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Classic to Next-Gen Knack App ... A quick look.

Updated: Sep 24


YouTube video Classic to Next Gen Knack App

Knack's Classic to Next-Gen: My First Look at Migrating Apps

Hey folks, Dave Parrish at KnackBuilders here with another blog post.

It’s been a few weeks since my last video, but I’ve got something new to dig into—something that’s pretty important for those of us who’ve been building on the classic platform for a while.

If you’re new to the platform and already building in Next-Gen, this post probably isn’t for you. But if you’re like me—a long-time builder with a bunch of classic apps under your belt—this is the beginning of a transition you’ll want to pay attention to.

Today, I’m walking through a simple classic app, switching it over to the Next-Gen (Next Generation) builder, and sharing my initial impressions.


Starting with a Simple Classic App

Let’s begin with the app I used for testing: a simple CRM/to-do list I built for myself. Nothing fancy—just three tables:

  • Clients

  • Tasks

  • Task Notes

It’s essentially a way for me to track high-level project tasks across clients. The interface lets me filter between all clients or just active ones. For each task, I’ve got quick links to external resources like Excel files or Apple Notes and a direct link to the app related to the task. Makes it easy to jump in and out without getting lost.

Functionality-wise, it’s pretty barebones:

  • A few rules for bolding and color-coding.

  • Sticky headers using some custom CSS.

  • No JavaScript.

  • Just enough logic to be useful without being overly complex.

This made it a perfect candidate for testing the waters with Next-Gen.


Switching to Next-Gen (What You Need to Know)

Right now, switching to Next-Gen isn’t something everyone can do by default—you need to request access. I checked in with support before making this video, and they said it’s expected to roll out more broadly soon (likely this month). So, if you’re still on Classic, keep an eye out.

I hit the “Switch to Next-Gen” button, and… we’re in. You immediately notice a cleaner, more modern interface. But before I go further, a quick note:

This post (and my video) isn’t a tutorial on using Next-Gen. I’ll do more of that once I get deeper into it. For now, I’m just poking around to see how well the migration works.


What Carried Over (and What Didn’t)

In the new builder, the app looks sharp. It seems like:

  • Sticky headers still work, even though my custom CSS didn’t carry over.

  • The conditional formatting (bold, color rules) carried over just fine.

  • Functionality and structure seem intact.

But there’s a key thing to understand here: the new interface is built on React, while the Classic builder used jQuery. So, this shift is a total rewrite in terms of the front-end, but not the data or logic. Your data tables, formulas, and workflows remain untouched—this is all about how it’s displayed.

That said, custom JavaScript isn't supported in Next-Gen yet, and neither are pivot tables or e-commerce features. For me, that's a big limitation. I’ve got several apps that rely heavily on those features, especially for reporting and online transactions.


Complex Apps? Hold Off (For Now)

As part of my testing, I also opened one of my more complex apps—an accounting tool with loads of tables and pages. That thing is a beast.

To be honest, I’m not even going to try migrating it yet. There’s just too much going on, and with features like pivot tables and custom scripts missing in Next-Gen, I'll wait until Knack makes more progress.


Some Solid Info from Kara at Knack

If you’re looking for more specific details, check out the community post by Kara. She goes deep into:

It’s well worth the read if you’re considering a switch.


Should You Make the Move?

If you’re one of my clients and you’re curious about moving your app over, let’s talk. There are some clear benefits, but we’ve got to weigh them against current limitations.

That’s it for now. I’ll be doing more deep dives into Next-Gen in future videos as I get more familiar with the ins and outs. Thanks for following along!


Interested in my Knack database services? ... Book a call with me here: https://calendly.com/daveparrish/callwithdave 




 
 
 

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