Databases at Notion
Databases at Notion

Databases at Notion

Published
April 14, 2024
Tags
Projects
Author
I currently work at Notion on the databases product!

Notion is a connected workspace, software toolmaking tool, blocks-based editor, and more.
Notion is used for a lot of things, including…
Digital life planners, journals, calendars, dashboards! (emberstar1)
Digital life planners, journals, calendars, dashboards! (emberstar1)
Company organizational hubs and task management! (Notion Mastery)
Company organizational hubs and task management! (Notion Mastery)
Meal planning systems! (Marie Poullin)
Meal planning systems! (Marie Poullin)
Second Brains to store knowledge! (Easlo)
Second Brains to store knowledge! (Easlo)
“We give people a software toolmaking tool by disguising Notion as productivity software. Once people get familiar with Notion, they then realize that Notion is built with lego pieces that they can tinker and modify.” - Ivan

Databases presents to users a way to build SQL-like databases, with six supported views: Board, Table, Timeline, Calendar, Gallery, List.
notion image

During my time at Notion, I’ve worked on…

Formulas 2.0

For the new Formulas language update, I built and co-designed the new editor, wrote all the in-app documentation, ran the beta, built several functions, and helped design and build language semantics and mechanics.
Video preview

Performance

Throughout my time at Notion, I’ve made numerous database performance improvements (better computation, caching, rendering) and built performance tooling.

Core UI/UX

I’ve built and co-designed numerous community loved improvements, including…

Database Properties

I rewrote the entire database property rendering codebase (22 property types x 7 formats), rewriting tens of thousands of lines of code and making UI/UX improvements and performance improvements along the way 🙂.
notion image

Community Engagement

I am the primary engineering representative with Notion’s community of power users, creators, and builders, the Notion Ambassadors! I’ve met with hundreds of users, conducted user research, and given product talks.
At Berlin, I gave a talk to 250 Notion community members about the power of Notion and upcoming features!
At Berlin, I gave a talk to 250 Notion community members about the power of Notion and upcoming features!
I also gave a talk and Q&A to 50 Notion Ambassadors about building for Notion, formulas 2.0, and product design philosophy.
I also gave a talk and Q&A to 50 Notion Ambassadors about building for Notion, formulas 2.0, and product design philosophy.