Technical Specification

Glimvia is a mobile-first analytics application built on top of Apache Superset, leveraging Superset's APIs and backend capabilities. The app enables users to access and view their Apache Superset dashboards on mobile devices through a fast, intuitive, and mobile-optimized interface. Dashboards are created in the web version and made instantly available on mobile, so business insights and KPIs are always within reach — anytime, anywhere. With secure authentication, real-time data refresh, and interactive filtering, Glimvia empowers professionals to monitor and act on their data wherever business takes them.

• Bring Apache Superset dashboards and business insights to mobile devices.
• Provide a streamlined, intuitive, and responsive user experience tailored for professionals on the move.
• Promote open access to analytics by offering Glimvia free of charge for core features, contributing to the free usage ecosystem and empowering a wider community to make data-driven decisions.

3.1 High-Level Architecture

• Frontend: Custom mobile application (iOS/Android) with a fully responsive interface.
• Backend: Apache Superset server and APIs.
• Database: No backend database is used by the app. Glimvia stores only the Superset instance URL and username locally on the mobile device for authentication and connection purposes.
• Authentication: Secure login using existing Superset credentials (with support for SSO/OAuth2).
• Deployment: Glimvia can be installed on any mobile device running iOS or Android OS, ensuring broad accessibility and portability for users with main focus on mobile at this stage. Tablet support is in the pipeline.

3.2 Architecture Diagram

3.3 Sequence Diagram

4.1 User Management

• Secure authentication using Superset credentials.
• No complex setup or extra sign-ups required.
• Role-based access control (RBAC) mapped to Superset roles.

4.2 Dashboard & Visualization

• View dashboards created in the web version of Superset.
• Fully responsive UI for phones and tablets.
• Interactive filtering and drilldowns optimized for mobile.
• Pin favorite dashboards for quick access.
• Share insights with team members directly from the app.

4.3 Data Source Management

• Data Source Management is not provided.

4.4 Advanced Features

• Real-time data refresh for up-to-date insights.
• Push notifications and alerts for key metrics and KPIs. (In future)
• Low-bandwidth mode for optimized performance on slower connections.
• Multiple Superset instance support for easy workspace switching.
• Customizable and extendable features to fit unique business needs.
• Custom CSS templates for branding. (In future)

4.5 Usage Guidelines and Recommendations

Users should adhere to the following rules when using Glimvia:

1. Superset Version Compatibility: Glimvia is built on Apache Superset version 5.0.0. Using older Superset versions may result in compatibility issues or broken functionality. It is strongly recommended to upgrade your Superset instance to the latest 5.0.0 release before connecting with Glimvia.
2. App Version Updates: We continuously upgrade Glimvia to align with new Superset releases. When Superset launches major updates (e.g., 6.x or 7.x), we will release a compatible version of Glimvia within a few weeks. Users should keep their app updated to ensure seamless operation and access to new features.
3. Secure Connections Only: Glimvia supports only HTTPS URLs for Superset instances. If your Superset deployment is not secured with HTTPS, you must migrate to a secure connection before using the app. Security is a top priority, and unsecured connections are not supported.

4.6 When will it not work

1. If you don't have a secure connection to Superset.
2. If you have overridden Superset authentication with different SSOs like Keycloak, AWS auth, etc.
3. If you are trying to view dashboards which are loaded with a database like the sample dashboards of Superset. (In case of sample dashboards, open each chart in edit mode & save it manually.)

• Utilize Superset REST APIs for:
  • Authentication & Authorization
  • Dashboard retrieval and management
  • Chart data access
  • User and role management
• Handle authentication tokens and session management securely.

• Performance: Fast dashboard and chart loading via data caching & pagination of dashboards & charts.
• Security: Security of Superset APIs in mobile.
• Compliance: Adhere to data privacy and governance standards.
• Reliability: Regular updates and continuous feature improvements.

• Easily installable on any device running iOS or Android OS.

• Apache Superset Documentation