Remaining Calm
Introducing a new open source project we call Calm. It is a small library of useful Apps Script functions for those developing on the Google Workspace environment.
Mark Piper, Principal Explorer
18 September, 2024
Where possible, we like to solve problems inside already existing environments. Many of the problems we face do not require significantly complex solutions in order to achieve what is, effectively, appending a row to a SpreadSheet.
It’s from this point of view that we have inadvertently ended up spending a significant amount of time hacking on Google Workspace via Apps Script.
It’s worth noting that neither of us have “Javascript programmer” as line items on our CV’s, in fact, we have no line items that involve programming at all. But our stubbornness knows no bounds, and if we are to stick to the rule of operating where the user is, we decided we had to roll our sleeves up and act like professionals. We had to cut some code.
The end result is that we have now developed and deployed several rather neat platforms that make lots of things easier for various teams. This has been extremely rewarding work and we are pleased to report that despite the rumours - learning Javascript didn’t physically or emotionally affect us in any significant way.
One consideration we have had however, is how to ensure the maintenance of these solutions over time and that has meant code quality and reusability. Over the last 6 months we have created a reasonably useful set of library functions for Apps Script which enables us to do common tasks we face. Whether it’s working within a sheet, as a web application, a chat bot or monitoring Google Drive for file activity, there’s little areas of Apps Script where certain functions aren’t baked in.
In keeping with the spirit that innovation occurs in the light, today we have released Calm - a library of useful Apps Script intended to make for a slightly more calming AppScript development experience.
In the coming months, as we have the time, we will be finalising and open sourcing dozens of functions that we hope are useful to anyone working within the Google Workspace environment.
To find out more head over to the Github project:
