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Start with Nola

The fastest way to build a custom app - let Nola create it for you based on your requirements

Nola is your AI assistant that can build a complete custom app for you in minutes. Simply describe what you need, and Nola will scaffold your entire app—creating tables, designing layouts, generating sample data, and setting up views—all while explaining what she's doing.

This is the fastest and easiest way to get started with Noloco, especially if you're new to the platform or want to quickly prototype an idea.

How it works

Building an app with Nola is a conversation. You provide context about your needs, and Nola builds your app step by step, asking clarifying questions along the way.

The Process

1. Give Nola Context About Your Business

Start by telling Nola about your industry and what you need. The more context you provide, the better your app will be.

Example opening messages:

  • "I work in construction and need a CRM and project management tool"

  • "I run a real estate agency and need to track properties, clients, and showings"

  • "I manage a consulting firm and need to track clients, projects, timesheets, and invoicing"

2. Describe Your Unique Requirements

Tell Nola what makes your app special. What specific workflows, data, or features do you need?

Example follow-up:

  • "We need to track multiple projects per client, with each project having tasks, budgets, and change orders. We also need to manage subcontractors and their schedules"

  • "Each property needs photos, pricing history, and we need to schedule showings with multiple agents. We also want to track offers and negotiations"

  • "Projects should track multiple team members with different hourly rates. We need to log hours against projects and generate invoices automatically"

3. Nola Scaffolds Your App

Nola will start building your app, explaining each step:

  • Creating tables - "I'm creating a Clients table, a Projects table, and a Tasks table..."

  • Setting up relationships - "I'm linking Projects to Clients so each project belongs to a client..."

  • Designing layouts - "I'm creating a Kanban view for tasks grouped by status..."

  • Generating sample data - "I'm adding 20 sample projects so you can see how it looks..."

  • Previewing results - "Here's your Projects page with a timeline view showing project schedules..."

You'll see your app taking shape in real-time as Nola works.

4. Customize and Refine

Once Nola has built the initial version, you can ask for changes:

  • "Add a priority field to tasks"

  • "Create a dashboard showing project budgets vs actuals"

  • "Add a workflow that notifies the project manager when a task is marked complete"

  • "Generate more realistic sample data with different project types"

Nola will make adjustments and continue building based on your feedback.

Getting Started with Nola

Step 1: Access Nola

  1. Log into your Noloco account at portals.noloco.io

  2. Create a new app or open an existing one

  3. Click the Nola tab in the top-left of the app studio

Nola is available on Free, Starter, Pro, and Business plans. If you don't see the Nola tab, check your plan or learn more about Nola.

Step 2: Start the Conversation

Begin with a clear description of what you want to build.

Great opening prompts:

✅ "I need to build [type of app] for [industry/use case]. We need to track [key data/entities] and manage [key workflows]."

✅ "I'm building a [specific use case] app. The main things we need are [feature 1], [feature 2], and [feature 3]."

✅ "We're a [type of company] and need an app to [main purpose]. Our unique requirements are [specific needs]."

Step 3: Provide Details

Nola may ask clarifying questions, or you can proactively share details:

  • Key entities: What are the main "things" you need to track? (Clients, Projects, Tasks, Products, etc.)

  • Relationships: How do these entities connect? (Each project has one client, each task belongs to a project)

  • Key fields: What information needs to be captured? (Names, dates, statuses, amounts)

  • Workflows: What processes need to happen? (Notifications, status updates, approvals)

  • Views: How do you want to see the data? (Lists, calendars, Kanban boards, dashboards)

Step 4: Review and Iterate

As Nola builds, review what she creates:

Continue the conversation until your app structure is complete.

Step 5: Enhance Your App

Once the foundation is built, you can:

Example Conversation

Here's a real example of building an app with Nola:

You: "I run a construction company and need an app to manage our projects, track subcontractors, and handle change orders. We work on multiple projects at once, and each project has a client, budget, timeline, and many tasks."

