Tag Archive

Boost.Space Makes Integration Easy for Solo Developers


Posted on April 3, 2024 by Rae Michelle Richards

I don’t often write about my hobby for developing niche web apps, websites and oddities very much. I’ve developed everything from websites that load on 20 year old ibooks to simple forums and communities. Coding has been a pass time time for me since I was young but usually these projects are self contained and only run off one server.

In the modern development space having something run in a self-contained environment is perfectly fine but there comes a lot of flexibility with being able to move data from one service to another. Services like Google and Fabebook have offered 3rd party login integration for years and that has provided developers with an extra layer of security – not wanting to open the opportunity for passwords leaking in the event of a database breach.

This is where relative newcomer Boost.Space comes into play, in terms of my development workflow. Boost.Space combines the flexibility of a database (think alternatives like Airtable, nothing static like an excel spreadsheet or google doc) with the ability to send data out to other services integrated into your Boost.Space “Spaces”.

If you’re already an established engineer Boost.Space’s concept of inputs and outputs from one service to another with a database in between won’t be all that unfamiliar. It is not as simple as something like Zapier or Albado where you simply sign-in to each respective connected service 1:1 the fields and you’re good to go. So you’ll have to keep that in mind when using Boost.Space, the idea of how the incoming data relates to the Boost.Space database and finally how it relates to the outgoing dataset. It’s a like a series of inputs and outputs with a crucial step in the middle.

What is a practical use-case for a service like this? In my case, aside from the web app I am currently prototyping I am actually planning to move all 3,000+ articles I’ve written here on this blog into Boost.Space, because I’d like a back-up of my last ten years of writing without having to download several gigabytes of SQL.

Powered by the MAKE Engine, Boost.Space offers connectivity with over 1,700 existing applications with the promise of more coming in the future. When I decided to select them for the back-end of my next project I manually checked if they had integration with things like WordPress, AiTable, Forento and other platforms and surprisingly the majority of no-code and data science tools I use already had pre-built integration. My favourite integration has to be the ability to connect an SQL database to a Space. Is there anything they haven’t thought of?

This isn’t a paid advertisement for Boost, I am honestly writing about this tool because I feel like their tiers on offer right now are quite generous especially when compared with established players Zapier – who have only increased their prices in the past year. Sure, Boost doesn’t offer a free tier, but while you won’t get 150 integration a month at $0. The prospect of getting 50,000 operations a month for just $70 USD (lifetime) is very enticing – and that is their lowest tier.

I am not going to say that buying into Life Time Deals are always worth it. You never know if the company will be around in a couple years or if the promised features far off in the future will ever pan out. Boost.Space gets my recommendation based not on what they’re promising in the future or what the service could be but rather the value it offers to independent developer right now.

Boost.Space is available on AppSumo for the next 24-hours. After that these LTD deals will be going away and they’ll be launching on Product Hunt. Boost.Space did not purchase this article or have any in at at all. I did buy their “Tier 1” offering to power my next product and I’m writing about it because I can see the potential.


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Weirder Stuff Game Jam Returns This Weekend To Spook Up Some Fun


Posted on October 16, 2017 by Rae Michelle Richards

Clickteam USA is sponsoring their second annual Weirder Stuff game jam over on Itch.io this weekend. This three-day event is open to all regardless of development experience or overall talent and will center around a theme to be disclosed when the Game Jam begins on Friday, October 20th. 

If you’re unfamiliar with what a game jam is – it is where developers of all skill levels are invited to create an original game within a specific theme, possibly using a specific engine or other requirements within a short time limit. Game Jam games are often broken, missing features, minimalist and downright weird.  There’s a certain beauty to interactive work created out of passion but within the constraints of 72 – 96 hours. 

Clickteam Fusion 2.5 – the company’s current flagship engine – allows non-programmers, hobbyists and professionals alike to create interactive experiences with no code. In the place of code CTF2.5’s visual “Event Editor” provides developers with a grid style guide to the actions in their game. One of the selling points of Fusion 2.5 is that almost anyone can have a prototype up and running within an hour, and in my own personal experience I’ve found this to be true. 

Once the development period closes on Sunday CT will be choosing 8 entrants who follow the official submission rules. Up for grabs is one Grand Prize consisting of CT Fusion 2.5 Developer Edition + Android Exporter and a bunch of physical goodies. Second place prize includes CT Fusion 2.5 Standard + Android as well as physical goodies and finally, 6 runners up will be selected to receive a copy of CT Fusion 2.5 Standard. 

More details about the Weirder Stuff 2 game jam can be found on the official itch.io page. Entries can be developed using the free version of Clickteam Fusion available on their official site, so there’s no upfront cost to enter a game – except for your own time & creativity that is. If you want to follow the entries but not participate in development directly, make sure to watch the hashtag #IWantToCreate on Twitter! 


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GDC: Everything From The Future of Xbox Development On Windows Panel


Posted on March 17, 2016 by Rae Michelle Richards

Microsoft held a one hour brief for developers interested in their software development platform for the Xbox One console this morning at GDC. This talk was delivered by the head of the ATG (Advanced Technology Group) and not only served as a recap of some of the major advancements on both the Xbox One platform & Windows 10 Platform but also reconfirmed Microsoft’s vision of a unified development environment with a streamlined pipeline for the delivery of digital games.Read More


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Making potions: A development series with Renee Gittins part 2


Posted on November 18, 2015 by Fionna Schweit

Welcome back to our weekly dev log with Renee!

Today Renee talks about  her first experiences in Unity, including animation, character movement, throwing objects, and prefabs, as she works towards making Potions a Curious tale.  She also talks slightly about the doubts she faces stepping into the unknown. Join us as we onece again delve in to the developing world of Renee’s game Potions a Curious tale, and as always be sure to visit Renee on twitter @RikuKat and check out the game as it stands today over at the site for her company Stumbling Cat  Hit the read more tag for the full video.

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Miyamoto Confirms Super Mario Land 4 In Development


Posted on April 18, 2012 by Rae Michelle Richards

When gaming legend Shigeru Miyamoto speaks the entire gaming landscape pauses for a second and listens. With rumors circulating that Super Mario 4 would be announced this year, more than 20 years after the release of Super Mario 3 on the Nintendo Entertainment System, people took notice.

Speaking to Korean website BetaNews the man himself confirmed that the game was under development. Unfortunately outside of those details he offered little else.

“We have Mario team in company, so we are making Super Mario 4. But only I can say is, we just announced that game. More details will be revealed later.”

Perhaps an E3 2012 reveal? Word has been that this will be the big “coming out” party for Nintendo’s upcoming Wii U.


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