Having an idea for a web application is where some startups start. But going from idea to planning and then development can lead entrepreneurs into realms that are not their disciplines. Being able to code a web application idea may seem daunting if not impossible for an entrepreneur with no coding experience or doesn’t have a tech founder. Ifttt.com (which stands for “if this, then that”) is a tool that helps non-coders tie their favorite web apps and services together to develop their own web app solutions.
Most modern, and of course the most used web applications today run with API’s (application programming interfaces) that allow services to interconnect and “talk” to one another or exchange data. But what if you wanted to create an application that allowed you to save all your Instagram photos to Dropbox? How would you tackle connecting the Instagram API to your Dropbox account for seamless processing if you don’t know how to “hack” code to do so? Ifttt.com takes the guess work out of coding by delivering a simple and intuitive interface to help you build mini-tools for personal use.
Founded by Linden Tibbets, Ifttt.com “puts the internet to work for you” by making this somewhat technically simple task (API integration) available as an uber-simple GUI style of programming. On the Ifttt.com blog, Linden writes:
“These types of creative adaptations are much easier in a physical world where the useful properties of an individual object can be understood quickly. In the more abstract digital world, these adaptations are a bit harder to come by, with even the simplest of insights requiring years of engineering experience to successfully implement.”
“I realized that the key to unlocking the creative potential of our existing digital tools might be to build a service that simplifies and consolidates the way those tools can be connected. “
With Ifttt.com you can quickly and easily piece together a simple yet useful personal-mini application that uses your favorite platform API’s within an interface that is well thought out and can be used by absolutely anyone. As the web becomes more and more application based, there will be a greater need for personal solutions to tie services and data together to aggregate content and simplify lives. Ifttt.com makes it possible for anyone to develop useful solutions without feeling intimidated by the thought of PHP, Rails, or any other scripting solution.