Google App Engine

The following is a guide on creating a TinyWebDB web app using Google App Engine which can interface with AppInventor. All of the information in this guide can be found at the App Inventor TinyWebDB web page, located here.

Installation
To deploy a web application using Google App Engine, first download and install the Google App Engine client application on your machine. For Windows, the .msi file can be found here:

https://developers.google.com/appengine/downloads

Scroll down to the "Google App Engine SDK for Python" section and download the Windows .msi file. Run the installer. It may take several minutes to initialize. Go through the installer, selecting the directory where you want to install it. Accept any defaults during the installation process. When the installation has completed,launch the application.

Deploy The Tiny Web DB Application
Google App Engine should start up. At the first screen you should see a list of all the applications you are hosting.



Next, download the source code for the TinyWebDB application. The code can be found at the AppInventor TinyWebDB guide page. Unzip the folder and rename it to UNHM_, where  is the name of your app. In the Google App Engine application, go to "File" -> "Add Existing Application". You will be prompted to select a project directory. Choose the customtinywebdb sub-directory inside the unzipped folder.



Next, open app.yaml (Located inside the customtinywebdb folder inside your application folder on your local machine. On the first line, change the name of the application to UNHM-, where  is the name of your app. This name will be important because it will correspond with the web application you will be creating shortly.

Now your application is ready on your local machine. To deploy the application, first go to the Google App Engine site, located at the following link. On the left-hand side of the screen, select the "Admin Console" item from the side-panel. If you are not signed in to your Google Account, you will be prompted to do so now. When signed in, you will be presented with a welcome page. On this page you should see a button which reads, "Create Application". Google will ask for an application identifier. This identifier will be the same as the name you provided in app.yaml (UNHM-). This identifier will correspond to the URL of your TinyWebDB web service, and will be used by App Inventor to communicate with the database. The application name can be whatever you want. It would likely make most sense to name it after your app. Keep the remaining settings at their default, accept the terms agreement and create your app.

On your local machine, in the Google App Engine application, select "Deploy". A window will appear, prompting for you to input your Google credentials. At the bottom of the window you should see the application identifier you listed in app.yaml, as well as in the application you created in Google.



Input your credentials and hit OK. A console will appear and will upload/deploy your application to Google App Engine. After the application is deployed, close the console window and go back to the Admin Console open in your browser. Open a new tab and go to the following URL: http://unhm-.appspot.com. Here you should see the control panel for your application. You can use this page to add new data into your web database and debug problems. This is also the URL you will input into the TinyWebDB component in App Inventor.