Glide App Audit

Comprehensive performance audit tool for Glide applications. Analyzes data architecture and layout design to identify bottlenecks, anti-patterns, and optimization opportunities.

⚠️ Read-Only Guarantee

This tool is 100% read-only and NEVER modifies your app:

• ✅ Reads data via API (GET requests only)
• ✅ Navigates through Layout Editor to inspect screens
• ✅ Takes snapshots to analyze components
• ✅ Clicks to view settings panels (read-only)
• ❌ NEVER edits columns, components, or settings
• ❌ NEVER adds or deletes anything
• ❌ NEVER saves any changes
• ❌ NEVER modifies data or structure

Safe to run anytime - Your app remains exactly as it was before the audit.

Official Glide Performance Thresholds

These thresholds come directly from Glide documentation and community guidance:

Metric	Threshold	Source
Column computation time	100ms	Performance Analysis - columns exceeding this show ⚠️
Query column entries	10,000 max	Query Column Limits
Glide Table rows	25,000 max	Big Tables Guide
Big Table rows	10 million max	Big Tables
Big Table rollup/lookup matches	100 max	Big Tables
Collection items visible	24 recommended	Build for Speed
Image dimensions	1,500px max	Build for Speed

Big Table Computed Column Limits

Big Tables use SQL (AlloyDB) for queries. Only certain computed columns can be filtered/sorted:

Supported for filtering/sorting in Big Tables:

• Math columns
• If-Then-Else columns
• Lookup columns (single relation, basic columns only)
• Template columns (static template only)

NOT supported for filtering/sorting in Big Tables:

• Rollup columns
• Multi-relation columns
• Query columns
• Plugin-based columns

See analysis-patterns.md for detailed requirements.

What It Audits

Data Layer Analysis

Using Glide's Performance Analysis tool:

• Run Performance Analysis in the Data Editor
• Identify columns with ⚠️ warning (>100ms computation)
• Focus on those specific columns for optimization

Using Dev Tools plugin (Glide internal users only):

• Column Dependencies - Complete dependency graph with depth calculations
• Max Depth - Deepest computed column chain in the app
• Access Control - Row Owner and Role columns
• User Specific Columns - Per-user data storage
• Table Row Counts - Accurate counts with CSV export

Known performance anti-patterns (from Glide docs):

• Query columns - Slower than Relations for Glide Tables
• Query on same table - Can crash the app (source)
• Nested computed columns - Cause slowdowns with large datasets
• Filtering on computed columns - Forces entire table recalculation
• Tables approaching 25,000 rows - Need Big Tables migration

Layout Analysis

• Collection item counts - More than 24 items hurts performance
• Image sizes - Large images slow rendering
• First screen weight - Heavy first screens hurt perceived performance

How to Use

Basic Usage

/app-audit https://go.glideapps.com/app/abc123

The audit will:

1. Extract app ID from URL
2. Connect to app and retrieve API token
3. Run Performance Analysis to find slow columns
4. Analyze data structure via API + browser
5. Inspect layout via browser automation
6. Generate markdown report with findings

What You'll Get

A report identifying:

• Columns exceeding 100ms - From Performance Analysis
• Query columns that could be Relations - Glide's recommended optimization
• Tables approaching row limits - 25,000 for Glide Tables
• Computed column dependencies - Chains that may cause cascading delays
• Layout issues - Collections, images, screen weight

Audit Workflow

Phase 1: Connect to App

1. Parse Glide app URL to extract App ID
2. Navigate to app in browser
3. Extract API token via "Show API" panel

Phase 2: Run Performance Analysis

1. Open Data Editor
2. Click Performance Analysis button
3. Document all columns showing ⚠️ warning (>100ms)
4. Note which tables have performance issues

Phase 3: Data Structure Analysis

Via API:

• Fetch all tables (GET /tables) for row counts
• Check tables approaching 25,000 row limit

Via Browser (computed columns not in API):

• Inspect computed column types in Data Editor
• Trace column dependencies to build dependency graph
• Identify Query columns that could be Relations
• Check for queries on same table (critical issue)

Via Dev Tools (if available):

• Get complete dependency analysis instantly
• Export column dependency data

Phase 4: Layout Analysis

1. Navigate to Layout Editor
2. For each screen:
   • Check collection configurations (pagination, limits)
   • Note image usage and sizes
   • Identify heavy first screens

Phase 5: Generate Report

1. List columns exceeding 100ms threshold
2. Document row counts vs limits
3. Map computed column dependencies
4. Note Query → Relation optimization opportunities
5. Include recommendations based on Glide best practices

Known Performance Issues

From Glide Documentation

Issue	Why It's Slow	Recommendation
Query columns	Full table scan	Use Relations instead when matching exact values
Query on same table	Can crash app	Never do this - restructure data
Nested computed columns	Cascade delays	Minimize chain depth, use Performance Analysis to identify
Filtering on computed columns	Full table recalc	Filter on basic columns when possible
Large collections	Heavy rendering	Limit to 24 items, use pagination
Large images	Slow download	Keep under 1,500px
External data sources	Sync delays	Prefer Glide Tables for real-time data

What Performance Analysis Shows

Glide's built-in Performance Analysis tool (Data Editor → Performance Analysis) shows:

• ⚠️ Warning: Column takes >100ms to compute
• ✅ OK: Column computes in <100ms

Focus optimization efforts on columns with ⚠️ warnings.

Dependency Diagrams

The audit generates a Mermaid diagram showing computed column relationships:

flowchart BT
    subgraph Table["Table Name"]
        A["Basic Column"] --> B["Relation"]
        B --> C["Rollup"]
        C --> D["If-Then-Else"]
    end

This helps visualize:

• Which columns depend on others
• How deep the dependency chains go
• Where to focus optimization

Supporting Documentation

Glide Official:

• Performance Analysis
• Query Column Limits
• Build for Speed and Scale
• Big Tables Guide

Community:

• Performance Tips & Tricks

Plugin procedures:

• procedures/fetch-app-data.md - Data extraction
• procedures/analyze-layout.md - UI inspection

Limitations

• 100% Read-only - Does NOT modify app structure, settings, data, or components
• Performance Analysis required - For accurate timing data, run Glide's built-in tool
• Dev Tools limited access - Only available to Glide internal users
• Large apps take time - Complex apps may need 1-2 minutes to audit

Safety Note: The audit tool uses only GET requests (API) and read-only browser navigation. It never clicks Save, Update, or any modification buttons.

When to Run an Audit

• When users report slowness - Start with Performance Analysis
• Before launch - Check for obvious issues
• Approaching 25,000 rows - Plan Big Tables migration
• After adding Query columns - Verify they can't be Relations
• Regular maintenance - Quarterly check for growing apps