Today's Deep-Dive: Rallly
Ep. 128

Today's Deep-Dive: Rallly

Episode description

This episode focuses on Rallly, an open-source scheduling tool designed to simplify the process of organizing meetings. It is powered by technology such as Next.js, Prisma, TRPC, and Tailwind CSS, ensuring a fast and visually appealing platform. Rallly allows users to create polls and easily coordinate meeting times, with user-friendly features that cater to both organizers and participants. The tool is accessible for those who may not be tech-savvy, with straightforward installation instructions and a helpful participant guide. While Rallly offers free features, there are also pro options available for advanced integrations and branding, but the free version is sufficient for most users. The reliability of open-source projects like Rallly is emphasized, as they benefit from a community of developers who continuously improve the code. This community aspect fosters transparency and collaboration, making users feel part of a larger movement. The conversation concludes by encouraging listeners to consider the potential of open-source tools in enhancing online collaboration and efficiency. Overall, Rallly stands out as an innovative solution for managing schedules without the frustrations of traditional methods.

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0:00

Hey everyone, and welcome back.

0:01

Today we're diving into something

0:03

I think will be really useful for you,

0:05

especially if you're always the one

0:07

rounding everyone up for meetings.

0:09

Oh yeah, I know that feeling.

0:10

Yeah, right.

0:11

We're talking about Rallly.

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Rallly.

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It's open source, and it makes scheduling so easy.

0:16

Nice.

0:17

And for anyone looking to step into that digital world,

0:19

you should know that this episode is powered by Safe Server.

0:22

They're the experts.

0:23

Yeah, experts in digital transformation

0:25

and software hosting.

0:26

They can help you navigate all that too.

0:28

Check them out at www.safeserver.de.

0:32

Definitely.

0:33

But back to Rallly, we've got two main sources

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for this deep dive.

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The Rallly GitHub repository, where all the code is,

0:39

and their official documentation website,

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which shows you how to use it.

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What's interesting is that even the name Rallly kind of hints

0:47

at what it does, bringing people together just like a Rallly,

0:50

but with an extra L, because, well, the internet's crowded.

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Yeah, it's a fun little detail that shows the personality

0:55

of the project.

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Right.

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But beyond the name, Rallly's built on some impressive

0:59

technology.

1:00

Next.js, Prisma, TRPC, and Tailwind CSS.

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That might sound like a bunch of jargon,

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but basically, it's a recipe for a fast, reliable, and good

1:11

looking platform.

1:12

OK, so let's break that down for those of us

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who aren't coding wizards.

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It sounds like they've used some high quality ingredients

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for this recipe.

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But what I think is really cool is that Rallly is open source.

1:22

Absolutely.

1:22

So anyone can actually look at the code,

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see how it works, or even change it if they want.

1:28

Yeah.

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And if you're really into controlling your own data,

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they even offer self-hosting options.

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Exactly.

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It's all about transparency and giving users choices.

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Think of it like this with traditional software.

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It's like eating at a restaurant.

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You get what they give you.

1:42

Right.

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With open source, it's like having the recipe

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and being able to adjust it to your liking,

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you know, if you're comfortable in the kitchen.

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And speaking of getting comfortable,

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I was looking at the instructions

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for installing Rallly locally.

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And they seem surprisingly straightforward.

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Oh, yeah.

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Yeah, they even have a step-by-step guide.

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So even someone who isn't super tech savvy

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can get it running on their own computer.

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They've really focused on making it accessible.

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But even if you're not interested in self-hosting,

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Rallly is designed to be user-friendly from the start.

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OK.

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You can easily create polls, invite people,

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and let the platform do the hard work of finding

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the best time for everyone.

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And I noticed they have this really helpful participant guide

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in their documentation.

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So even if you're just on the receiving end of a Rallly poll,

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you'll know exactly what to do.

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It's a small detail, but it shows

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they've thought about the whole experience for both the organizer

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and the participants.

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It's all about getting rid of those little annoyances that

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make scheduling a pain.

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Now, something else caught my eye.

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They mentioned pro features.

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Does this mean there are hidden costs?

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Is Rallly going to hit me with a subscription fee

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after I'm already hooked?

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Not at all.

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Rallly offers a really generous amount of features for free.

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The pro options are there for people or organizations

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that need more integrations with other tools

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or really customized branding.

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But for most of us, the free version

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has everything we need to ditch those endless email chains.

