A while back, the Trongate framework had a desktop application that included a code generator, a graphical SQL query builder, and several other helpful tools. However, it became clear that many developers were not keen on installing a desktop application to access these features, so the decision was made to retire it.

That left us without some genuinely useful capabilities. So we began looking for a way to bring them back without the installation hurdle.

I am pleased to announce that a solution is now taking shape. It is called Flo.

Flo is a high-performance command centre for the Trongate framework. It lives entirely in the browser. There is nothing to download, nothing to install. You access it from the admin panel of any Trongate installation - look on the top left once you are logged in. It is included with every copy of the framework.

At its heart, Flo is designed to be the bridge between your imagination and your codebase. Instead of writing repetitive CRUD operations, manually wrestling with SQL, or reinventing modules, you simply invoke Flo. It is a graphical power-suite that lets you visually architect queries, generate solid code in seconds, and tap into an ecosystem of shared modules.

Right now, the graphical query builder is already live and functional. The code generator is well under way and we expect to have it ready within the next week or so.

We are also building a code sharing platform for Flo. Before too long, you will be able to browse and download modules directly from within Flo, making it easy to extend your projects with community-contributed code. We expect to have that feature rolled out within the next six weeks, though we are hoping to have it ready much sooner.

We are aware that the usual approach would be to wait until everything is finished before releasing it. However, we are eager to get Flo into your hands as quickly as possible. By launching a minimum viable product now, we can test it in the wild, gather real feedback, and iterate rapidly. Over the coming weeks, you can expect to see frequent updates as more features are added. The pace of development is fast and we want the community to be part of that journey.

If you download a fresh copy of Trongate and visit the admin panel, you will see Flo waiting for you. It looks a little bare at the moment, but new features will be appearing at a steady rate.

We would love to hear what you think.

- Grady