Google’s App Maker is going down on January 19, don’t let your apps go down with it. Move them to Apps Script instead.

App Maker’s clock is ticking fast, Google’s very own low-code application development tool is getting shut down on January 19, 2021. Are your apps now doomed? Destined to join App Maker inside Google’s graveyard? 

Not so fast. There is a solution.

Two words: Apps Script.

How? 

Well, we’re about to tell you.

App Maker: Another One Bites the Dust

Let’s flashback to November 2016, Google just announced its new baby: App Maker. A low-code development tool designed to personalize the G Suite (now Google Workspace) experience. App Maker allows you to create custom applications, using standard coding, drag-and-drop widgets and some built-in templates. 

Google released App Maker as part of an Early Adopter Program. Its functionality was quite impressive, it tied in with G Suite’s other applications (Gmail, Docs, Drive, Calendar, Maps…) and helped businesses make their work much easier.

It was promising, unfortunately, App Maker didn’t get to live for very long.

Indeed, last January, Google came out with a statement announcing that it was shutting down App Maker on January 19, 2021. Only 3 years old, App Maker was joining the Google graveyard due to “low usage”. 

This announcement happened shortly after Google bought “AppSheet”, a no-code development platform, meant to create mobile, tablet, and web applications. AppSheet relies on data sources such as Office 365, Google Drive, DropBox…

Naturally, you’d think AppSheet was App Maker’s replacement. 

But it’s not.

AppSheet is no-code while App Maker is low-code, what’s the difference?

In a very straightforward way, low-code requires more technical knowledge while no-code can be used by just about anyone. For that reason, low-code allows you to create better and more complex solutions, because you can still write code, you’ll be able to be more specific and customize to your heart’s desire.

On the flip side, no-code is easy and simple, as it is used to build easy and simple applications. But it can only do so much. 

Because you can’t write any code and the templates provided are limited, the level of customization isn’t the same as low-code platforms. On top of that, you don’t own your source code. Switching to another platform is a tedious process that requires you to refer to your original vendor and it might cost you quite a bit of money. 

So in conclusion: AppSheet isn’t App Maker’s replacement.

Now let’s get back to App Maker. 

As of April 15, 2020, you could no longer create new apps in App Maker but you could still modify and use existing apps.

However, January 19 is just around the corner. What will happen to your apps then?

Well, if you don’t do anything about it, you will no longer be able to access them.

If you wanna do something about it, keep on reading.

Apps Script: The Miracle Solution

Back in 2009, Google released Apps Script, a low-code platform that helps businesses build custom solutions to expand and boost their Google Workspace experience. 

Apps Script’s promise was simple: solve businesses’ everyday problems with custom solutions without having to use advanced software development tools.

Simple and easy-to-use, Apps Script provides a code editor right in your browser and uses Google’s servers to run the scripts. The user doesn’t need to learn anything new, he can write code in HTML, CSS and JavaScript, therefore creating solutions integrated with Google Workspace’s applications (Gmail, Drive, Calendar, Sheets…). Also, Apps Script controls the add-ons for Docs, Slides and Sheets.

In short, Apps Script saves you time and money: it automates complicated tasks that are specific to your business and it’s free!

With the help of Google Workspace APIs and other native integrations with Google services, Apps Script was made to build significant and useful applications within the Google ecosystem.

App Maker & Apps Script: How It Ties Together 

You’re probably wondering by now, how can App Maker applications move to Apps Script? How does it really tie together?

Well, let’s say App Maker and Apps Script are sort of like brothers. They share a common deployment platform and use the same infrastructure. Scripts in App Maker run on Apps Script, therefore integrating with the other Google Workspace products. 

This means you can take up to 40% of the code written in App Maker and move it to Apps Script very easily.

The goal here is to create a UI on Apps Script (using HTML and CSS) that resembles App Maker, move as much of the code as possible from one platform to the other, and effectively run your App Maker applications in Apps Script.

But it won’t end here.

Because of Apps Script’s capabilities, you’ll be able to create even more customized applications for your business.

Our company, SoftyDev, is made up of a team of qualified professionals specialized in data migration. We know the ins and outs of the Google ecosystem and understand the frustration that comes with App Maker’s shutdown.

We don’t want your applications to go to waste on January 19 and we have enough expertise to help you make the switch as soon as possible. Moving your applications will be fast and easy, leaving you to attend to more important tasks.

If you’re fearing that the deadline is too close, you can contact us so we can get a headstart on exporting the critical elements of your applications.

We will plan the move so that even after January 19, we can still extract all of your applications and successfully migrate to Apps Script.

Because Apps Script and App Maker share so many things in common and exist within the Google ecosystem, the moving process will happen seamlessly. You’re not moving cities or countries here, just neighborhoods. 

No need to stress about moving day, pack light and enjoy the ride.