN profile).

Re: Amazon Honeycode – build web and mobile apps without writing code

#328

Post by thomasrognon »

shireboy wrote: post #312
cbdumas wrote: post #73

I think the thing that "coding without code" fundamentally misses is that learning to actually write Python or Java or whatever is not the hard part of being productive in a business context. The hard part of creating useful software is that you have to understand a business process and its requirements so precisely that you can write it down for the computer to do. I work with business stakeholders creating internal…

I feel like this is pretty spot on to my experience with these tools. I've tried lots of these tools, and been in place to have to recommend them to customers looking for workflow and forms tools "so our business analysts can build things". Inevitably, the developers end up having to use the tool and feeling hamstrung by it. After tinkering with this one, areas I see lacking are 1) no authentication 2) no images and…

For scenarios where you want users to only see "their" data, managers to see their employees' data, and vps/admins to see all data are common scenarios that are often hard to implement in these tools.

This is exactly a major problem I'm solving with https://www.cloudternal.com. I would absolutely love to show it to you and get your feedback on it if you have time (my email is in my profile).

Re: Amazon Honeycode – build web and mobile apps without writing code

#329

Post by exclusiv »

chiefalchemist wrote: post #165
exclusiv wrote: post #153

Earlier quoted context omitted.

To add to that - Determining and defining what to build is not magic unless you write simple and elegant code that delivers on-time and on-budget. You can have all the magic in the world upfront with planning and have it fail spectacularly without the right execution that is accurate, on-time and on-budget.

That's true. Until you realize that the accurate execution that was on time and on budget actually built something that didn't actuslly meet the business needs. Then what? Yes. Execution matters. But it's only as good as understanding the target. Miss that target (read: meet biz needs) and no one will say "Yeah. But it was great execution."

True. I just see projects fail more often than not due to time/budget and/or shit code. Rarely do I see it fail because what was built didn't meet the business needs.

Although if you're in start-ups, they plan and then build terrible products all the time so the attention to upfront planning and the business needs is way more important in that realm.

Re: Amazon Honeycode – build web and mobile apps without writing code

#330

Post by wuwuno »

cbdumas wrote: post #73

I think the thing that "coding without code" fundamentally misses is that learning to actually write Python or Java or whatever is not the hard part of being productive in a business context. The hard part of creating useful software is that you have to understand a business process and its requirements so precisely that you can write it down for the computer to do. I work with business stakeholders creating internal…

As a technologist I'm surprised that you need this processed explained to you.

It's progressive improvement. It's trial and error, without this process we'd never ever make progress.

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