Dropbase
Dev tools
internal app builder
SHOW HN2023
207points
114comments
#267of 3,109 in 2023
Top 9%of 2023 by points
How HN took it
CuriousMostly questions and neutral comments
8 positive, 26 neutral or asking, 0 mixed, 10 critical, out of 44 comments about the project. Thread score -0.05.
Idea: 6 for, 2 againstExecution: 0 for, 2 againstPrivacy: 0 for, 2 againstPricing: 0 for, 1 againstDesign: 0 for, 1 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Simple table and sidebar layout that speeds up building
From 1 comment
That looks fantastic! I own a startup where we used to relay he-vea-ly on retool (until we could automate most of the Retool work with ChatGpt haha). I would have tried out your…
lysecret on HN
Python-based approach fits developers who prefer Python over JS
From 2 comments
That looks fantastic! I own a startup where we used to relay he-vea-ly on retool (until we could automate most of the Retool work with ChatGpt haha). I would have tried out your…
lysecret on HNI'd love a TypeScript/NodeJS version of this, this looks really neat but I prefer TypeScript over Python.
joshstrange on HN
Objections
Not open source; code only in a Docker image and license restricts use
From 2 comments
You've chosen a really bizarre way to package your software. I'm looking through your repo and can't see any code for your libraries. It seems like its somehow part of the docker…
Uptrenda on HNThe license kinda sucks though: ``` 3. USE RESTRICTIONS Licensee is expressly forbidden from: (a) Incorporating, modifying, or using the Software as part of any other product or…
azazel75 on HN
Requires account signup even for local self-hosted use
From 1 comment
I am confused on why I need to sign up for an account to try it on my machine?
dfthinkpad on HN
Limited frontend customization for internal tools
From 2 comments
I am surprised that lack of control and customizability over the frontend is being billed as a feature. I've built multiple internal tools like those in the example section, and…
jawns on HNAre you aware how most companies external apps look like? Here's how: They don't. What you compete with, what you have to beat, is not "something custom branded and more…
jstummbillig on HN
Data privacy concerns about connection to vendor servers
From 2 comments
So it's an agent that phones home and exfiltrates all your sensitive corporate data to the public cloud? Lol. I understand that SaaS is the only way to monetize software projects…
otabdeveloper4 on HNLooks nice, but I'll pass and stick to streamlit.io as they don't require an account and a connection between MY app and YOUR server for some misterious reason which is not clear…
YaBa on HN
Requests
Desktop app support
From 2 comments
It would be great if this could generate a desktop app rather than another webapp that I need to host somewhere. We need to focus on desktop apps again.
sirjaz on HNWhat makes a web app "internal"? Does it mean it's just made to be run on localhost? Does it mean it would not run on a server? How so? Also, why using this vs creating a desktop…
mastazi on HN
TypeScript or NodeJS version
From 1 comment
I'd love a TypeScript/NodeJS version of this, this looks really neat but I prefer TypeScript over Python.
joshstrange on HN
Graphs, create/update modals and cron jobs support
From 1 comment
Hell yeah. I build internal web apps with Django. I'll definitely try this out in my upcoming project. Some major pain points are going past tables of data to (1) graphs (2)…
cjohnson318 on HN
Questions
How does it compare to Streamlit, Retool, Budibase, Django and Flask
From 4 comments
Very cool, thank you for sharing! Do you consider your customer path someone coming from e.g. Airtable and converting? Or are you looking to find someone who would be choosing…
edmundsauto on HNHow does it compare with other tools like flask and django?
3abiton on HNHow would you compare this to tools like Budibase?
foxbee on HNLooks nice, but I'll pass and stick to streamlit.io as they don't require an account and a connection between MY app and YOUR server for some misterious reason which is not clear…
YaBa on HN
Why target internal rather than external apps
From 1 comment
why the internal moniker ...what stops this from being "external" facing?
twism on HN
Alternatives named
Streamlit
From 2 comments
Looks nice, but I'll pass and stick to streamlit.io as they don't require an account and a connection between MY app and YOUR server for some misterious reason which is not clear…
YaBa on HNThere are plenty tools like this, plolty dash, justpy, nicegui, lona, reflex, streamlit, just to name a few. If your app does not involve complicated interactions, streamlit is…
jiuren on HN
Retool
From 2 comments
I am so confused about this too. retool, tooljet, budibase - why is everyone doing this? Best I can figure out is that no one has found a pricing structure that works otherwise,…
jstummbillig on HNThat looks fantastic! I own a startup where we used to relay he-vea-ly on retool (until we could automate most of the Retool work with ChatGpt haha). I would have tried out your…
lysecret on HN
Budibase
From 2 comments
How would you compare this to tools like Budibase?
foxbee on HNI understand. Maybe a niche for you, that might be interesting to explore,from my latest personal experience: Managing a medical business, including a combined portal for…
jstummbillig on HN
Django
From 1 comment
Very cool, thank you for sharing! Do you consider your customer path someone coming from e.g. Airtable and converting? Or are you looking to find someone who would be choosing…
edmundsauto on HN
NiceGUI
From 2 comments
Looks cool! I think there is a huge need for tools like this, especially as AI turns more subject matter experts into programmers who can code a bit of python. At my company we…
blandry on HNThere are plenty tools like this, plolty dash, justpy, nicegui, lona, reflex, streamlit, just to name a few. If your app does not involve complicated interactions, streamlit is…
jiuren on HN