Gadget is a powerful tool that abstracts the pesky boilerplate work involved in building, documenting, serving and scaling a robust backend API. With Gadget, you can build out the server-side logic that powers your gadgets quickly and easily. Gadgets can read and write records in the database or can run custom server-side code that sits outside of the database.
A gadget is a small software program that does an ingenious task but that requires little in the way of system resources. The term was coined by the X11 windowing system in the 1980s to describe an application-level widget that improves a desktop or application’s performance. Gadgets also come in the form of hardware devices, such as digital picture frames, jukeboxes and keyboards.
The latest gadget release reflects a shift in technology trends that prioritize real-world value over raw specs. From smart speakers to digital cameras, the best gadgets integrate smoothly into daily routines, provide reliable performance, and offer room for growth as software ecosystems evolve.
In the smartphone space, manufacturers are focusing on features that boost battery life and provide room for improvement in areas like camera quality and software integration. For consumers, the value of a compact form factor or long software support often drives purchasing decisions more than a few benchmarks.
Actions are a core part of the Gadget framework and a big reason why developing Gadgets with Gadget is faster and easier than with traditional tools and frameworks. Using the ‘onSuccess’ function you can define an action that reads or writes records in your database, or runs custom server-side code that is outside of the database (e.g. sending an SMS via Twilio after a blog post is created).