Build No Code Dashboard with Frontly: Google Spreadsheet as Datasource!

Frontly is a no-code platform that lets you turn spreadsheets into fully functional web apps in minutes. Whether you're a small business owner, a freelancer, or just someone with a cool idea, Frontly makes app development accessible without requiring you to write a single line of code. This guide walks you through the process of building your first app, exploring Frontly’s features, and leveraging its AI-powered tools to create something awesome. Let’s dive in.

Getting Started with Frontly’s Homepage

When you log into Frontly, the homepage is your starting point. It’s clean, intuitive, and packed with tools to kickstart your app-building journey. The homepage is divided into key sections:

• App Templates: These are pre-built apps you can install into your account with one click. Think of them as ready-made blueprints. You’ll find templates like an AI-powered blog post generator, a real estate listings page, or a customer management system. Browse these to spark ideas and see what’s possible. You can tweak them to fit your needs, saving you tons of time.
• Tutorials: Frontly offers video tutorials that are gold for beginners. They cover everything from basic setup to advanced features. Spending time here will help you understand the platform faster and avoid common pitfalls.

Take a moment to explore these sections. The templates give you a head start, and the tutorials ensure you’re not fumbling in the dark.

Step 1: Adding a Data Source

Every app needs data to function, and in Frontly, that data comes from a data source. A data source is simply the information you want your app to display or interact with. For this guide, we’ll use a Google Sheet as our data source—it’s simple and widely used.

Here’s how to set it up:

1. From the homepage, click Add Data Source.
2. You’ll see options like Google Sheets, Airtable, or custom databases. Select Google Sheets.
3. Open your Google Sheet. It can be as basic as a few rows and columns with sample data (e.g., customer names, order totals, or product IDs).
4. Copy the sheet’s URL from your browser’s address bar.
5. Paste the URL into Frontly and click Import Sheet.

Frontly connects to your sheet and pulls in the data. If you check your Google Sheet, you’ll notice Frontly adds a Frontly ID column with unique IDs for each row. This lets Frontly treat your sheet like a database, where each row is a distinct record. This setup is powerful because it enables real-time updates and seamless app functionality.

Step 2: Creating Your First Page

With your data source ready, it’s time to build a page. Pages are the core of your Frontly app—they’re where your data comes to life.

1. Navigate to the Pages section in Frontly’s dashboard.
2. Click Create Page, name it (e.g., “Test Page”), and hit Create.

You now have a blank canvas. To add content, you’ll use blocks—pre-designed components that make up your page’s layout and functionality.

Step 3: Adding Blocks to Your Page

Blocks are the building blocks (pun intended) of Frontly apps. They include tables, forms, grids, charts, stats, icons, and more. Each block serves a specific purpose, like displaying data or collecting user input.

For this example, let’s add a Table Block to display your Google Sheet data:

1. Click Browse Blocks and select the Table block.
2. Since this block needs data, Frontly prompts you to choose a data source. Select your Google Sheet (e.g., “Orders”).
3. Click Complete Setup.

Boom—your table is populated with your sheet’s data. It’s that easy. The table displays your rows and columns exactly as they appear in your Google Sheet, but now it’s part of a web app.

Step 4: Customizing Your Table

Frontly’s drag-and-drop interface makes customization a breeze. Want to rearrange columns or tweak the design? Here’s how:

• Rearrange Columns: Drag a column (e.g., “Image”) to a new position, like moving it to the far left.
• Style Fields: Select a field (e.g., “Total”) and change its appearance. For example, set the text color to blue and make it bold.
• Edit Data: Click a record to open a detailed view. Change a value (e.g., update “Diana Green” to “Joe Smith”), and it updates in real time in both the app and your Google Sheet.

These changes are instant, and you can preview your app at any time to see how it looks. To preview, click Preview, and Frontly generates a live version hosted at a temporary URL (e.g., my-sample-app.frontly.app). You can later add a custom domain like myapp.com for a professional touch.

Step 5: Exploring the Preview

The preview mode shows your app in action. Your table displays all your data, and clicking a record opens an auto-generated detail view—a form where you can edit data. This form is fully functional: any changes you make sync back to your Google Sheet instantly. This real-time connection is one of Frontly’s standout features, making it ideal for collaborative apps or client-facing tools.

Step 6: Building a Dashboard with AI

Frontly’s AI-powered block generator is a game-changer. Instead of manually picking blocks, you can describe what you want in plain English, and the AI builds it for you. Let’s create a dashboard:

1. Delete the table block from your page to start fresh.
2. Click Browse Blocks and select Generate with AI.
3. Enter a description: “A dashboard with a table on the left and two charts stacked on the right. Above them, add a text label that says ‘Analytics Dashboard’.”
4. Click Generate.

In 5–12 seconds, Frontly creates a layout matching your description. You’ll see a table on the left, two charts on the right, and a text label at the top. The AI isn’t perfect, but it’s a fantastic starting point.

Step 7: Connecting Data to Your Dashboard

The AI-generated blocks aren’t connected to your data source yet, but that’s easy to fix:

• Table: Select the table block, choose your “Orders” data source, and it populates automatically.
• Charts: Select the first chart, choose “Orders” as the data source, and pick a chart type (e.g., Pie Chart). Adjust settings like the value field (e.g., “Total” for order prices) or group by (e.g., group orders by “Status” to show counts of “Processing,” “Shipped,” etc.).
• Second Chart: Repeat for the second chart, but try a different type, like a Horizontal Bar Chart, for variety.

