Meet Lowdefy: The Config Web Stack for Business Apps

In today's fast-paced digital world, businesses need robust, flexible, and easy-to-deploy web applications. Lowdefy is a revolutionary platform that enables developers to create internal tools, client portals, web apps, admin panels, dashboards, websites, and CRUD apps with simple YAML or JSON configuration. This technical blog post provides an in-depth look at Lowdefy, exploring its features, capabilities, and how it can streamline the development process for business applications.

  

Introduction to Lowdefy

Lowdefy is a source-available web framework designed to simplify the creation of business applications. By using YAML or JSON configuration, developers can build complex applications without the need for extensive coding. This approach not only speeds up the development process but also makes it easier to maintain and extend applications.

Key Features of Lowdefy

Lowdefy comes packed with a host of features aimed at making web development easier and more efficient:

1. Build Web UIs with Easy Config: Lowdefy's configuration files are easy to read, write, copy, paste, or template. This simplicity allows developers to quickly get started and make modifications with minimal effort.

   • Over 70 Blocks and 150 logic operators for a quick start.
   • Dynamic UIs with simple state management.
   • Responsive layouts out of the box.
   • Extend with custom React components.

2. Connect to Your Data and APIs: Lowdefy provides seamless integration with databases and APIs, enabling developers to build dynamic applications that connect to various data sources.

   • Build dynamic queries using variables and logic operators.
   • Execute requests from both authenticated and public pages.
   • Secure secrets for passwords and API keys.
   • Build custom connections with any npm modules.

3. Extend Everything with NPM Plugins: Lowdefy's plugin system allows developers to extend the platform's capabilities using npm modules. This flexibility ensures that developers can add the functionality they need without being limited by the platform's core features.

   • Extend Blocks, Requests, Operators, Actions, Auth Providers, and Adapters with plugins.
   • Use project-specific code by adding unpublished plugins to your repository.
   • Refer to the plugin docs and the plugin project example for more details.

4. Built for Developers and Enterprise-Ready: Lowdefy is designed with developers in mind, providing a smooth development experience and enterprise-level features.

   • Deploy anywhere that supports Next.js, including Vercel and Docker.
   • Built on top of Next.js and Auth.js for robust authentication and deployment options.
   • Minimal config designed to be easy to read, write, and understand, making it simple to manage in teams of any size.
   • Role-based access control (RBAC) for secure, granular access control.

How Lowdefy Works

Lowdefy simplifies web application development by providing a configuration-driven approach. Here’s a closer look at how it works:

1. Configuration Files: The core of a Lowdefy application is its configuration file, written in YAML or JSON. This file defines the structure and behavior of the application, including UI components, data connections, and logic.

2. Blocks: Blocks are the building blocks of a Lowdefy application. They are the visual part of the app, implemented as React components. Lowdefy provides a set of default block types, but developers can extend capabilities with custom blocks.

   • Examples: Form blocks, Table blocks, Chart blocks.

3. Operators: Operators are functions used to express logic within an app. Lowdefy includes many built-in operators for creating dynamic applications, and developers can also add custom JavaScript operators.

   • Examples: Mathematical operators, String operators, Array operators.

4. Actions: Actions are triggered by events such as clicking a button or loading a page. When an event occurs, a list of JavaScript functions can be executed. Lowdefy includes a set of predefined actions, but custom actions can also be created.

   • Examples: API calls, Navigation actions, Data manipulations.

5. Requests: Requests are used to make calls to external services, such as APIs and databases, to retrieve or send data. Lowdefy does not have built-in data storage, but provides connections to external services.

   • Examples: REST API calls, GraphQL queries, Database queries.

Getting Started with Lowdefy

To get started with Lowdefy, follow these simple steps:

1. Install Lowdefy: Run the following command to install Lowdefy and create a new project:

   pnpx lowdefy@latest init && pnpx lowdefy@latest dev
   

2. Create Configuration File: This command creates a lowdefy.yaml file in the current working directory. This file contains the configuration for your Lowdefy app.

