Building Low-Code Applications with Mendix

Building Low-Code Applications with Mendix

by Bryan Kenneweg, Imran Kasam, Micah McMullen
Released February 2021
Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
ISBN: 9781800201422

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Book description

Transform your app ideas into fully functional prototypes with the help of expert tips and best practices from Mendix partners

Key Features

  • Meet the ever-increasing demand for software solution delivery without having to write any code
  • Build high-availability, low-cost applications unlike those developed via a traditional software engineering approach
  • Explore Mendix from product design through to delivery using real-world scenarios

Book Description

Low-code is a visual approach to application development. It enables developers of varying experience levels to create web and mobile apps using drag-and-drop components and model-driven logic through a graphic user interface. Mendix is among the fastest-growing platforms that enable low-code enthusiasts to put their software ideas into practice without having to write much code, and Building Low-Code Applications with Mendix will help you get up and running with the process using examples and practice projects.

The book starts with an introduction to Mendix, along with the reasons for using this platform and its tools for creating your first app. As you progress, you’ll explore Mendix Studio Pro, the visual environment that will help you learn Mendix app creation. Once you have your working app ready, you’ll understand how to enhance it with custom business logic and rules. Next, you’ll find out how to defend your app against bad data, troubleshoot and debug it, and finally, connect it with real-world business platforms. You’ll build practical skills as the book is filled with examples, real-world scenarios, and explanations of the tools needed to help you build low-code apps successfully.

By the end of this book, you’ll have understood the concept of low-code development, learned how to use Mendix effectively, and developed a working app.

What you will learn

  • Gain a clear understanding of what low-code development is and the factors driving its adoption
  • Become familiar with the various features of Mendix for rapid application development
  • Discover concrete use cases of Studio Pro
  • Build a fully functioning web application that meets your business requirements
  • Get to grips with Mendix fundamentals to prepare for the Mendix certification exam
  • Understand the key concepts of app development such as data management, APIs, troubleshooting, and debugging

Who this book is for

This book is for tech-savvy business analysts and citizen developers who want to get started with Mendix for rapid mobile and web application development. The book is also helpful for seasoned developers looking to learn a new tool/platform and for anyone passionate about designing technical solutions without wanting to indulge in the complexities of writing code. The book assumes beginner-level knowledge of object-oriented programming and the ability to translate technical solutions from business requirements.

