Chapter 1:
Write a Python function

Let’s start by creating an app and writing some Python code. We’ll write a Python function that emails us some feedback.

Step 1: Create an app

Log in to Anvil and click ‘Create a new app’. Choose the Material Design theme.

Location of the Create App button

First, name the app. Click on the name at the top of the screen and give it a name.

Rename your app by clicking on the title

Step 2: Add a Server Module

We’ll write our function in a Server Module. Anything you can do in Python you can do in a Server Module.

Create a Server Module by selecting the App Browser app icon in the Sidebar Menu and clicking ‘+ Add Server Module’.

Adding a Server Module

Adding a Server Module

Step 3: Create a function to email yourself

We’ll write a server function to email us feedback using Anvil’s built-in Email Service.

Let’s add this function to our Server Module:

def send_feedback(name, email, feedback):
  # Send yourself an email each time feedback is submitted
  anvil.email.send(#to="noreply@anvil.works", # Change this to your email address and remove the #!
                   subject=f"Feedback from {name}",
                   text=f"""
                   
  A new person has filled out the feedback form!

  Name: {name}
  Email address: {email}
  Feedback:
  {feedback}
  """)

In order for anvil.email.send to work, we need to add the Email Service. Select the blue ‘+’ button in the sidebar menu to open the list of available services. Then, click on the ‘Email’.

Adding a service

Add a service

Adding the Email Service

Select the Email Service

In Chapter 2, we’ll create a UI that uses our feedback function.

Chapter complete

Great! We now have a server function that will email us feedback.

Let’s go ahead and add a user interface, so other people can email us feedback. On to Chapter 2!