The commonplace nature of web applications, in an age built on the smartphone, has become ubiquitous across businesses, startups, and innovators - enabling them to reach wider audiences, offer unique solutions tailored to user needs, and convenience activities in ways that have made engagement simple. Traditional web development, with this being said, can often require extensive coding knowledge, which can create a significant barrier for those without a technical background - but with great ideas to manifest. 

Bubble.io offers a transformative solution - a no-code product and workflow platform that democratises app development, and enables anyone to build web apps, regardless of their experience in devops. In this article, the team at Lightning Products answers the question, ‘what is Bubble.io?’, and unpacks its implications on the tech space more broadly.

What is Bubble.io?

Bubble.io was founded in 2012, and since then, it has grown rapidly with now 1.4 million registered users and securing over $100 million in funding. The rapidly emerging no-code development platform has the capacity - among other management and automating features - for creating fully-functional, user-ready web and mobile applications, without the need for a single line of code. 

At its core is visual programming. It offers a drag-and-drop interface that allows users to design user interfaces (UIs), define workflows via intuitive expressions of logic, and data management within a single system. The platform also contains a library of plugins, templates, and other services that can nuance and equip devops with auxiliary design, marketing and development needs that product managers seek. 

What allows Bubble.io to stand out is its accessibility to both non-technical users and experienced developers. For citizen developers, the platform allows them to bring their ideas to life without the need for intricate coding. On the other hand, it offers advanced features such as plugin development for those with coding knowledge who want to extend Bubble’s built-in functions.

How Does Bubble.io Work?

Here’s a breakdown of the process of creating a new web application through Bubble.io.

Design

When designing a new app on Bubble.io, users are directed to a visual editor where they can use simple point and click commands to manipulate various customisable UI elements. Pre-built templates are also available to help users save time.

Establishing Workflows

Workflows, events, and actions are what allows your users to navigate your app from one click to the next. These are customisable through the workflow tab, where you can define the actions the app should take in response to user interactions. For instance, you can create a workflow for user registration that includes capturing user details and saving the data to a database. Common functionalities that the platform has include user authentication, data validation, form submission, and integration with external services. 

Deployment and Publishing

After the building stage, the next step is to ensure the app fully works before deployment which includes thorough testing and debugging. Bubble.io’s built-in debugger alongside the support from external testing tools can help identify and resolve issues effectively. As for deployment, the platform provides various options such as custom domains and subdomains, and offers built-in hosting services to simplify the process.

Benefits of Using Bubble.io

• Visual Development Environment: Unlike other no-code tools that offer limited customisation, Bubble.io can be purely visual. From designing the user interface to defining workflows and logic, no single line of code is required from users.

• Full-Stack Development: The platform allows users to build both the front-end interface and the back-end logic of their apps in a single place, eliminating the need for separate tools or frameworks.

• Encrypted database: The communication between the user’s device and Bubble server is encrypted at all times to ensure the data involved remains completely private. 

• Extensibility: Users can integrate third-party services of API through the platform's API connector tool and plugin ecosystem. For those with coding skills, they also use custom code to extend Bubble.io's capabilities. 

Practical Applications of Bubble.io

• Custom marketplaces: The platform’s built-in user sign-in system and repeating groups makes it easy to create multipage marketplaces and listings. One example is Cuure, a wellness and supplements company. 

• Booking apps: Creating custom booking portals that deliver quotes and manage payments is made easy by Bubble.io. CircleHome, a home swap startup, used the platform to create a booking app that helps users find and exchange homes for vacations. 

• Personal finance tools: Bubble.io has been leveraged by organisations like Much, a debt and community app, that helps users manage their debts and find resources to better their financial situation. 

• Community and review sites: Bubble.io allows users to create sophisticated community apps with its commenting, reviews, and upvote systems features. SeeVee, a community network for creatives, has taken advantage of these to create a place where users can connect, collaborate, and showcase their work.

• Remote learning or digital tools: The platform can also be used to organise and deliver educational content to students, parents, and teachers. One great example of this is the UCL Medical School's educational ecosystem. It facilitates remote learning for medical students and provides access to resources, lectures, and interactive learning tools.

To fully leverage the capabilities of Bubble.io and create efficient, robust, and scalable applications that meet your needs and vision, work with Lightning Products. We have a team of experts to assist you every step of the way of your Bubble app development. Contact us for more questions or inquiries!