Looking for a database app
October 19, 2017 6:31 AM Subscribe
I don't think I have the right vocabulary to decribe this, but I'd like to find a app or website that's pleasant to use and that lets me creates flexible libraries of data of different sorts. To function a bit like memory out of my brain, and to store information about my various fields of engagement, add comments, link data up, etc.
I found this, which looks like the kind of thing I want, but it's only available for Android. I'd definitely like it to be usable on my Mac, maybe iPad/android phone too, but primarily Mac.
I'd also like it to be reliable so I know it's going to stick around and it's worth investing all that time into it.
One example of a library I would like to make is a database of tango songs. I DJ for tango, so I'd like to store a database of songs that I have in my collection with metadata about each song, create sets of songs that play well together, store comments from when I played them in the past, etc.
Another might be a Math teaching resource database. I used to teach Math seriously, now I don't, but before I forget all about my teaching resources I'd like to store them in a database that I could access if I ever teach again.
I found this, which looks like the kind of thing I want, but it's only available for Android. I'd definitely like it to be usable on my Mac, maybe iPad/android phone too, but primarily Mac.
I'd also like it to be reliable so I know it's going to stick around and it's worth investing all that time into it.
One example of a library I would like to make is a database of tango songs. I DJ for tango, so I'd like to store a database of songs that I have in my collection with metadata about each song, create sets of songs that play well together, store comments from when I played them in the past, etc.
Another might be a Math teaching resource database. I used to teach Math seriously, now I don't, but before I forget all about my teaching resources I'd like to store them in a database that I could access if I ever teach again.
Not a database, but easy and flexible and may work for you: Workflowy.
posted by 4ster at 6:57 AM on October 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by 4ster at 6:57 AM on October 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
I think you want Airtable, which we use at work for everything from a makeshift CRM, to a database of ongoing projects, to a project management tool (there is a kanban view), to a shared database of worked-related technologies that we heard about somewhere that at some point someone might want to possibly look into.
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:58 AM on October 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
posted by soren_lorensen at 6:58 AM on October 19, 2017 [5 favorites]
+1 for Airtable - i've used it for a bathroom remodel project but it has so much more potential than that!
posted by ukdanae at 7:07 AM on October 19, 2017
posted by ukdanae at 7:07 AM on October 19, 2017
Response by poster: Thanks!
But I feel i need a more complex database structure. For the tango database for example, the records would be songs, and each record would have fields like 'Song name', 'Orchestra', 'Singer', 'BPM', 'Year'. I need to be able to search and sort by any of these fields. Then I need to be able to make sets of songs and add notes and categories to set. And search for a set.
So it's not so much a list-making or to-do app, but really a database where I can decide what each record is and what its fields are. And then use records to make more complex structures/pages.
posted by miaow at 7:27 AM on October 19, 2017
But I feel i need a more complex database structure. For the tango database for example, the records would be songs, and each record would have fields like 'Song name', 'Orchestra', 'Singer', 'BPM', 'Year'. I need to be able to search and sort by any of these fields. Then I need to be able to make sets of songs and add notes and categories to set. And search for a set.
So it's not so much a list-making or to-do app, but really a database where I can decide what each record is and what its fields are. And then use records to make more complex structures/pages.
posted by miaow at 7:27 AM on October 19, 2017
You definitely want Airtable. It's a full relational database application.
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:32 AM on October 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by soren_lorensen at 7:32 AM on October 19, 2017 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Well now the only desire I have is for something similar, even if less beautiful, that doesn't cost $10/month for more than 1200 records.
posted by miaow at 10:00 AM on October 19, 2017
posted by miaow at 10:00 AM on October 19, 2017
Back in the day (say about a year ago), I would suggest Microsoft Office 365 + Microsoft Access + Microsoft Access Web Database (that "comes"* with a non-free Office 365 subscription level) + Microsoft PowerApps.
*However... Given the constant change I see with their products lately (Microsoft Access Web Database in Office 365 being killed, and eventually to be forcibly removed from even on-premises SharePoint 2016), these days, I find myself looking for something to recommend as well - going to test out the AirTable mentioned above.
posted by jkaczor at 2:33 PM on October 20, 2017
*However... Given the constant change I see with their products lately (Microsoft Access Web Database in Office 365 being killed, and eventually to be forcibly removed from even on-premises SharePoint 2016), these days, I find myself looking for something to recommend as well - going to test out the AirTable mentioned above.
posted by jkaczor at 2:33 PM on October 20, 2017
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posted by rachelpapers at 6:46 AM on October 19, 2017