Introduction

In a twist of fate that many can relate to, I found myself diving into the world of home optimization during the pandemic. With my wife and me stuck indoors, takeout deliveries became our lifeline. We wanted to support our favorite local restaurants and reduce our cooking workload, but we quickly realized that mainstream delivery services like DoorDash and Uber Eats weren't doing the local businesses any favors. Determined to make better choices, we searched for restaurants with their own ordering websites or even went old-school by calling to place an order.

However, we faced a new challenge: our taste buds craved variety, but we kept falling back on the same few spots. We wanted to experiment and discover hidden gems or revisit culinary classics. Wouldn't it be great to have random suggestions for dinner, like a food wheel for Friday nights?

This drive led me to revamp my approach to managing this culinary quest—turning a conventional Google Sheet into a phone-friendly web app using Glide. Have you ever squinted at a Google Sheet on your phone? It’s not ideal. I needed a more efficient and enjoyable way to explore dining options, and Glide made this transformation surprisingly easy.

Why Build a Personal Web App?

Glide, a no-code tool designed for businesses, allows users to create apps from spreadsheet data without requiring extensive coding skills. You can publish one user-based app for free, or create additional private apps for household use. Each app is capable of supporting up to 10 users and accommodating 25,000 rows of data—ample for most personal projects.

While I dream of a more affordable pricing tier for heavy users like myself, Glide remains unmatched in elegance compared to other options like Google's AppSheet, which leans toward business applications. My favorite feature of Glide is its simplicity in transforming data into a functional app interface that allows for easy searching, filtering, and editing right from my phone.

Creating a Dining Discovery Web App

Setting up my app in Glide is a breeze. After importing my dining list, the initial interface already allows for a search function. But I wanted more customization. I hid unnecessary screens and branded it as "DC Takeout". Adding restaurants? A simple tap on a "+" button opens input fields—perfect for easily logging gastronomical finds.

Searching is robust, but what about browsing? Glide's In-App Filters enabled me to browse nearby restaurants or filter by cuisine. Want to know if a place is open or offers takeout? It's all possible with my meticulously maintained spreadsheet as the backbone.

And there’s more: integrating maps. Imagine clicking on a restaurant to see location details and effortlessly open the default mapping app. Just set the correct address field in Glide with ease!

Feature-Rich and Beyond Expectations

My dining web app serves its purpose well, but that’s just the beginning. I expanded my ambitions with an app called "DIYRoot", keeping track of recipes based on meal delivery services. It features a menu-planning tool, shopping lists, and visuals of the dishes. While it's not perfect and overdue for a rework, it showcases how easy it is to organize one’s culinary adventures.

My latest creation, “Pantry Items”, catalogs my spices and condiments, tracks how much I have left, and even sends alerts to my shopping list for items running low via a webhook. It's remarkable how these web apps have simplified managing my household needs.

Some might argue I should learn to code and develop fully-fledged applications. However, I relish the creativity of harnessing basic programming tools and the joy of providing practical solutions for my family and friends. My aggregating data in spreadsheets, coupled with simple app features, creates an accessible platform for everyone involved.

The Takeaway: Embrace the App Revolution!

Glide is just one of many tools available, and I'm sure there are others out there that might suit your needs even better. The key takeaway is this: once you dip your toes into transforming mundane spreadsheets into engaging web applications, it’s hard to turn back. Whether you aim to manage takeout choices, organize recipes, or streamline household supplies, the power to innovate is at your fingertips. So start exploring—your ideal personal app is just a spreadsheet away!