Introducing Function Stack v2 | Edit your APIs like a Google Doc!

At Xano, we're committed to providing you with the best no-code experience possible. That's why we've been hard at work on the next version of our Function Stack, packed with exciting new features and enhancements based on your feedback. In this blog post, we'll walk you through the key updates and how they can help you build and deploy backend services more efficiently, whether you're a no-code enthusiast, citizen developer, traditional developer, or part of a startup or small business.

Enhanced Run and Debug

Let's start with the improved Run and Debug feature, which allows for faster iteration and testing of your function stacks. Here's how it works:

1. Sticky Panel: The Run and Debug panel now persists, even when you make changes to your function stack. This means you can quickly modify your code and rerun it without losing sight of the previous response.
2. Live Changes: As you update your function stack, such as adding a new variable or query, you can see the changes reflected in the Run and Debug panel without having to rerun the entire stack.
3. Previous Response Visibility: You can now view the previous response while making new changes, making it easier to reference or build upon existing data.

To use the enhanced Run and Debug feature, simply open your function stack and click the "Run and Debug" button. Make your desired changes, and the panel will automatically update, allowing you to quickly iterate and test your code.

Draft Support and Versioning

One of the most exciting additions to Function Stack 2.0 is the introduction of draft support and improved versioning. This feature empowers you to:

1. Create Drafts: Test new versions of your function stack without publishing changes to your live endpoints immediately.
2. Revert Changes: Easily revert to a previous version of your function stack if needed, ensuring you never lose your work.
3. Publish Drafts: When you're ready, publish your draft changes with a descriptive message, making it easier to track and manage versions.
4. Persistent Drafts: Your drafts persist even if you close your tab or refresh the page, allowing you to pick up where you left off.
5. Draft Awareness: The Run and Debug feature is aware of all drafts, enabling you to test draft versions of your function stack or included functions before publishing.

To create a draft, simply make changes to your function stack. You'll notice a new button indicating the number of revertible changes. From here, you can revert, publish with a message, or continue working on your draft.

Bulk Actions and Search

As your function stacks grow in complexity, managing and navigating them becomes increasingly important. That's why we've introduced bulk actions and search capabilities:

1. Bulk Actions: Select multiple steps in your function stack and perform actions such as grouping, disabling, or deleting them in bulk.
2. Grouping: Group related steps together and collapse or expand them for better readability and organization.
3. Search: Quickly find specific steps or variables within your function stack by searching for keywords or variable names.

To use bulk actions, simply hold down the Shift key and drag to select multiple steps. Then, choose the desired action from the options that appear. For search, use the search box at the top of the function stack builder to enter your query.

Team Collaboration

One of the biggest highlights of Function Stack 2.0 is the enhanced team collaboration experience, which brings Google Docs-like functionality to Xano. Here are the key collaboration features:

1. Real-Time Presence: See which team members are currently working on specific function stacks or elements, preventing accidental overwrites.
2. Access Control: Request access to edit a function stack element that another team member is currently modifying, ensuring seamless collaboration.
3. Real-Time Updates: Changes made to a function stack are instantly reflected across all open tabs and team members, eliminating the need for manual refreshes.
4. In-App Chat: Communicate with your team directly within the Xano workspace using the built-in chat feature.
5. Multi-Tab Support: Work seamlessly across multiple tabs, with real-time updates and collaboration features available in each tab.

To access the collaboration features, look for the user presence indicators throughout the Xano interface. Click on them to open the collaboration panel, request access to edit elements, or start a conversation with your team.

Improved User Interface

In addition to the major feature updates, we've also made significant improvements to the overall user interface and user experience within the Function Stack builder. These enhancements include:

• Greater readability for API information
• Wider work area for improved usability
• Collapsible groups for better organization
• Intuitive drag-and-drop functionality for reordering steps

Our goal is to provide you with a seamless and efficient no-code experience, allowing you to focus on building and deploying your backend services without unnecessary friction.

Conclusion

Xano's Function Stack 2.0 is a game-changer for anyone looking to build and deploy backend services more efficiently, whether you're a no-code enthusiast, citizen developer, traditional developer, or part of a startup or small business. With features like enhanced run and debug, draft support, versioning, bulk actions, search, team collaboration, and an improved user interface, you can now iterate faster, collaborate more effectively, and streamline your development process like never before.

We're excited to hear your thoughts and feedback on these new updates. As always, your input plays a crucial role in shaping the future of Xano, so don't hesitate to share your experiences and suggestions with us.

Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we continue to push the boundaries of no-code development and make Xano even more powerful and user-friendly. Happy building!