Use Template or Build from Scratch?

I am building an internal portal for club members. I have a data set which is a series of related Sheets within a Google Sheet.

Will it be easier/faster/more efficient for me to:

  1. Start from scratch using the data I have, then tailor the look and feel of the app, or
  2. Use any template that has the look and feel I want, then replace the data source with the one I already have?

Hi @iAu,

I would suggest the second option: using a template. Even if the template does not exactly meet your use case, it will still help you save tons of time. You can find our templates here.

On the other hand, building an application from scratch will help you have a better understanding of the basics. If you are just getting started with Softr, I highly recommend checking this tutorial, which is very comprehensive and covers every aspect of building apps in Softr.

Templates are a great way to start and understand how certain functions are setup in SOFTR. If you choose to build from scratch there will still be some core functionalities that SOFTR builds for you (like signup flow etc.).

I personally don’t think you can go wrong with either

1 Like

Thanks for the input :+1:

I’ve developed several apps before but I always started from scratch. The standard look and feel takes a lot of work and imagination to tailor. I think I’ll start from a basic template that has the aesthetic I’m looking for. My sense is that hooking it up to my own data sets and tailoring it will be a slightly easier task.

1 Like