We also recently released an early version of the Airtable API. It provides an API that's specific to each database you've configured in the app:
https://airtable.comhttps://airtable.com/api
Thank you! We don't do auto-increment keys but is something we're considering (or at least auto column types like date created). We will definitely be adding more analysis features soon. One thing you can do (which may not be too discoverable) is select a range of number cells in a column to get a summary at the bottom.
We require that you oauth in via a Google account purely for authentication right now. We don't request permissions for your email, calendar, contacts, or other data--only your name, email, and profile picture (which is used in the UI). We're working on support for email/password based signup, as well as oauth support for other services.
Thanks for your comments!
We're actively working on performance improvements needed on both the client side and server side, but right now it would be very sluggish at that scale. We do have immediate plans to expose an API, probably sometime early 2015.
Thanks a lot for your feedback, these are definitely things we're looking to tackle.
We're planning on improving scrolling performance soon, it's definitely a priority for us to improve our performance for large datasets.
As for the linking, we definitely want to do more to help you normalize your data. We can also infer column types to help with the import process. Doing this type of thing on paste is an interesting idea.
We have some ideas for how to make it so that you don't need a primary column. One thing that you can do now is make the primary column a formula, and then reference other columns to generate a key.
If you're interested in talking about the challenges of creating a performant spreadsheet, I've built a javascript-based spreadsheet backed by a database that's more performant than Google Docs/any open source table available on the internet. I'd be happy to share the techniques.
Sounds like Airtable would be pretty ideal for that. You can import that CRM spreadsheet to get started! You can actually start today, just click the "Get it started" button here: https://airtable.com/invite/a3sz9t7b
"On the fully commercial side, the mobile revolution is creating a logistics revolution in farm-to-retail marketing. Farmers and food retailers can connect directly through mobile phones and distribution hubs, enabling farmers to sell their crops at higher “farm-gate” prices and without delay, while buyers can move those crops to markets with minimum spoilage and lower prices for final consumers. "
They must leverage basic cellular technology in pretty creative ways. I can't imagine these farmers would have advanced smart phones with data plans. Is this all done through sms? Does anybody know more about this system?
Android could potentially have a large impact in developing countries. It could provide open source location based services on cheaper handsets. All it needs is a good distribution system (like app store).
It is really all based on SMS. You can treat SMS input as command lines on remote server and returns a very short list of the stuffs. The creative part here is how to train users to use it. But at one hand, they will learn it because they have to. So a formatted text input is pretty good for server side to parse.
I saw a video about how a Beijing company use voice and text for translation on cellular phone. A tourist type what he wants to say in English and send the sms to system. The system returns a Chinese text for taxi driver to see. Another system also leave a voice message for listening if it is inconvenient for reading.
At the other hand. unless data plan and smart phone becomes much cheaper in developing world. Android may not influence the current market in short term.
