Is it possible to build a Saas with nuBuilder?

[mjd300]

Hi all,

I've installed nuBuilder, getting the hang of how it all fits together.

My ultimate aim is an online SaaS product MVP (prototype) where external users can subscribe and see their own dashboards (their own data / tables).

I am pretty sure I can create the core app functionality with nuBuilder. However, what seems not to be possible, using only nuBuilder, is:

• the user sign-up & subscription side for front end only access

• user data separation (for example, multi-tenant), and creating dashboards (could be pages or tables) per user

I guess I have misunderstood what nuBuilder is and does.

I thought, before moving on, it is work checking here in case the issue is simply me having missed something, or to see if anyone has experience with nuBuilder in this area.

Thanks in advance.

[kev1n]

Hi,

• the user sign-up & subscription side for front end only access

This can be done by using a special user (e.g. named signup) which is directed to a signup landing page. That page can be similar to the existing user page but without the possibility to enter the access level. More details can be provided if interested.

• user data separation (for example, multi-tenant), and creating dashboards (could be pages or tables) per user

"Data separation" on row level can be achieved by storing the user's id in that row. Then the browse form etc. can be filtered by that id.

[mjd300]

Thanks so much Kevin.

I need to read and learn about the special user, will be back if any questions.

Would data separation be possible with nuBuilder on table level, as in one table per user? I don't mind experimenting with PHP here.

[kev1n]

That would be possible, even if it is not intended that way. But with PHP it can certainly be realised.

[mjd300]

Regarding the sign-up landing page, yes I would like more details. I may have also cross-posted (I posted if it's possible to have a user home for non-logged in users who can register). Re=reading your answer, that may be what you meant.

[mjd300]

Hi kev1n

Got a bit stuck here. I see more clearly now that I am trying to do something that nuBuilder is not designed for. It seems I am actually fighting against what nuBuilder does to try to do what I need.

But to save time for others who find this thread, trying to do the same, I think, in all fairness, the answer to the question of this thread title is "No, it is not possible (without substantial custom development) or what the tool is built for".

* Haven't been able to build a working user registration form (I tried cloning nuser, but unfortunately it doesn't clone objects. I got a working form via Fast Forms, but not able to set a default value for the access id)
* Seems to be no way to give non-logged in users access without the &u=1&p=1 in the domain name (perhaps I could get round that with .htaccess)

I can see some great uses for nuBuilder, and for internal tools where users are known and can be aware of nuBuilder, it would have so many uses.

If there was an API, I could see nuBuilder as a good option as the backend only, to an independent frontend.

I've spent too many hours and got nowhere trying to force SaaS on nuBuilder. My fault, I should have realised when in fact there is no external user registration or authentication. Still, I'm keen to see what I could implement as an internal tool.

[kev1n]

Use the cloner to clone a form together with its objects, events, etc.
Of course, you may also want to create your own registration form that is independent from nuBuilder but writes the login data into the nuBuilder database. This is not really hard to do.

[mjd300]

Sory, realise it sounds a bit too much like a rant. which wasn't intended.

For me, clone only clones the main form, not the objects (for example, I tried to clone nuuser).

One feature suggestion here is to remove the necessity to have top, width, etc attributes entered before the objects can be saved, or just have default values there (as it would be easier to override with CSS). I would have just replicated the objects manually, but would mean adding all those attributes as well, and with no visual reference.

I did manage to create a Fast Form that would add a new user, while only asking for name, password and email, that shows in the User list, but I had to add default value to some of the records in the db.

I am not confident enough with my PHP security to write direct to DB when it comes to creating an external app. For that reason, I think an API based DB / CRUD tool is what I need here, so key security-affecting elements are not coded by me.