Knowing the different ways to build an app is crucial for early product decisions. These choices impact how quickly you bring your idea to life and how well your team supports and scales the product. The real challenge isn't just in the technical details but in how quickly your team can move from concept to prototype, while staying responsive to user feedback and building a strong community.
In this episode, I dive into the nuances of borrowing, buying, and building apps to help you navigate these options and find the best fit for your needs.
Borrowing an app involves using existing app builders and ecosystems like Airtable, Coda, and Bubble. This approach is akin to renting, where you utilize provided features within a rich, sandbox environment to create app-like experiences without starting from scratch.
Buying an app means purchasing the entire source code and infrastructure, essentially acquiring a complete package. This method ranges from buying templates similar to popular apps (like Instagram or Airbnb) to fully functional applications. The key here is understanding that while you get everything needed to run the app, it might not come with all the backend operations and continuous deployment pipelines, which are crucial for maintenance and updates.
Building an app has evolved from traditional coding to more nuanced methods. Today, building can include using hybrid tools like Plasmic, which blend drag-and-drop design with the ability to write custom code. This approach offers flexibility, allowing teams to leverage both speed and custom functionality. Additionally, tools like Zapier can manage backend logic, though they come with limitations, especially when troubleshooting issues.
Whether you're borrowing, buying, or building, the goal is to choose a strategy that supports your team’s pace and capacity to iterate quickly based on user feedback.
Got thoughts or questions? Hit me up in the comments!
Notable Apps Mentioned
Chapters
00:00 Introduction: Three Approaches to App Building
02:24 Borrowing an App: Benefits and Limitations
05:11 Buying an App: Advantages and Considerations
07:05 Building an App: Nuances and Methods
09:58 Choosing the Right Approach: Trade-offs and Team Capacity
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