3:08

That's awesome to hear.

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It really does seem like they're focused

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on making scheduling easier for everyone,

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no matter what your tech skills are or how much money you have.

3:16

Exactly.

3:17

And that's where the beauty of open source

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really comes through.

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You're not limited to one specific plan or set

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of features.

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If you need more, you can always look at the code yourself

3:28

or even contribute to the project.

3:30

It's a group effort to make scheduling less of a hassle.

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I've always wondered, with open source projects,

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are they reliable?

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I mean, if anyone can change the code,

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doesn't that mean it can be buggy or break down easily?

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I'm thinking about those really important meetings I have.

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I wouldn't want to use a tool that could suddenly

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stop working.

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That's a valid concern.

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It's actually one of the most common misunderstandings

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about open source.

3:52

Really?

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Yeah.

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But the truth is that open source projects often

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have a big community of developers

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who are constantly reviewing and improving the code.

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So it's not just like one person working on it.

4:03

Right.

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It's like having tons of people looking for potential problems

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and working together to fix them.

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This teamwork often leads to very stable and dependable

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software.

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That makes a lot of sense.

4:15

It's like having a built-in quality control

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team working all the time.

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Exactly.

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So with Rallly, you're not just getting a tool.

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You're joining this whole community of people

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who are dedicated to making it better.

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Absolutely.

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And that's a powerful thing about open source.

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You're not just a user.

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You're part of a movement towards more transparent,

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accessible, and collaborative technology.

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So for our listeners out there, what's the main takeaway?

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Why should they try Rallly?

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Well, in a world where we're always

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getting bombarded with information and requests,

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Rallly is a breath of fresh air.

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I like that.

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It helps you take back control of your time and your schedule.

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Think about all that time wasted trying

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to find a meeting time that works for everyone.

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Oh, don't get me started.

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Right.

4:57

Rallly gets rid of that frustration.

5:00

It's efficient, user-friendly, and it's free.

5:02

What's not to like?

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And I think the fact that it's open source

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adds a layer of trust.

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Oh, for sure.

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You can see exactly what you're getting,

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and you're not relying on one company to control everything.

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It's like the difference between buying a ready-made meal

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and having the recipe to make your own amazing dish.

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That's a great analogy.

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And with Rallly, you can even change the recipe

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to fit your needs if you have the technical skills.

5:25

This has been a really interesting deep dive.

5:27

I agree.

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I'm starting to see why Rallly is getting so much attention.

5:31

It's not just another scheduling tool.

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It's a different way of thinking about software

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and how we work together.

5:37

Exactly.

5:38

And it brings up an important question.

5:40

Could open source solutions like Rallly

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become the new normal, not just for scheduling,

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but for other parts of our digital lives?

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That's something to think about.

5:49

As we use more and more online tools,

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the idea of having more transparency and control

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over them is definitely appealing.

5:57

For sure.

5:58

It gives people and communities the power

6:00

to shape the technology they use instead of being

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controlled by big companies.

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Well, it looks like we've reached the end of our deep dive

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into Rallly.

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I don't know about you, but I'm feeling

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a little more optimistic about the future

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of online collaboration.

6:12

And a lot less stressed about scheduling my next meeting.

6:15

Before we go, I want to remind everyone that this deep dive was

6:18

brought to you by Safe Server, the experts in digital

6:21

transformation and software hosting.

6:22

That's right.

6:23

They're the ones who make sure this podcast runs smoothly.

6:26

And they can do the same for your business.

6:27

Check them out at www.safeserver.de.

6:32

They're an awesome resource for anyone

6:34

who wants to navigate the world of digital transformation

6:37

and make technology work for them.

6:39

And with that, we'll leave you with one final thought

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to consider.

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As we move towards a future where everything is online,

6:47

work and life, could open source tools like Rallly

6:50

be the key to making that a better experience?

6:52

More collaborative, efficient, even enjoyable?

6:54

It's definitely worth thinking about.

6:56

And for now, I'd encourage everyone to try out Rallly.

6:58

See how it can change how you schedule things and free up

7:01

time for what really matters.

7:03

For sure.

7:04

And if you're feeling inspired to take on your own digital

7:06

transformation, remember to visit

7:08

safeserver at www.safeserver.de.

7:13

They're the experts at making technology work for you.

7:15

Absolutely.

7:16

Not against you.

7:17

Until next time, happy scheduling, everyone.

7:19

And happy collaborating.