As the way we work continues to change, the need for no-code and low-code tools that enable hybrid work and empower the workforce across all industries is on the rise. The democratization of software creation is also gaining ground within organizations, and by 2024 more than 65% of applications will be developed by low-code tools.
I was late to AppSheet, my journey only really starting in May 2022. Like all platforms, even no/low-code, there is a bit of a learning curve to get your head around how it works, but once you do there is a world of opportunities for a wide range of users. Even for seasoned developers features like the Apps Script integration and AppSheet API mean there is plenty of scope to extend the capabilities of AppSheet.
This post from Google provides some useful reference cases, evidencing the impact the platform has had on a range of customers as well has highlighting some recently developments in the AppSheet platform including the opportunity to deploy AppSheet powered Google Chat apps.
At CTS, where I work, we have a range of services to support AppSheet adoption ranging from hackathons, training and development. Feel free to get in touch if you would like to find out more.
We’re happy to announce that AppSheet-powered no-code chat apps are now available in preview for Workspace customers in AppSheet!
You can access this feature right now if you are in the Preview Program, and you can provide any feedback in this thread. If needed, additional information can be found in our help center articles. We’re targeting a full launch for later this year.
I’ve been spending a fair bit of time in Google’s ‘no-code’ platform AppSheet. Even for developers there is plenty to get your teeth into with features like Apps Script integration. One of the incredibly powerful core features of AppSheet is the ability to send dynamic emails which include forms designed in AppSheet. These allow users to interact with your app without leaving their inbox.
Whilst the inbox dominates in many business sectors, support for frontline workers increasingly leans on other communication channels including Google Chat. With the announcement of AppSheet powered no-code Google Chat apps there is now an opportunity to also push dynamic forms, send data and interact with Chat users in that space. For developers there is also the opportunity to do even more with the Apps Script integration. Follow the link to the announcement post to find out more…
Apps Script has deprecated the Contacts service. Instead, use the People API advanced service. Refer to Migrate from Contacts service to People API advanced service.
Having taken bit of a break from Pulse over the festive period I had missed the December release note announcing the deprecation of the Contacts service, ContactsApp. There isn’t much time to update your code as the service will no longer function after April 30, 2023. Google have however provided detailed guidance on migrating from Contacts service to People API advanced service.
Busy old couple of weeks at CTS and it’s been nice to get back to some face-to-face events. Last week I had the pleasure of joining the Google Workspace DevRel team on stage at the Google Workspace Developer Summit, London co-presenting with some guy called Charles Maxson.
A couple of years ago as part of Totally Unscripted we did a ‘State of Script‘ episode with then Apps Script PM Keith Einstein. This latest clip from the Google Workspace Developer YouTube channel captures not just the state of script, but the wider state of Workspace Dev.
The clip is worth a watch to get a summary of some of the new features coming to Workspace development. For me, not only is there plenty to get excited about my overall feeling from the Summit was Workspace development is now a first class citizen in the Google Cloud family. The state of Workspace development is good!
Apps Script added a new method to the Utilities class. parseDate(date, timeZone, format) parses a provided string date according to the specification described in the Java Standard Edition SimpleDateFormat class.
Given the popularity of handling data using Google Apps Script I’m sure many will welcome the inclusion of a parseDate() method which was included in the most recent release notes.
Over the past year, we’ve added more functionality to AppSheet, extending how it can maximize the power of Google Workspace through integrations with products such as Gmail, Google Drive and Apps Script. To improve the experience for app creators and users, we’re excited to introduce in public preview AppSheet databases, a built-in database for citizen developers to easily and securely manage their data.
During public preview, access to AppSheet databases will be enabled by default for everyone but it will not affect existing apps. Use of this feature in public preview will be included at no additional cost in your AppSheet subscription plan, but limited to 10K rows per table, 20 tables per database and 20 databases per user. Please note that these limits may change when the feature is generally available.
For people who tuned in to TU3.5: New workflow solutions with Tables and Google Apps Script back in 2020 AppSheet databases will look very familiar. Since that episode the Area 120 team behind the Tables beta moved into Google Cloud and specifically AppSheet.
