Learn GLIDE with Real Code Examples

Updated Nov 23, 2025

Explain

Glide turns spreadsheets into functional apps by mapping data to UI components.

It supports custom actions, conditional logic, and integrations with external services.

Apps built with Glide can be deployed as Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) or native apps on iOS and Android.

Core Features

Visual editor for screens and components

Data binding directly from Google Sheets or Excel

User authentication and access control

Custom actions and formulas for interactivity

Instant preview and sharing of apps

Basic Concepts Overview

Tab: main app navigation section

Component: visual UI element

Action: logic triggered by user interaction

Data source: spreadsheet or connected backend

Layout & styling: visual customization of app screens

Project Structure

Tabs - main app sections

Components - UI and functional elements

Sheets - backend data tables

Actions - triggers for interactivity

Settings - app metadata and user permissions

Building Workflow

Connect spreadsheet as data source

Design app screens using components

Bind data to UI elements

Add actions, buttons, and conditional logic

Test app and share via link or deploy as PWA/native app

Difficulty Use Cases

Beginner: static dashboards or directories

Intermediate: apps with user authentication and basic actions

Advanced: apps with multiple sheets, filters, and integrations

Expert: custom actions and automated workflows

Enterprise: multi-user internal tools with access control

Comparisons

Glide vs Kodular: spreadsheet-driven PWA vs Android-only block-based app

Glide vs AppGyver: PWA-first no-code vs multi-platform visual builder

Glide vs Thunkable: spreadsheet backend vs blocks editor

Glide vs Bubble: simpler setup vs complex web app workflows

Glide vs Adalo: spreadsheet vs database-driven no-code apps

Versioning Timeline

2018 – Glide founded by David Siegel and Mark Probst

2019 – Launched public beta with Google Sheets integration

2020 – Released Glide Apps editor and native wrappers

2022 – Introduced Glide Tables and advanced actions

2025 – Latest version with improved performance and automation

Glossary

Tab: app section

Component: visual element

Action: trigger for logic

Sheet: data backend

PWA: Progressive Web App