Research ways to create in-tool education around the blocks and notebook experience

[natdink]

Problem (Why)

Right now, the drag and drop environment requires technical knowledge in order to create a working app that is hooked up to data, models, etc and/or has working click events. There is an expectation that users will know how to write python scripts, queries etc or that they know where in the platform to get knowledge about how to use different engines that they have access to while building an app (usage tab of a model page for example). Connecting blocks to notebook cells is somewhat intuitive to developers but not at all to the less technical user.

With the assumption that we are still trying to move to a low code, no code platform where non-technical users can create their own apps... we should consider providing more in-platform, in-page education and/or guidance about how to take specific actions, use blocks, connect to queries in cells, etc.

Some of this will be helped by our ticket on providing better default examples for blocks because showing examples is a good way for people to learn. Template apps will also help with this. But even in the net new drag and drop state, perhaps we can provide a tour to creating a basic demo app with demo data. Or think about other ways to guide a user through the app building process.

Impact (Who)

App builders

Existing

Requirements (What)

What are more specific requirements that needs to take to consider this issue resolved.

• Think through different ways in which we can reduce the learning fatigue on using the drag and drop app building tool
• Validate ideas against other web-building, app-building, and AI app tools
• Make recommendations and then after review, start implementing