The big question for me is whether AppSheet databases can find a sweet spot for citizen developers looking for something with more performance than a Google Sheet and easier to setup than a Google Cloud project. In public preview AppSheet databases are limited to 10,000, which interestingly is the same limit as the old paid version of Tables.
Ultimately this may however be less able size and performance but a data solution that the AppSheet team has full control, particularly removing a reliance on features developed by the Google Sheets team.
Google Workspace is the most popular productivity tool on the planet — relied on by more than 3 billion users. To help organizations thrive in a hybrid world, we’ve invested heavily in immersive connections, our approach to bringing people closer together through our communication products, and smart canvas, our next-generation collaboration experience, while enhancing our cloud-first security model to help people work safer.
Today is the first day of Google Cloud Next ’22 and this flagship event is being used to announce a number of upcoming features for Google Cloud and Workspace. This post (source link at the end) from the Google Cloud blog gives a summary of some of the key announcements including:
Bringing people together with immersive connections – which announces a number of new features being introduced to enhance Google Meet, the much requested feature to include inline threaded conversations in Google Chat as well as broadcast only Chat spaces
Collapsing the boundaries between people and apps with smart canvas – which highlights updates, mainly to Google Docs, to enhance productivity with custom building block and user defined variables. Google Sheets is also getting some smart chips enhancements including smart chips data extraction and third party integration as well as a new timeline view rolling out this month
Work safer with Google – a reiteration of Google’s commitment to security with updates on data loss prevention being extended to Google Chat, Trust rules in Drive and client side encryption for Gmail and Calendar
Extending the power of Workspace – the one perhaps of most interest to Pulse readers are the opportunities to build on Google Workspace with additional APIs for Meet and Chat, a Meet add-on SDK to third party integrations directly in Meet, and an official Google Chat integration from AppSheet apps.
For some of these announcements you’ll have to wait until 2023 at the earliest to get your hands on them. For a wider narrative and to see how the tech press is responding to today’s Google Cloud Next ’22 announcements here are some stories that have caught my eye:
Apps Script has turned down the legacy integrated development environment (IDE) in favor of the redesigned IDE that launched in December 2020.
Google have announced the updated Apps Script editor will replace the legacy experience by Q4 2022. Whilst the new IDE was a huge step forward there are some core features from the old Script Editor, which will hopefully make it into the new IDE before Q4. The ones I hear most often are access previous script versions and search/replace across project script files. For the later in the meantime I recommend looking at the Black Apps Script Chrome extension. Whilst this extension primarily enables a true dark mode it also lets you search across script files.
Welcome to the Google Workspace Developers YouTube Channel, where developers of all types can learn about building solutions with Google Workspace. Explore the full range of the Google Workspace Platform from Apps Script to Chat Apps to Workspace APIs and more. Leverage Google Workspace’s products such as Gmail, Docs, Sheets, Slides, Drive, and many more to customize, integrate, or extend these products with our developer tools. Visit our website → developers.google.com/workspace
Google has just launched a new YouTube channel dedicated to Google Workspace developers. Google Apps Script community members might recognise the first featured video series on the ‘Anatomy of Google Chat apps’, which is presented by Chanel Greco who recently joined the Google Workspace Developer Relations team. As well as featuring a curated collection of previous Google content on topics from no to low code solutions the channel also includes content from the wider community.
Join us online or in-person at Google Cloud Next ’22, our flagship event where over 1 million people across the globe come together to learn and grow. Don’t miss out on meeting other IT and security professionals, developers, and business leaders. Learn about the latest product announcements and hear valuable insights from Google executives, including Thomas Kurian, Google Cloud CEO, and Aparna Pappu, VP and GM for Google Workspace. You’ll also hear inspiring stories from our global customers, such as Airbus and Iron Mountain, and technology partners like Asana, about how they’re using Google Workspace in their organizations.
A recent post on the Google Cloud blog highlights the Google Workspace lineup of keynotes and sessions not to miss at Next ’22. There are a range of sessions from Google, global customers and partners.
