Celebrating Catalyst-powered innovations and the developers behind them.
Covered by Zoho Catalyst | 23 December,2023 | 12 Min Read
Celebrating Catalyst-powered innovations and the developers behind them.
So, grab your favorite coding beverage, put on your coolest developer cap, and join us as we meet the makers who are reshaping the digital landscape with Catalyst!
Let’s kick off our Meet the Makers interview! Today, we have the pleasure of chatting with Jayesh Sonawane of Inqcuet Solutions, a coding maverick who has built exceptional solutions using Catalyst. Let’s jump right into the conversation and learn from his incredible journey.
Q 1. Could you tell us a bit about yourself? How did you discover Catalyst, and what made you choose it for your project?
Jayesh: Hey, thanks for having me. I’m Jayesh Sonawane, Founder & CEO of Incquet Solutions. We specialize in providing custom ERP/CRM solutions on Zoho Creator and beyond. We’ve always sought to expand the capabilities of Zoho apps. To achieve this, we used to develop custom APIs and host them elsewhere. We were searching for a stable platform to streamline the development, hosting, and maintenance of these APIs. During this quest, we stumbled upon Catalyst via a YouTube video. What stood out the most was the rapid transition from idea to endpoint, thanks to the online editor. Catalyst offered an entire ecosystem that convinced us to adopt it as our primary platform for building such microservices.
Q 2. Could you provide an overview of your project built on Catalyst? What problem were you aiming to solve or what need were you trying to fulfill?
Jayesh: The initial issue we tackled revolved around rapid API development, hosting, and updates facilitated by its convenient online editor. We aimed to provide non-native functionality for a Zoho app by constructing our own API, which could be called from within a Zoho Creator app. This solution filled a void in the existing Zoho app functionalities. However, what we required was a platform for hosting and easily maintaining these APIs for such custom functionalities, and that’s where Catalyst excelled. With all the necessary libraries installed in the API, any required changes could be swiftly implemented within Catalyst. Unlike the conventional process of building the code locally, deploying it, and then testing it within the Zoho app to provide feedback updates, Catalyst allowed us to promptly update the API code, save it, and instantly test it from Zoho. This streamlined our development process for custom features in Zoho apps, bringing immense efficiency and satisfaction as a solution provider.
Q 3. What were the specific Catalyst features or tools that played a crucial role in your development process?
Jayesh: As we ventured into extending functions to APIs, our focus was on rapid API development using existing templates, seamless updating, and maintenance through an online editor. We found Catalyst’s capability to manage security exceptionally easy. The available environments were instrumental in maintaining proper development and deployment cycles. As we delved deeper, we discovered that the authentication and datastore features were pivotal in powering many of our other applications, and the custom domain mapping of the API endpoints was the cherry on top. Catalyst had all the tools we needed to make our project shine!
Q 4. What were some of the challenges you encountered along the way, and how did you overcome them using Catalyst?
Jayesh: We encountered three primary challenges on the road to glory. First off, finding an easy plug-and-play platform was like searching for a needle in a haystack. Most platforms were complex and demanded significant effort for a result achievable more seamlessly with Catalyst. Thanks to its user-friendly approach. Secondly, pricing was a concern, and this is where Catalyst stood out. Lastly, the SQL-based relational database datastore – it’s like a secret weapon. Querying it from the SDK? Easy peasy!
Q 5. How would you describe the overall developer experience with Catalyst? Were there any standout features or aspects that impressed you?
Jayesh: Oh, the dev experience with Catalyst? Pure delight! The online editor and ready-to-roll boilerplates to get started with an API function were the major magnets that kept us hooked for new API development and maintenance. And I’d like to give a shoutout to the relational databases – easy to grasp and made the whole experience a breeze!
Q 6. Let's dive into the real deal – how did your project shake things up for your users? Any notable successes or feedback?
Jayesh: Our custom features for clients delivered remarkable outcomes. For instance, certain automation reduced client work from 6 hours to 5 minutes. Yeah, you heard it right! These solutions not only saved substantial time but also optimized costs, by consolidating crucial operations within their custom Zoho Creator CRM.The result? Boom! A surge in efficiency, productivity, and cost-effectiveness. Now, that’s what I call Catalyst being a legit ‘catalyst’ for business growth!
Q 7. Looking back, any lessons learned or things you'd do differently during the development process?
Jayesh: For all Zoho developers, I strongly recommend having proficiency in core backend/frontend languages like Node.js in your skill set. This expands the possibilities within Catalyst, offering an excellent playground to craft custom solutions that when combined with Zoho, can work wonders. This blend serves as an exceptional recipe to create remarkable innovations within the realm of Zoho.
Q 8. As part of the Catalyst community, how do you engage with other developers, and how has it benefited you?
Jayesh: Oh, you bet! We’re all about the community life. Engaging with fellow developers and bouncing around cool ideas is our jam. You can catch us hanging out in Zoho Connect and the Zoho Community Portal, sharing the good stuff. Recently, we presented in a Zoho Developer Hangout hosted by the Zoho Developer Community, talking about the awesome possibilities of custom Zoho development and having some insightful chats with devs from all corners of the globe. We eagerly anticipate such events from Zoho to both learn and exchange fresh ideas. Moreover, to foster more collaborative growth, we’re actively documenting our learnings, challenges, and ideas. Keep an eye on our channels for our upcoming publications. Some good stuff coming your way!
Q 9. What's your go-to break activity? What do you do to take a break from coding?
Jayesh: Oh, you know, the usual break time shenanigans! I love goofing around with my kiddo, teaming up with colleagues for some online gaming action, strumming a few chords on the guitar, or cruising to a nearby dam. That’s my perfect blend of fun and relaxation!
Q10. Last but not least, what's your pro tip for developers stepping into the world of Catalyst for their projects?
Stay tuned for our upcoming interviews, where we continue exploring the journeys of exceptional developers who have made their mark with Catalyst.
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