# Noloco Overviews

### Welcome to Noloco

Noloco enables you to build internal tools for your team without writing a line of code.

Our no-code builder has been designed first and foremost with non-developers in mind. This means that our platform is easy to use, and you can build internal tools from your data through a simple point-and-click interface.

At the same time, we've ensured that you can build powerful apps that perfectly fit your team's workflows by catering to a high degree of customisation with regard to how data is displayed and presented in your apps.

### How does it work?

Noloco enables you to quickly build apps from your data. You can either create [Noloco Tables](https://guides.noloco.io/data/collections) (database tables) to store data directly in Noloco or connect your external data source (like [Airtable](https://guides.noloco.io/data/airtable), [Xano](https://guides.noloco.io/data/xano), [PostgreSQL](https://guides.noloco.io/data/postgresql), [MySQL](https://guides.noloco.io/data/mysql), or [Google Sheets](https://guides.noloco.io/data/google-sheets)).

From there, you're able to add [views](https://guides.noloco.io/pages/views) to your apps that list the records in each of your tables. Each view comes out of the box with [record pages](https://guides.noloco.io/record-pages/overview) (so you can click into a particular record from the list) and also ready-made forms as well (so you can easily add new records from your app).

### What can I build with Noloco?

There are three types of apps that are most commonly built with Noloco:

* **Internal tools** Back office tools, contractor payroll management, internal practice management, customer support management
* **Client Portals** Give your customers a dedicated place to view and update their data and interact with their team, using [permissions](https://guides.noloco.io/users-and-permissions/user-roles-and-permissions) to share the right data with the right customers
* **Custom CRMs** A dedicated, customized CRM to match your team's workflows

Ultimately, the apps you build depend on your use case and the kind of data your team interacts with on a daily basis.

{% embed url="<https://youtu.be/tyM02cGHmqg>" %}

{% hint style="info" %}
If you need some inspiration for your own app, you might benefit from using one of our free [templates](https://noloco.io/templates).
{% endhint %}

### How do I get started?

You can start using Noloco Free by signing up [here](https://portals.noloco.io/register).

{% hint style="info" %}
**Business Email Required**: Noloco only accepts business email addresses for account registration. Free email providers (Gmail, Outlook, Yahoo, etc.) are not permitted. You must use a custom business domain like yourcompany.com, organization.org, etc.
{% endhint %}

#### Account Registration Troubleshooting

**Can't create an account?** Common issues and solutions:

* **Email Address Rejected**: Ensure you're using a business email domain (not Gmail, Outlook, Hotmail, Yahoo, etc.)
* **What is a Business Email?**: Valid examples include <john@noloco.io>, <sarah@accenture.com>, <admin@yourcompany.org>
* **Educational Emails**: University and school domains (like .edu) are generally accepted
* **Government Emails**: Government domains (like .gov) are accepted
* **Non-Profit Emails**: Organization domains (like .org) are typically accepted

If you're still having trouble registering with a legitimate business email, please contact support.

Once you've created your free account, we'd recommend exploring the following guides and video tutorials.

* Read the relevant support guide for setting up your data source, like ([Noloco Tables](https://guides.noloco.io/data/collections), [PostgreSQL](https://guides.noloco.io/data/postgresql), [Airtable](https://guides.noloco.io/data/airtable), or [Google Sheets](https://guides.noloco.io/data/google-sheets)).
* Learn how to add [views](https://guides.noloco.io/pages/views) to create pages, record views, and forms around your data
* Explore using [blank pages](https://guides.noloco.io/pages/blank-pages) to create dashboards with data from different collections
* Choose the best [display](https://guides.noloco.io/views/display) for your data (tables, cards, Kanban, calendar, map, etc.)

Once you've mastered the basics, you'll naturally progress to using more advanced functionality like [user roles & permissions](https://guides.noloco.io/users-and-permissions/user-roles-and-permissions), [actions](https://guides.noloco.io/actions/action-buttons) & [workflows](https://guides.noloco.io/workflows/workflows).

{% hint style="info" %}
We also provide a useful [quick start guide](https://guides.noloco.io/quickstart) within the builder to help you learn the builder basics.
{% endhint %}

### Step-by-step guide to help you build your first app with Noloco

**Step 1:** Set Your Goal Before diving in

Determine the primary goal of your app. Is it for data collection, process automation, or customer engagement? It's good to have a plan

**Step 2:** Choose a Template or Start from Scratch.

Select from our [library of templates](https://portals.noloco.io) or [begin with a blank canvas](https://portals.noloco.io/new). Templates are a great way to speed up the process, or if you’re unsure where to start, or don't have a data source.

**Step 3:** Design Your Interface

Use our point-and-click builder to create a user-friendly interface. Add buttons, forms, filters, and more with just a few clicks.

**Step 4**: Add Workflow Functionality

Make your app powerful by adding [workflows](https://guides.noloco.io/workflows/workflows), email automation and integrating it with other tools via [Zapier](https://guides.noloco.io/integrations/zapier) or [Make](https://guides.noloco.io/integrations/make).

**Step 5:** Add Permission Rules

Need to lock down certain parts of your apps? Leverage [user list syncs](https://guides.noloco.io/settings/user-lists), [user roles & permissions,](https://guides.noloco.io/users-and-permissions/user-roles-and-permissions) and [visibility rules](https://guides.noloco.io/pages/page-visibility-rules) to determine the correct level of record &/or field access for each type of user in your app.

**Step 6:** Test Your App Before going live

Make sure to test your app thoroughly. Ensure that all functionalities work as intended.

**Step 7:** Publish and Share Your App

Once you're satisfied with your app - It's time to launch! [Toggle on live mode](https://guides.noloco.io/settings/general-settings/live-mode), share it with your team or customers, and start reaping the benefits.

### What if I need further help?

We're always here for you. The following links and resources should prove helpful:

* Live chat support (in-app)
* [Noloco Community](https://community.noloco.io)
* Support guides (which you're on now)
* [Video Tutorials](https://noloco.io/video-tutorials) (we recommend [subscribing to our YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/@Noloco) channel to see the latest tutorials)