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Nocodb
In the digital age, companies are increasingly looking for solutions that will help them better manage the constant flow of their databases. In the past, Google Sheet might have done the trick. Today, however, more is needed to keep pace with market developments and demands.
Nocodb, a no-code database management tool, is within everyone's reach for developing in-house solutions to meet your most demanding needs. It integrates with external tools and lets you call up and manipulate data from its spreadsheet.
What is Nocodb? What can it really be used for? What are its advantages and disadvantages? In this review, we'll take you on a complete discovery of Nocodb.
History of Nocodb
Why Nocodb? Here's a brief presentation of the tool and the problems it solves.
Who created Nocodb?
Developed in 2021 and founded by Naveen R, Nocodb is an open-source no code Database platform designed to help companies manage data, and has proved to be an alternative to Airtable. There was a time when it was very difficult for companies to keep track of their business operations.
Although solutions such as spreadsheets existed, it was still difficult to grasp the huge amount of data flow. At the same time, SaaS (Software as a Service) offerings have stepped in to provide an effective solution to the problem.
However, this also means dependence on suppliers. Another constraint is that companies don't really have control over their data, and the fluctuating prices of these offers don't really improve the situation.
As a result of these various difficulties and the constant needs of companies, nocodb was born. Its mission is to offer a tool that is accessible to everyone, whether an individual or a specialist in application development, and to reach thousands of people. The no-code concept means that the tool requires no coding expertise to use.
Nocodb is both open source and easy to use. Its spreadsheet-like interface makes it easy to access, manage and analyze data quickly and efficiently. All in an environment that encourages creativity and collaboration.
What's Nocodb?
Nocodb, Open Source Airtable alternative, is a no-code database management tool. Suitable for developers and non-developers alike. It lets you develop powerful tools, all within its smart spreadsheet-based editor. As a result, you can create innovative solutions in the form of in-house applications to enable companies or individuals to optimize their management methods for greater productivity.
With Nocodb, there's really no limit to the number of databases you can connect to. The no-code platform supports relational data systems such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, SQLite, Amazon Aurora & MariaDB.
It also interacts perfectly with 3rd party APIs as well as network applications like Slack, WhatsApp, and other apps like Discord, Twilio. It's feature-rich and can be used to do lots of other things you can't imagine.
What does it actually do?
All no-code tools have their own specific features and can be used to create solutions to a wide range of problems. As we mentioned earlier, Nocodb's first benefit is that it helps you read any type of database, transforming it into a readable spreadsheet.
This makes it easier for you to carry out manipulations as you wish, without having to be a whiz at SQL (Structured Query Language), a programming language dedicated to relational databases.
Secondly, Nocodb offers you greater flexibility with its advanced functions for sorting, searching and filtering data. More concretely, instead of scrolling through your tables to find a specific piece of data, you can save time by performing a search, categorizing your information and filtering it more easily.
Nocodb can help you automate your workflow to make it more logical. You can configure a multitude of actions in your database.
To make these actions more dynamic, you can add specific conditions or events. The potential benefit of this functionality is that you can easily add or update data without constraint.
Pricing Nocodb
Unlike competitive tools such as Budibase or Airtable, which offer a variety of pricing models, Nocodb is totally free. For a tool that promotes a multitude of features, this may sound too good to be true, but it is.
In fact, you can collaborate in real time with your team and make lightning advances in data interaction. You can even manage data access and authorize only those you choose.
What's more, others who don't have accounts on the nocodb platform can view your work using share view's integration function. For added security, you can assign a password to protect your most sensitive information.
In addition to these helpful features, Nocodb lets you simplify the automation of your business workflow. It also integrates seamlessly with other applications, thanks to its support for API tokens. If you've never heard of them, API tokens are like keys to access specific functionality in another application.
In other words, it's an authentication key for interacting with a third-party application while staying within the limits of the data you can access.
Finally, Nocodb's vision and promise is to keep this model free of charge in order to democratize access to database (internal and external database) use for thousands of people worldwide. It also plans to offer a free service to businesses, including :
- single sign-on (SSO) for simplified user management,
- Service Level Agreements (SLAs) to guarantee optimum tool availability and performance,
- an audit to guarantee the security and confidentiality of your data,
- a hosting system,
- and much more.
Nocodb Advantage/Disadvantage
Nocodb advantage
Nocodb offers a number of advantages that make it one of the best no-code tools for data management.
Importing data from source Airtable
If you want to import your data from Airtable, Nocodb can help you import to other databases such as MySQL Database, Postgres, SQLite and SQL Server. The operation is quick and takes just a few minutes. Although this option is in beta version, all you need to do is provide your Airtable credentials and enter the sharing credentials.
The second step is to access the menu, then click on "Add / Import" and the Airtable option. Finally, you just need to confirm the import by entering your previous information (API key and share ID).
Possibility of integration
Nocodb integrates easily with a variety of tools. When it comes to communications applications, Nocodb integrates well with tools like Discord, Slack. This can be used to establish communication links with other users or to coordinate tasks.
When it comes to sending e-mails, we can mention services like MailerSend, Gmail SMTP server, AWS SES. With these services, you can automate all your e-mails, manage notifications, reports and more from within Nocodb.
Nocodb integrates with services such as AWS S3, Google Cloud Storage and Minio. Yes, nocodb has not yet developed its own cloud services. However, you can still store, manage and synchronize your data as you go along on these options.
Multilingual
When the founder of nocodb says he wants to reach billions of people, he means it. The tool supports some twenty languages, including French for those in French-speaking environments, English, Spanish, German, Italian and more.
On the Nocodb interface, the default language is English. However, you can change the language by accessing the dashboard, in particular by clicking on "language". Then it's up to you to choose the language that suits you best for easy communication with the tool.
Nocodb disadvantage
Some limitations with Nocodb.
Cloud unavailable
Until now, Nocodb hasn't deployed its cloud system to back up all your data, from new to old, unlike Budibase. To store or manage your data, you'll need to integrate an external service with Nocodb.
Complex learning curve
Although Nocodb has an intuitive interface, it can seem a little complex for users without a minimum of technical knowledge. For example, someone not used to spreadsheets such as Excel may get lost at first.
Conclusion
Nocodb offers a promising solution for businesses, enabling them to manage and analyze their data efficiently, without the need for coding skills. As a no-code application, it simplifies access to source database management, offering an alternative to more expensive, vendor-dependent solutions.
With its user-friendly spreadsheet-like interface, Nocodb encourages creativity and collaboration. It offers a variety of advanced features, such as data import from Airtable and integration with other applications.
Frequently asked questions
What is Nocodb?
Nocodb is a no-code database management tool that lets you create powerful applications without the need for programming skills.
What types of database does Nocodb support?
Nocodb supports relational databases such as MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, SQLite, Amazon Aurora and MariaDB.
What integrations does Nocodb offer?
Nocodb integrates with communication applications such as Slack and Discord, email services such as MailerSend and AWS SES, and file storage services such as AWS S3 and Google Cloud Storage.
Does Nocodb offer a multilingual interface?
Yes, Nocodb supports some 20 languages, including French, English, Spanish and German.
How much does Nocodb cost?
Nocodb is completely free, offering access to all its features at no hidden cost.
How does Nocodb make data management easier for companies?
Nocodb simplifies data management for businesses by offering a user-friendly spreadsheet interface, enabling data to be read, manipulated and analyzed without the need for advanced programming skills.