Nola: "I'll build a construction project management app for you. Let me start by creating the core tables:

  1. Clients - to store customer information

  2. Projects - to track each construction project

  3. Tasks - to break down work within each project

  4. Subcontractors - to manage your contractors

  5. Change Orders - to track scope changes and budget adjustments

Should I also include:

  • A Budget Tracking feature to compare estimated vs actual costs?

  • A Schedule/Timeline view to see project timelines?

  • Equipment tracking?"

You: "Yes to budget tracking and timeline view. We don't need equipment tracking. Also add a field to track project status like 'Bidding', 'Active', 'On Hold', and 'Complete'."

Nola: "Perfect! I'm building your app now:

✓ Created Clients table with company name, contact info, and address ✓ Created Projects table linked to Clients with budget, timeline, and status fields ✓ Added Status field with options: Bidding, Active, On Hold, Complete ✓ Created Tasks table linked to Projects with assignee, due date, and completion tracking ✓ Created Subcontractors table with contact details and specialties ✓ Created Change Orders table linked to Projects with cost impact and approval status ✓ Added Budget fields to track estimated cost, actual cost, and variance ✓ Set up a Timeline view for Projects showing start and end dates ✓ Created a Kanban board for Tasks grouped by status ✓ Generated 15 sample projects with realistic data

Your app is ready to preview! Would you like me to:

  • Add a dashboard showing budget summaries?

  • Create a workflow to notify project managers when change orders are submitted?

  • Set up a calendar view for task deadlines?"

You: "Yes, add the dashboard and the change order notification workflow."

Nola: "Done! I've added:

✓ A dashboard page with charts showing:

  • Total projects by status

  • Budget vs actual costs across all projects

  • Upcoming task deadlines this week

✓ A workflow that:

  • Triggers when a change order is created

  • Sends an email to the project manager

  • Includes the change order details and cost impact

Your construction management app is ready! You can now customize the design, add your team members, and start using it."

Tips for Building with Nola

Be Descriptive

The more details you provide, the better your app will be. Instead of "I need a CRM," try "I need a CRM for a B2B sales team that tracks leads, companies, deals, and activities."

Think About Relationships

Describe how your data connects. "Each project belongs to one client, but clients can have multiple projects" helps Nola set up the right structure.

Share Your Workflows

Tell Nola about your processes: "When a deal is marked as won, we need to create a project and send a notification to the delivery team."

Iterate Gradually

Start with core functionality, then add features. "Let's start with clients and projects, then we'll add the scheduling features."

Ask Questions

Not sure if something is possible? Ask! "Can we track the time each team member spends on tasks?" or "Is it possible to create recurring tasks?"

What Nola Can Build

When starting with Nola, she can create:

After Building with Nola

Once Nola has built your initial app, you can:

1. Customize the Design

2. Set Up Security

3. Add Real Data

4. Expand Functionality

5. Go Live

Common Use Cases for Starting with Nola

Nola excels at building these types of apps:

CRM & Sales

"Build a CRM to track leads, companies, deals, and activities for our B2B sales team"

Project Management

"Create a project management app with projects, tasks, milestones, and team assignments"

Client Portals

"Build a client portal where customers can view their projects, submit requests, and track progress"

Asset Management

"Create an app to track our equipment inventory, maintenance schedules, and locations"

HR & Onboarding

"Build an employee directory with onboarding workflows, time-off requests, and performance reviews"

Event Management

"Create an event planning app to track events, attendees, vendors, and budgets"

Need Help?

If you get stuck while building with Nola:

  • Ask Nola herself - "I'm not sure what to do next, can you suggest some improvements?"

  • Check the Nola guides - Learn more about what Nola can do

  • See Tips and Best Practices - Get expert tips

  • Review the Nola FAQ - Find answers to common questions

Next Steps

Once Nola has built your app, continue with the quickstart guide:

🚀Quickstart

Or learn more about working with Nola:

🤖Nola - AI Assistant

Pro Tip: You can always come back to Nola later to add features, create new tables, or build workflows. She's there whenever you need help!

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