Case Studies
Building a No-Code Web3 Application in 5 Hours Using BuildShip and OPENFORMAT
Dec 22, 2023
Summary
Dan, a non-developer who has only been using no-code tools for 4 months, was able to build a Web3 workout tracker app with several advanced features such as an AI assistant, a rewards system, a tiered leaderboard and level-based user progression. He did this using BuildShip, OPENFORMAT and FlutterFlow - these tools allowed him to push the limits of what is possible using no-code technology and build a unique app in a matter of hours.
What was Built?
Dan took a simple app concept, in this case a workout tracker app loosely based on STRONG, and built a series of social and reward based features to make the app more engaging to the user.
These features include:
A tiered leaderboard with different leagues (similar to Duolingo)
An AI Fitness Coach (Jim the PT) that is only unlocked once the user reaches level 5 or purchases an access badge
A series of missions that allow the user to unlock badges after completing certain actions
A level-based progression system where different perks are unlocked as the user progresses to specific milestones
In order to implement these features Dan created several BuildShip workflow’s using a combination of pre-built nodes and custom nodes containing code from the OPENFORMAT launchpad. It took some experimentation and a few hours of trying different approaches and debugging, but it meant that for any future projects, Dan would be able to add these advanced features in literally 5 minutes.
The Role of BuildShip
Since OPENFORMAT currently uses Javascript and React code, and FlutterFlow is a Flutter and Dart based product. BuildShip was used to create the custom backend logic that was required to connect and build powerful backend and workflows for the app. BuildShip was a critical part in success of the process as it allowed Dan to add custom logic as simple as adding drag and drop nodes and editing it with custom code logic to create complex workflows that would be challenging otherwise to ship fast. On shipping the workflows, getting an REST API endpoint that can be easily used in FlutterFlow frontend was a major plus. Without BuildShip it would not have been possible to create a complex Web3 app like this using any other no-code platforms.
The Role of OPENFORMAT
All of these features were added in a lightweight and portable way using OPENFORMAT. This is a toolkit that allows you to easily add on-chain game mechanics and reward systems to your application. Dan used the OPENFORMAT launchpad to create an application called Gym Tracker, and this created an XP token, a reward token and badges for him to then integrate into his application using BuildShip. Dan also used OPENFORMAT’s subgraph which allowed him to perform a GraphQL query and return various pieces of information, for example the current order of the leaderboard.
App to Ecosystem
Dan’s overall vision for the project did not stop at creating a workout tracker app then wrapping it with game mechanics to improve engagement. He wanted to create an interconnected fitness ecosystem where he and people in the community could create other fitness apps that used the same XP token and reward token, allowing for the apps to interact with each other in unique ways.
The on-chain nature of OPENFORMAT means that these apps could each be functional as standalone products, with their own databases and engaging mechanics, but they would also benefit from being used as an ecosystem. As a simple example, someone else could create a marketplace app for sportswear, and they could offer a limited edition hoodie for everyone in the Diamond league of the workout app, or they could offer 20% off for everyone who has got the badge for completing the 50 workouts mission. This cross-functionality of products offers some very interesting potential in terms of marketing, business models and user engagement.
Specific Workflows
The specific BuildShip workflows that Dan created for this project were:
Claim Badges/ Claim XP: For claiming an on-chain badge/ XP token when a user completes a set of actions
Check Badges: For confirming whether a user owns a specific badge
Check XP Balance: For checking the amount of XP tokens a user holds
Level System: For returning important information around the users progress through levels, and awarding badges when certain progression milestones are reached.
Tiered Leaderboard: For returning the order of the users based on the amount of XP they hold and the League they are currently in
Create Wallet: To create a custodial wallet for the user when they create an account
Since Dan has now created all the custom logic within BuildShip, these workflows can be plugged into any app and only require a few input variables. If you would like access to these, message Dan on Linkedin, and he will send the custom workflow logic, or if you want to build part of this community fitness ecosystem, head to the OPENFORMAT Discord and see what parts other people are building.
Conclusion
BuildShip empowered Dan, a fairly inexperienced no-code builder, to utilise the powerful functionality of OPENFORMAT within FlutterFlow and build a highly innovative Web3 app, incorporating engaging game mechanics and planting the foundations for a potential fitness app ecosystem.
