Handling every application’s various uses needs some scripting – Google Apps Script allows you to create a custom backend for your apps. This article breaks down some of the best practices for applying scripts to Google Apps Script in order to make them easier on you and cut down on unnecessary steps between your webpage going live.
Introduction
Google App Script is a programming language that lets you create applications quickly and easily. In this blog post, we’ll outline some best practices for using App Script to build your next web application.
Best Practices for Google App Script
1. Think structurally.
When writing code in App Script, it’s important to think structurally — your code should be divided into small pieces that can be easily managed and tested. This will make it much easier to troubleshoot and optimize your code.
2. Use the right libraries and APIs.
If you’re not familiar with the various Google Cloud Platform APIs and libraries, it’s best to start with the comprehensive character library guide or the library overview document. These resources will teach you how to use the most important APIs and build powerful features quickly and easily.
3. Get help where you need it.
Google provides excellent support for its products, including App Script. If you’re experiencing any issues with your code or need help getting started, don’t hesitate to reach out to Google Support or a fellow developer on GitHub.
Authentication
According to Google App Script, the following are best Practices for Authentication:
-Separate the user account from the app script instance.
-Create a separate user account for each app script instance.
-Use OAuth 2.0 for authentication with Google APIs.
– Enable two-factor authentication (2FA) with Google Authenticator.
Generally speaking, it is better to use a dedicated user account for your app scripts and to use OAuth 2.0 to authenticate users. This not only provides a more secure environment, but also allows you to fine-tune permissions and limit access accordingly. Two-factor authentication is also highly recommended, as it makes it difficult for unauthorized individuals to access your application.
Querying Data
Google App Script is a powerful tool that allows you to easily query data from different sources. There are a few best practices to follow when querying data with App Script, in order to increase the quality of your results and reduce the potential for errors.
First and foremost, make sure you use the right syntax when querying data. Google App Script expects your queries to be in the form of object literal expressions ( OLES ), which is a type of notation that closely resembles JavaScript. For example, if you wanted to find all the songs by Taylor Swift in the YouTube database, you would write:
var youtubeSongs = youtube . query (‘ albums ‘.include( ‘ taylor-swift ‘ )). get ();
Another thing to keep in mind when querying data is to use parentheses appropriately. Parentheses protect your variables from being mistaken for part of the actual query string, and they also allow you to group together multiple objects and fields into a single statement. For example, if you wanted to create a list of all videos with a specific tag, you would write:
 var videosWithTag = youtube . query ( ‘ videos ‘.filter( ‘ tags ‘ ).values());
Joining to Maps
Pine creates a powerful new way to interact with Google Maps.
Google has released the newest beta of their App Script library and this includes a brand new way to interact with Google Maps by using Pine. This library is a powerful way to automate your workflows and get more out of Google Maps. Google released the following overview of Pine:
“Pine is a library for talking to Google services, including maps. With it, you can do things like automatically add addresses to Your Bills, find nearby restaurants, and much more. Pine takes advantage of App Engine’s flexibility, so you don’t have to worry about infrastructure or software installation. You just write scripts in App Script.”
To get started with Pine, check out the tutorial at googlecode.com/pinescript/.
Listing Locations in a Google Map
It can be helpful to list the locations of your app scripts on a Google map. This way you can see which apps are using your scripts, and where they’re running. You can also use this information to troubleshoot problems.
To list the locations of your app scripts on a Google map:
1. Open a map in your web browser.
2. Click the “+Add annotation” button on the toolbar and select “Google Maps.”
3. Select “Maps View” from the drop-down menu on the right side of the window, and then click on the Location tab.
4. In the Location column, specify the latitude and longitude coordinates of each location where one or more app scripts are running.
5. Click OK to add the annotations to the map, and then close the map window.
Drawing Paths on a Google Map
There are a lot of ways to add interactive features to your Google Maps application using App Script. The simplest way is to use the Google Maps Draw Paths API. Here’s how to create a simple path:
1. Open the Google Maps app on your desktop or mobile device.
2. In the navigation bar, click the Settings gear icon (three lines in a box).
3. Under “Maps settings,” make sure “Path maps” is selected.
4. On the left, under “Map types,” select “Google Earth Tour.”
5. Drag a blue line from your current location to where you want your path to start (in this case, at the Golden Gate Bridge).
6. Select the “Path tools” tab, and under “Draw mode,” select “Straight line.”
7. Click and drag the cursor to draw your path (or use the keyboard shortcuts; see below). You can also add handles by holding down the Control key while you drag (this will create curves instead of straight lines).
Conclusion
Google App Script is a powerful tool that can be used to automate various processes within your business. In this article, we discuss some of the best practices for using Google App Script, including how to create and test scripts, manage dependencies, and troubleshoot issues. By following these tips, you can ensure that your Google App Script functions exactly the way you want them to and eliminates any potential trouble spots.