Welcome+ > Spreadsheet Gurus, Javascript Wizards, Database Devils, (and Full Stack Developers too...)

The outer doors all looked different but you all are here as a group.
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This single page consolidates the Spreadsheet Gurus, Javascript Wizards, Database Devils and full Stack Developers too. 

The lead developer on these projects started as web based database guy in 1995.

​He watched with excitement as the technology age boomed, and then with disgust as languages and technologies started to become buried by Microsoft and those who sought to protect PC based cash cow software from the 1990s and early 2000's. 

We are over a decade behind where we could be if some in the Microsoft and Apple realm had not had their way.  First came a wave improperly shutting down frame sets for all applications when they are by far the best solution for back end office systems. They used the media to threw the baby out with the bathwater to protect antiquated PC based Software. Then they started to shut down Classic ASP which was replacing a surgeons knife with a sledge hammer. knife from a surgeon.  Then came the jQuery confusion solely because Microsoft wouldn't play along in the sandbox. That was all about slowing and preventing web based software development.  Then came the wordPress disaster followed by one complexity after another which came in as design started to over take engineering, much to do with the i-pad-i-fi-ca-tion of everything. Back office solutions in frame-sets work flawlessly with far 100x more complexity on mobile devices with 1/10th the programming needed and few have a clue what I'm even referring to.  

The development of Google Chrome in 2006 is what lead to transparent access behind the scenes of the browser to do what's being done today. We were doing the same but blind in the late 1990s and early 2000's but it took far more time. ​​We are currently a decade behind in business system development due to the rise of the Vulture Capitalists, very Monopolistic markets, and the suppression of all the tools needed to build back office solutions like a breeze. 

These Google Sheet solutions represent an interesting break out.  They are very powerful. The promise is startling. 

For those in love with full stack development, we hope to circle back to some very amazing web based tools in a few years to fill in some holes these may leave or to supplement these in some cool ways. First we need to get some old folks out of the way. Then we'll more people generally up to speed on a full stack way, and this is a great way to get two birds with one stone. 

• Spreadsheet Gurus  -- Keep the equations simple. Break them down into parts in ares off the usable screen. Use the array formulas and database functions in ways that are powerful.
  
  Examples of all of that are provided in these working models.
  
  ​Try to avoid custom scripted equations if at all possible and avoid names when possible. Both have drawbacks in complex systems. 

• Javascript Wizards -- Google Script is Javascript with a sh-t ton of amazingly powerful objects that seem to have stabilized. . What can be done with a single click from a Google Sheet in 50-100 lines of code is from another world. Check out the transaction generator in the Bookkeeping module for starters. That's just a small example.  There is a fetch command allowing for winhttp/curl functionality. There are ways to do form fills and auto emailing with google drive, google calender and gmail integrations that rock. A lot has been tested and proven in some other prototypes we have on the shelves. As interest rises, we'll provide pointers and release a lot more complex code examples. 

• Database Devils -- Working without auto-generated primary and secondary keys just requires some ingenuity. Build your own composite keys. There's not much of that in the Bookkeeping module (if any actually). See the Legal Billing module for very advanced examples of that. ​

• Full Stack Developers -- A vacation rental template not shown here has the equivalent of a submission form built into a spreadsheet. After submission, a record is created and the user is redirected to another summary tab.  On that tab the user can make a few selections and with the click of a button, a gDoc is retrieved from gDrive base on criteria, it is form filled, it is convert that to html with inline css and that is deposited that in the body of an email. The email is left in a draft folder for further customization or it's sent on it's way.  And this all happens in under 100 lines of code. 
  
  In another example we can take a set of billing records, autopopulate forms, and print those as individual pdfs as well as a packet for review. Then we can auto file those pdfs into GDrive folders with another click if desired.
  
  This is extremely powerful and potent stuff. For those that like to build applications A to Z, what can be done in a short time in a custom manner is mind blowing without all the headaches of the current web paradigm.
  
  No one will be 'getting rich' off these types of things in a SAAS way, but if you just like to build like some of us do, you may find this to be an amazingly exciting time to be a programmer.  Some of the stuff in the pipe can be found on display at: http://diy-software-club.weebly.com/​

As for the system on this website

• The systems are powerful and make for great learning and demo tools. 
• The video tutorials and documentation is second to none. 
• We offer flow charts for every major piece of puzzle.
• This all makes for easy teaching and easy reference 
• We will attempt to keep good FAQs and cheat-sheets as comments come in

Continue to Part 2 of the Introduction Process where everyone joins back together >>