How To Boost MVP Development with Bubble?

Today's issue is delivered by Krystian Bergmann , AI Consulting Lead at Netguru

Bubble promises to help create functional MVPs with minimal coding. But does it deliver? We put it to the test by building a speech-to-text app in just 25 minutes.

Using simple, user-friendly tools like Bubble to quickly develop product MVPs offers a practical solution for staying adaptable and competitive.

What is Bubble?

Bubble is a visual editor that simplifies the creation of mobile and web applications by eliminating the need for coding from scratch. Its no-code tools and user-friendly interface let even novice developers arrange visual elements through drag-and-drop activities.?

Users can easily create simple landing pages and, in some cases, even tackle more complex web and mobile applications.?

How we built a simple app in 25 minutes

Let's take a look at the process behind the speech-to-text interface we created using Bubble .

Here are the 6 steps you can copy:

1. Setting up the project: Start a new project in Bubble by naming your application, ideally reflecting its functionality (e.g., "Speech-to-Text App").
2. Installing necessary plugins: Add all the necessary plugins. Start with the API Connector plugin to link with external APIs, such as OpenAI. Install an audio recorder plugin to enable direct voice input from your users, enriching the app’s interactivity.
3. Configuring the API Connector: Configure the API Connector with the necessary API keys and endpoints. It’s crucial to ensure your authentication settings are correctly established for secure connections to services like OpenAI. Define the specific functionalities you need, such as speech-to-text, and prepare the corresponding API calls.
4. Designing the user interface: Use the drag-and-drop tools to place and style elements like buttons, icons, and text areas that facilitate user interaction. Modify the appearance of UI elements to match the application’s design goals and enhance user experience.
5. Building workflows: Construct workflows to dictate how your app reacts to user interactions, such as activating and deactivating the audio recorder. Organize data handling strategies within these workflows to manage audio files efficiently, including their transmission to the designated API for analysis and processing.
6. Testing and debugging: Put the finishing touches on your application by refining workflows and UI components to ensure flawless integration. Leverage Bubble’s preview function to simulate the app’s performance, allowing you to assess functionality and user engagement prior to launch.

Pros & Cons of Bubble

We loved testing Bubble. Here’s how we see its strengths and weaknesses.

Pros:

• Rapid development
• A growing community of Bubble users
• Easy Figma 1:1 mirroring
• Simple access to integrations
• The ability to expand with JS plugins
• Good performance and easy deployment
• Easy to learn, even by non-technical professionals
• Cost-effective solution that fits tight budgets
• Adaptable for multiple environments

Cons:

• Small talent pool and lack of Bubble-experienced developers
• No built-in, high quality UI library
• Requires security audits to avoid potential risks
• Challenging for complex systems
• Dependency on Bubble's managed storage

For organizations aiming to validate product ideas and accelerate their market entry, no-code platforms like Bubble present a great alternative to traditional, time-intensive coding.

Having said that, our experience with the tool has proven that while it's generally fairly easy to use by non-technical professionals, it's better to have an experienced Bubble developer on board.

Reach out if you’d like to learn more!

Best,

Krystian