Charts have tons of customization options. For example, you can switch between bar, pie, or line charts, adjust sizes, or change how data is grouped. If a chart looks cramped, remove its fixed height (e.g., change “200px” to “auto”) to let it resize dynamically.

Step 8: Fine-Tuning Your Dashboard

Frontly’s sidebar is where the magic happens for customization. When you select a block, the sidebar shows all available settings. For charts, you can:

• Choose the value field (e.g., “Total” for prices or “ID” for order numbers).
• Group data by a field (e.g., “Status” to show order counts per status).
• Switch chart types (e.g., from pie to donut or bar to line).

Experiment with these settings to make your dashboard both functional and visually appealing. For example, grouping orders by status in a pie chart shows the proportion of orders in each category, while a bar chart might highlight total sales per status.

Step 9: Why Frontly Stands Out

Frontly’s strength lies in its simplicity and speed. In just a few minutes, you’ve built a functional app with a table, a dashboard, and real-time data syncing. Here’s why it’s a big deal:

• No Coding Required: You don’t need to know HTML, CSS, or JavaScript. Frontly’s drag-and-drop interface and AI tools handle the heavy lifting.
• Real-Time Syncing: Changes in your app reflect instantly in your Google Sheet, and vice versa. This is perfect for teams or client apps.
• AI-Powered Design: The AI block generator lets you create complex layouts without starting from scratch.
• Scalability: Start with a simple table and scale up to multi-page apps with charts, forms, and custom domains.

Step 10: Exploring More Blocks

Beyond tables and charts, Frontly offers a variety of blocks to enhance your app:

• Forms: Collect user input, like customer feedback or order details.
• Grids: Display data with large images, ideal for product catalogs.
• Stats: Show key metrics, like total sales or active users.
• Icons and Buttons: Add visual flair or interactive elements.

Spend time browsing the block library. Each block is customizable, so you can tailor it to your app’s needs.

Step 11: Tips for Success

To get the most out of Frontly, keep these tips in mind:

• Start Simple: Begin with a single page and a basic block, like a table. Add complexity as you get comfortable.
• Use Templates: Don’t reinvent the wheel. Tweak a template to fit your project.
• Watch Tutorials: Frontly’s video tutorials are packed with practical advice.
• Experiment with AI: The AI generator is a great way to try new layouts without committing hours to design.
• Test Previews: Regularly preview your app to catch issues early.

Step 12: Scaling Your App

Once you’re comfortable with the basics, you can take your app further:

• Add Pages: Create multi-page apps, like a homepage, a data entry page, and a dashboard.
• Customize Design: Adjust colors, fonts, and layouts to match your brand.
• Add Users: Share your app with team members or clients, with permissions to view or edit data.
• Go Live: Set up a custom domain and publish your app for the world to see.

Step 13: Real-World Use Cases

Frontly is versatile enough for countless applications. Here are a few ideas:

• Small Businesses: Build a customer management app to track orders and contacts.
• Freelancers: Create a portfolio app with a grid of projects and a contact form.
• Nonprofits: Develop a volunteer management app with forms and dashboards.
• Educators: Make a student tracking app to monitor grades and attendance.

The possibilities are endless. Your Google Sheet is the foundation, and Frontly turns it into a professional app.

Step 14: Troubleshooting Common Issues

New to Frontly? You might hit a few bumps. Here’s how to handle them:

• Data Not Showing: Double-check that your block is connected to the correct data source.
• Chart Looks Off: Adjust the height to “auto” or tweak the value field.
• AI Output Isn’t Perfect: Refine your description or manually adjust the generated blocks.
• Sync Issues: Ensure your Google Sheet’s sharing settings allow Frontly access.

Frontly’s support team and tutorials are also great resources if you’re stuck.

Step 15: The Power of No-Code

No-code platforms like Frontly are transforming app development. They empower non-technical users to create tools that were once the domain of programmers. With Frontly, you’re not just building an app—you’re solving real problems, whether it’s streamlining your business, showcasing your work, or sharing data with a team.

The platform’s integration with Google Sheets, AI-powered design, and extensive block library make it a standout in the no-code space. Plus, its real-time syncing and customization options give you flexibility without complexity.

Step 16: Next Steps

You’ve built a simple app with a table and a dashboard, but this is just the beginning. Here’s what to do next:

• Explore the full block library and experiment with forms, grids, and stats.
• Try more AI-generated layouts to speed up your workflow.
• Dive into Frontly’s tutorials for advanced tips, like user authentication or multi-page apps.
• Build a real project, like a client portal or an inventory tracker, to test your skills.

Frontly’s learning curve is gentle, but the more you explore, the more powerful your apps will become.

Step 17: Why Choose Frontly?

There are plenty of no-code platforms out there, but Frontly shines for a few reasons:

• Speed: Go from spreadsheet to app in minutes.
• Ease of Use: The drag-and-drop interface is beginner-friendly.
• Flexibility: Customize everything from colors to data groupings.
• AI Integration: The AI generator saves time and sparks creativity.
• Affordability: Frontly’s pricing is competitive, making it accessible for individuals and small teams.

Whether you’re a solo entrepreneur or part of a growing business, Frontly scales with you.

Conclusion

Building an app doesn’t have to be intimidating. With Frontly, you can create something functional, beautiful, and tailored to your needs without touching code. By starting with a Google Sheet, adding blocks, and leveraging AI, you’ve already built a working app in less time than it takes to binge a TV episode.

Keep experimenting, watch those tutorials, and don’t be afraid to push the platform’s limits. Your next big idea is just a few clicks away.