Airtable has consistently provided a platform for creativity. By giving just the right blend of framework and flexible customization, it’s been a drawing board for an ever-growing library of systems, tools and databases used internally and shared with the world via Universe. Professionals and hobbyists alike are able to build things with or without the more advanced formulas and functions. Some of those creators seem to effortlessly cross both the most simple and most advanced capability with ease. Robert Delanghe is one of those. 

A long-time player in the Airtable space, Robert has shown talent for both the fun side of things (see Games below) and the technical elements (Technical Bases below). We featured Robert in a recent episode of the BuiltOnAir podcast. He’s an active contributor to the official Airtable Community, answering a variety of questions about functionality and applications of ideas people have but just don’t know how to make work in Airtable. In fact, a few of the projects he has shared in Airtable Universe were inspired by questions of community members.

Technical Bases in Airtable

Sequential SKUs: A test base Robert built to see if it was even possible in Airtable, this database allows the user to output a series of inventory or stock management numbers in sequence, using formulas. A handy trick that allows people to easily track any purchasable item in a store or online catalogue. 

4 Digit Random Numbers: Similar to the above, Robert built this base to help a person in the Airtable community, and tests the limits of formula capability. The base itself will generate a random number if copied into a personal Airtable space, but the formulas can also be saved into a pre-made Airtable to fit into an already existing schema. 

Game Bases in Airtable

Blackjack: Yes, this is a fully playable game of Blackjack in the Airtable framework. Why do such a thing? In Robert’s own words “Because I wasn’t sure I could. Randomness is difficult when you can’t just call a function for it. I ended up shuffling the deck using the Airtable recordID. Feel free to look under the hood at how everything works or.. Just enjoy a game of cards.” You heard him, go give it a try!

Rock Paper Airtable: A recent winner of an Airtable contest (and also featured in a previous BuiltOnAir Editor’s Review), this base also stretches the limits by providing a fully functioning game of rock paper scissors within Airtable (seeing a trend here?). Definitely give this creative masterpiece a try also. 

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Robert Delanghe is a brilliant data designer that lets his love of games expand the limits of what’s possible. Find him on his website here, or give his episode on the podcast a listen.