Table of contents

  1. Building Low-Code Applications with Mendix
  2. Foreword
  3. A Journey in Low-Code
  4. Contributors
  5. About the authors
  6. About the reviewer
  7. Preface
    1. Who this book is for
    2. What this book covers
    3. To get the most out of this book
    4. Download the example code files
    5. Download the color images
    6. Conventions used
    7. Get in touch
    8. Reviews
    9. Learn more on Discord
  8. Section 1: The Basics
  9. Chapter 1: Introducing Mendix
    1. What is low-code?
    2. What is Mendix?
    3. Summary
    4. Knowledge check
  10. Chapter 2: Getting to Know the Mendix Platform
    1. Creating an account
    2. Home page overview and breakdown
    3. Apps, People, and Community
    4. Mendix Forum and Docs
    5. Mendix App Store
    6. Summary
    7. Chapter 1 knowledge check answers
    8. Chapter 2 knowledge check
  11. Chapter 3: Getting to Know Mendix Studio
    1. What is Mendix Studio?
      1. Using Mendix Studio
    2. A breakdown of the UI and features
    3. Why would you use Mendix Studio?
    4. Summary
    5. Chapter 2 knowledge check answers
    6. Chapter 3 knowledge check
  12. Chapter 4: Getting to Know Studio Pro
    1. What is Studio Pro?
    2. Downloading and launching Studio Pro
    3. UI breakdown
    4. Summary
    5. Chapter 3 knowledge check answers
    6. Chapter 4 knowledge check
  13. Section 2: Building Your First App
  14. Chapter 5: Getting Started with Your Baseline App
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Managing apps in the Developer Portal
      1. Creating a new app and writing your first user stories
      2. Embracing a development methodology
      3. Inviting collaborators to your Mendix app
    3. Using Mendix Studio Pro and the Mendix App Store
      1. Opening your app in Mendix Studio Pro
      2. Installing a module from the Mendix App Store
    4. Working with modules in your Mendix app
      1. Creating a module
      2. Deleting a module
      3. Adding elements to modules
    5. Finding project settings, security settings, and preferences
      1. Managing project security
      2. Maintaining project settings
      3. Configuring project preferences
    6. Summary
    7. Chapter 4 knowledge check answers
    8. Chapter 5 knowledge check
  15. Chapter 6: Understanding Domain Model Basics
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Understanding the different entity types in a Mendix domain model
      1. Creating an entity and setting entity properties
    3. Working with attributes and getting to know data types
      1. Getting to know attribute types
      2. Adding attributes to an entity in the domain model
    4. Creating associations between entities to relate objects
      1. Adding an entity with associations
    5. Designing a database for your Mendix app
      1. Using validation rules at the entity level
      2. Using event handlers in your domain model
      3. Optimizing your database with indexes
    6. Summary
    7. Chapter 5 – Knowledge check answers
    8. Chapter 6 – Knowledge check
  16. Chapter 7: Understanding the Basics of Page Design
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Building user interfaces
      1. Creating a new page
    3. Understanding the Atlas UI framework
    4. Applying layouts, widgets, and building blocks
      1. Getting to know navigation layouts
      2. Using common widgets
      3. Creating with Atlas UI building blocks
    5. Calling a page in your Mendix app
      1. Understanding the main navigation
      2. Calling a page directly
      3. Calling a page from a microflow
    6. Summary
    7. Chapter 6 knowledge check answers
    8. Chapter 7 knowledge check
  17. Chapter 8: Getting to Know Microflows
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Understanding common microflow elements
      1. Controlling the flow with events
      2. Working with objects and lists
    3. Using decisions to navigate your application logic
      1. Validating phone number on save
      2. Validating PhoneNumberType on save
    4. Putting annotations in your microflow
      1. Adding an annotation, or two…
      2. Extracting a sub-microflow
    5. Learning with Mendix Assist
    6. Summary
    7. Chapter 7 knowledge check answers
    8. Chapter 8 knowledge check
  18. Section 3: Leveling Up Your App
  19. Chapter 9: Customizing Your App
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Having some fun with Mendix functions and expressions
      1. Understanding string functions
      2. Integer function calls
      3. DateTime function calls
      4. Enumeration function calls
      5. Relational expressions
    3. Understanding sub-microflows – when and why?
      1. Grouping similar functions or logic
      2. Reusability across your application
      3. Improving the readability of large, complex microflows
    4. Go (con)figure – configurable settings
    5. Let's get some Java – Java actions
      1. Additional validations
      2. Changing requirements
    6. Summary
    7. Chapter 8 knowledge check answers
    8. Knowledge check
  20. Chapter 10: Error Handling and Troubleshooting
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Being defensive with your programming
      1. empty and '' (blank) checks
      2. Defensively minded if statements
      3. Manually checking your code
      4. Unit tests
    3. Getting a handle on those errors – error handling
      1. Error handling options
    4. Channeling your inner lumberjack – logging
    5. Stepping through it – the Debugger
    6. Seeing it – developer pages
      1. Overview pages
      2. Let's go make it!
    7. Summary
    8. Knowledge check
    9. Chapter 10 knowledge check
  21. Chapter 11: Storing Data
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Creating associations for your data
      1. One-to-one association
      2. One-to-many (or many-to-one) associations
      3. Many-to-many associations
    3. Building functional modules
      1. Cross-module associations
    4. Understanding generalizations and specializations of entities
      1. Pros
      2. Cons
      3. Conclusion about inheritance
    5. Let's go make it!
    6. Summary
    7. Knowledge check
    8. Chapter 11 knowledge check
  22. Chapter 12: Getting Some REST
    1. Technical requirements
    2. Understanding REST
    3. Testing your integration
    4. Consuming REST
      1. JSON structure
      2. Import mapping
      3. Message definition
    5. Publishing REST
      1. Export mapping
      2. Published REST service
    6. Understanding basic security and authorization
    7. Let's go make it!
    8. Summary
    9. Knowledge check
    10. Chapter 12 knowledge check
  23. Chapter 13: A Review and What's Next
    1. Reviewing the material
      1. Chapter 1
      2. Chapter 2
      3. Chapter 3
      4. Chapter 4
      5. Chapter 5
      6. Chapter 6
      7. Chapter 7
      8. Chapter 8
      9. Chapter 9
      10. Chapter 10
      11. Chapter 11
      12. Chapter 12
    2. Preparing for the next steps
      1. Rapid Developer Certification (and beyond)
      2. Advanced Certification
      3. Expert Certification
      4. Mendix MVP
      5. Additional experience and resources
    3. Summary
    4. Chapter 12 knowledge check answers
    5. Why subscribe?
  24. Other Books You May Enjoy
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    2. Leave a review - let other readers know what you think

Product information

  • Title: Building Low-Code Applications with Mendix
  • Author(s): Bryan Kenneweg, Imran Kasam, Micah McMullen
  • Release date: February 2021
  • Publisher(s): Packt Publishing
  • ISBN: 9781800201422