3. Run Development Server: Launch a local development server to see your app in action:

   pnpx lowdefy@latest dev
   

   The server will be available at http://localhost:3000.

4. Modify Configuration: Make changes in the lowdefy.yaml file to see them reflect in the app. The configuration file defines the structure, components, and logic of your application.

Example Configuration

Here’s an example of a simple Lowdefy configuration file:

app:
  id: example-app
  name: Example App
  blocks:
    - id: header
      type: Title
      properties:
        text: Welcome to Lowdefy
    - id: form
      type: Form
      properties:
        fields:
          - id: name
            type: Input
            properties:
              label: Name
          - id: email
            type: Input
            properties:
              label: Email
          - id: submit
            type: Button
            properties:
              text: Submit
              onClick:
                - id: submitAction
                  type: Request
                  properties:
                    url: https://example.com/api/submit
                    method: POST
                    body:
                      name: ~name
                      email: ~email

This configuration creates a simple form with name and email fields, and a submit button that sends the data to an external API.

Advanced Features and Use Cases

Lowdefy is designed to handle complex business applications with ease. Here are some advanced features and use cases:

Building Dynamic UIs

Lowdefy allows developers to build dynamic user interfaces with minimal effort. By using blocks, operators, and actions, developers can create responsive and interactive applications.

• State Management: Lowdefy provides simple state management to handle dynamic UIs. Use operators to manage and manipulate state.
• Responsive Layouts: Lowdefy’s layout system ensures that your application looks great on all devices.

Integrating with APIs and Databases

Connecting to external services is a breeze with Lowdefy. Define requests in your configuration file to interact with APIs and databases.

• Dynamic Queries: Build dynamic queries using variables and logic operators to fetch or manipulate data.
• Secure Connections: Secure secrets for passwords and API keys to ensure safe data transactions.

Extending Functionality with Plugins

Lowdefy’s plugin system is one of its most powerful features. Developers can extend the platform by creating custom plugins for blocks, requests, operators, actions, auth providers, and adapters.

• NPM Modules: Use npm modules to add new functionality to your Lowdefy app.
• Custom Plugins: Create and publish custom plugins to the Lowdefy community.

Enterprise-Ready Deployment

Lowdefy is built for enterprise environments, offering secure, scalable, and flexible deployment options.

• Deploy Anywhere: Deploy Lowdefy apps anywhere that supports Next.js, including Vercel and Docker.
• Authentication: Built on top of Auth.js, Lowdefy supports various authentication providers and methods, including SSO, SAML, and 2FA.
• Role-Based Access Control: Implement secure, granular access control with RBAC.

Contributing to Lowdefy

Lowdefy is an open-source project, and contributions from the community are welcome. Here’s how you can get involved:

Creating Custom Plugins

One of the easiest ways to contribute to Lowdefy is by creating custom plugins. Follow the plugin docs and the plugin project example to get started.

Share Your Plugins: Publish your plugins to NPM and share them with the community on the GitHub Discussions page.

Developing the Lowdefy Platform

If you’re interested in contributing to the Lowdefy platform itself, you can run Lowdefy servers locally for development.

• Local Development: Add your Lowdefy config to the app/.. folder and use the following scripts to start the server:

  pnpm app:cli:dev
  pnpm app:cli:build
  pnpm app:cli:start
  

• Contributing Guide: Follow the CONTRIBUTING.md guide for more information on how to contribute to the platform.

Reporting Issues and Requesting Features

Help improve Lowdefy by reporting bugs and requesting new features on the GitHub Issues page.

Conclusion

Lowdefy is transforming the way developers build business applications. With its configuration-driven approach, robust features, and flexibility, Lowdefy empowers developers to create powerful web applications with ease. Whether you're building internal tools, client portals, or complex dashboards, Lowdefy provides the tools and flexibility you need to succeed.

To get started with Lowdefy, visit the official website and check out the documentation for more information. Join the community forum and the Lowdefy Discord to connect with other developers and share your experiences.

Happy coding with Lowdefy!