10 Reasons Why I Use Bubble.IO to Iterate on Startup Ideas
You shouldn’t have to onboard a technical co-founder just to test a business idea.
Bubble is a no-code platform that enables you to build web apps. Here’s my simple definition of a no-code platform: A platform that allows you to build an interactive web app through a “drag and drop” user interface and easy-to-implement logic. Working on a no-code platform is almost like writing in plain English.
There are a number of no-code platforms out there, but I started using Bubble last year and have built several projects on it (including the MVP of my startup Gaya: a platform enabling people in close-knit communities to share their cars with each other). My co-founder (Carl Ziade) and I launched Gaya at Stanford in September of this year.
Here are the 10 reasons why I use Bubble:
1: Easy to learn
As you sign up to use Bubble for the first time, you have the option to go through some onboarding tutorials to get familiar with the platform and get going immediately. You will quickly be able to build an interactive platform. It may take some time to get super comfortable with the more advanced features, but you’ll be surprised by how quickly you can get started.
Takeaway: Bubble is easy to learn (even if you don’t have a technical background) though it might take some time to become great at it.
2: Fast deployment
Bubble allows you to deploy your web app in seconds. You may choose to connect your personal domain (just like you would if you were using website builders such as Wix, WordPress, and Squarespace). Traditional web development requires you to host your server outside of where the code resides, so you end up using platforms like AWS or Heroku which not only require additional setup but also add additional cost to your project.
Takeaway: You can launch your web app on Bubble way faster than you ever could with traditional programming.
3: Fast update releases
When you make a change to your Bubble app, you can publish your changes instantaneously with the click of a button. No need to restart any server or re-run Docker containers. It’s such a nice feeling to be able to get back to someone who reported a bug and let them know that it’s fixed, within a few mn of the bug being reported!
Takeaway: If you make an update on your Bubble app, you can publish it immediately.
4: Integrated database
Though you can use an external database, Bubble has a built-in relational database that you can use from the get-go. This is also a major time-saver. The cherry on top is that making queries on Bubble’s database is straightforward, easy to learn, and they’re clear plain English phrases that anyone can understand.
Takeaway: Bubble gives you access to a database that is user-friendly and allows you to save development time.
5: Mobile app conversion.
It’s possible to convert your Bubble web app into a mobile app. All you need to do is use converter platforms like Zeroqode.com/native or Nativator.io. After giving them access to your Bubble project, they will create a build of your app on either iOS or Android. You can then use that build to publish your app on the App Store or Google Play. As before, the power of Bubble comes in when you need to make updates to your app: the changes will still be instantaneous. No need to publish a new version of the app on the App Store or Play Store, and no need to request your users to download a new version of the app.
Takeaway: There are 3rd party platforms that allow you to convert your Bubble web app into a mobile app that people can download from the App Store or Google Play.
6: Built-in authentication.
If you’re building an app requiring users to have their own accounts, Bubble can handle the full authentication process for you. Bubble can handle all the following flows: creating an account and password, user log-in, user log-out, and handling forgotten passwords. Additionally, Bubble easily integrates with platforms like Google, Facebook, and Twitter.
Takeaway: Bubble can handle authentication for you, so you can focus on more relevant parts of your app.
7: A wealth of plugins + API connection possibility
One of Bubble’s superpowers is its wealth of plugins connecting to external services including Stripe, Zapier, and Sendgrid. My go-to place for Bubble plugins has been Zeroqode as they have good documentation. If you find the plugins limiting to your needs and you’d rather do raw API integrations, Bubble allows you to do that as well.
Takeaway: Bubble has many plugins and offers API integrations so you can have your Bubble app easily communicate with 3rd party apps.
8: Supportive developer community
The worst thing that can happen when building a web platform is getting stuck with no one to help you. Bubble has a vibrant developer community that can help you with technical issues. Most of the technical hiccups I’ve faced have actually been solved with a quick Google search — most times someone already faced the issue and another person already provided the solution.
Takeaway: Bubble has a vibrant developer community that helps you get unstuck quickly in times of need.
9: Growing developer community
Today it’s easy to find Bubble developers on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr. This is a positive sign for anyone trying to build a substantial project on the platform. It’s comforting to know there are developers who could provide direct support or build on past code in times of need.
Takeaway: There’s a growing community of developers on Bubble who can be
hired/sub-contracted to help with your projects.
10: Built-in version control
As you develop with Bubble, it’s possible to save your app at different points in time, and you can revert to any previously saved version. This is handy in situations where you had a functioning feature, saved it, then did some edits that messed things up. With Bubble you can quickly revert to the original working version. It’s not as sophisticated as GitHub where you can have multiple people working on several branches, but it does come in handy.
Takeaway: Bubble helps you save different versions of your app and you can revert to any previously saved version.
Though I find Bubble to be powerful, here are some of its limitations I’ve experienced.
A. Handling mobile responsiveness. If you’re building a web app with a relatively simple user interface, you can make it mobile-responsive on Bubble. But in situations where there are many elements on a page, it becomes trickier and it’s sometimes best to make an entirely new design for mobile view.
B. Handling height responsiveness. Bubble does not excel in dynamic-height responsiveness. In some situations, you may want to control the height of an element (e.g.: a picture, or what bubble calls a repeating group) based on the height of the device screen being used by your user. While you can control element width conditionally, it’s not the case for element height.
C. Working with collaborators. Bubble does not do well when multiple collaborators are working on a project simultaneously. When editing a project at the same time as a collaborator, I’ve found some of my work reverting to older versions. The best practice seems to be working on the app one person at a time.
Overall, I give bubble 2 thumbs up given the practicality, speed, and cost-savings it offers compared to traditional programming. I especially encourage you to try it out if you’re building the MVP of a business idea. You’ll be shocked by how fast you can get going and even more shocked by how fast you can edit your app to do iterations.
Feel free to visit my website jpvertil.com and reach out!
Resources:
- Bubble: https://bubble.io/
- Zeroqode: https://zeroqode.com/
- Nativator: https://nativator.io/
