How Easy Is It to Build a Data App with VDAB?

Author: Aiden Vandenbush 

Building a data application is rarely as simple as it first appears. 

Someone says, “We just need a small app to view this table.” 

Then someone else says, “Can users filter it?” 

Then the next request comes in: “Can they add new records too?” 

Before long, that “simple app” starts looking like a custom development project. You need a user interface, a connection to the data, a way to display records, a form to add data, backend logic, deployment, and testing. 

That is exactly the type of problem VDAB is designed to simplify. 

VDAB, the Visual Data App Builder from Xorbix, helps teams build Databricks apps with a visual, drag-and-drop experience. Instead of starting with frontend code or backend plumbing, you can start with the app your users need. 

Start with a New App 

To build a simple data app in VDAB, you start by creating a new app and connecting it to your Databricks workspace. Then simply tell the VDAB chatbot what you are looking to build, and your app will be generated.  

From there, the experience becomes very visual. You can move components and add components to the canvas, such as labels, buttons, input fields, and data windows. If you have ever used a visual design tool, the idea will feel familiar: place the component, configure it, and connect it to the data it needs. 

Add a Data Window 

One of the most useful components in VDAB is the data window. 

A data window lets you display data from your Databricks environment directly in the app. You drag the data window component onto the canvas, select it, and then configure the binding. 

Instead of manually writing backend code to query a table, you can use the add binding button to connect the component to a table. VDAB will prompt you to select the Catalog, Schema, and Table you want to use. 

You can bind the data window to a Unity Catalog table or a Lakebase table. Once the table is selected, you choose the table’s primary key. After that configuration is complete, the data can be displayed directly inside the application. 

View Lakehouse Data with Minimal Configuration 

Once the data window is connected, the app can query the selected table and show the results in the user interface. VDAB can help make that data available inside an app quickly. 

You can also add simple filters to help users narrow down what they see. This makes the app more useful without making the building process much more complicated. 

Instead of sending users into raw tables or asking them to work through another manual process, you can give them a focused app that shows the data they need. 

Add a Form for Data Entry 

Many business applications also need to collect data, not just display it. With VDAB, you can add a simple form directly into the app using input fields and a submit button. Each field can be mapped to a column in the target table, so when a user submits the form, the data is written back into the governed data platform. 

This turns a simple viewing app into a practical read-and-write application. Teams can view, update, and add structured data through a business-friendly interface without needing a full custom software project. VDAB makes it easier to build the practical tools business users need while keeping the data connected, organized, and governed. 

A Simple Example 

Imagine you have a governed table in Unity Catalog that tracks customer requests, manufacturing exceptions, sales adjustments, or operational tasks. 

With VDAB, you can create a new app, connect it to Databricks, drag a data window onto the canvas, bind it to the table, select the primary key, and display the records. Then you can add filters to help users find the right data. 

If users need to add new records, you can add a form, map each field to a column, and include a submit button. 

That is the foundation of a working data app. 

It may start simple, but it can immediately replace a spreadsheet, reduce manual updates, or give users a cleaner way to interact with Lakehouse data. 

The goal is not to remove thoughtful design or good data governance. Those still matter. The goal is to remove unnecessary friction so teams can build useful apps faster. 

Building Apps Should Feel This Direct 

Databricks gives organizations a powerful Lakehouse platform. VDAB helps teams build the application layer on top of it. Together, they allow businesses to do more than store, transform, and analyze data. They allow teams to create practical apps that help people work with that data. 

With VDAB, building a simple Databricks data app can be as straightforward as using the chatbot to create an app, connecting it to your data, dragging components on a canvas, and deploying. 

No unnecessary frontend code. No manual backend setup. No overcomplicated deployment process. 

Just a faster way to turn Lakehouse data into something people can use.