Building internal tools shouldn’t require weeks of development time or a dedicated engineering team. That’s exactly why we built EmberBlocks—a low-code platform that empowers teams to create custom data-driven applications without writing extensive code.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to get started with EmberBlocks and build your first internal application.
What is EmberBlocks?
EmberBlocks is a low-code internal web application builder designed for teams who need custom tools but don’t have unlimited engineering resources. With EmberBlocks, you can:
- Connect your PostgreSQL databases directly to your applications
- Build interactive views using drag-and-drop components
- Create dynamic content with powerful SQL-like formulas
- Deploy instantly to your team without DevOps overhead
Whether you’re building a customer support dashboard, inventory management system, or employee directory, EmberBlocks provides the building blocks to make it happen quickly.
Prerequisites
Before diving in, make sure you have:
- An EmberBlocks account (sign up at emberblocks.com)
- Access to a PostgreSQL database (or use our sample database to experiment)
- A clear idea of the tool you want to build
Step 1: Create Your First App
After logging into EmberBlocks, click the “Create App” button on your dashboard. Give your app a descriptive name—something like “Customer Support Dashboard” or “Inventory Tracker.”
Each app in EmberBlocks can contain multiple views, database connections, and actions. Think of an app as a complete tool that solves a specific problem for your team.
Step 2: Connect Your Database
The power of EmberBlocks comes from its ability to work directly with your data. Navigate to the “Connections” tab and click “Add Connection.”
Enter your PostgreSQL connection details:
- Host and port
- Database name
- Username and password
EmberBlocks automatically introspects your database schema, discovering tables and their relationships. This means you can start building views that display your data immediately—no manual configuration required.
Step 3: Build Your First View
Views are the pages within your EmberBlocks application. Click “Add View” to create your first one.
EmberBlocks provides several component types to build your interface:
List Component
Display data from your database in a table or list format. Lists support:
- Sorting by any column
- Filtering with dynamic conditions
- Pagination for large datasets
- Row selection for bulk actions
Text Component
Show static content or dynamic values using formulas. Perfect for:
- Page titles and descriptions
- Calculated metrics and KPIs
- Contextual help text
Button Component
Trigger actions when clicked. Buttons can:
- Execute database queries (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE)
- Navigate to other views
- Show confirmation messages
- Call external APIs
Image Component
Display images from URLs or formula-driven sources. Useful for:
- Product images
- User avatars
- Company logos
Step 4: Add Dynamic Logic with Formulas
Formulas are where EmberBlocks really shines. Using a SQL-like syntax with double-brace notation, you can create dynamic content that responds to user interactions.
For example, to display the currently selected customer’s name:
{{$selectedRows.customers.name}}Or to calculate a total:
{{SUM(orders.amount)}}EmberBlocks provides built-in variables like $row for the current row in a list, $user for the logged-in user, and $selectedRows for tracking selections across components.
Step 5: Configure Actions
Actions define what happens when users interact with your application. Click on a button component and configure its action:
- Create - Insert new records into your database
- Update - Modify existing records
- Delete - Remove records (with optional confirmation)
- Navigate - Move to another view
- Message - Show feedback to the user
Each action can include conditions, so buttons only work when appropriate—like preventing deletion unless exactly one row is selected.
Step 6: Publish and Share
When your app is ready, click “Publish” to make it available to your team. EmberBlocks generates a unique URL for your application.
You control access through user roles:
- Admins can edit apps and manage team members
- Editors can modify content but not billing
- Users can only access published applications
Best Practices for Internal Tools
After building hundreds of internal tools, we’ve identified patterns that lead to success:
- Start small - Build a minimal viable tool and iterate based on feedback
- Use meaningful names - Tables, views, and components should have clear names
- Test with real data - Sample data hides edge cases; test with production data copies
- Document your formulas - Complex formulas deserve inline comments
- Plan for scale - Consider pagination and filtering for growing datasets
What’s Next?
You’ve built your first EmberBlocks application! Here are some ideas to explore:
- Connect multiple databases to a single app
- Create linked views with master-detail relationships
- Build dashboards with calculated metrics
- Set up automated actions triggered by data changes
EmberBlocks grows with your needs. Start with a simple tool today, and expand it as your team’s requirements evolve.
Ready to build something amazing? Sign up for EmberBlocks and start creating your first internal tool in minutes.