Working on a simple application to let a group have a set of forms in which they collect data. Something like a simplistic form of WuFoo which lets the group update their forms and save the data to a backing data store.

First level idea: use Google Forms. Forms are very readily editable, even by non-technical folk, data’s saved to a backing spreadsheet, and you can use Google’s tools for analysis.

Implemented a first pass solution:

Advantages:
– data validation, either through their selections, through regular expressions, or (not yet tested) scripts
– really easy to share the form’s editing and responses with a set of collaborators
– very easy to add new elements
– the control set (textboxes, checkboxes, etc) are non-sophisticated but OK for my needs

Disadvantages:
– No great way to handle theming. You can pick from a set of stock themes, and there’s one sitethat seems to have found a way to handle it, but definitely not something that seems like it’s embedded in the core capability. Since I expect the group to need to adjust this ongoing, this is probably a non-starter
– No great way to link records.. e.g., if I have the same user fill out multiple things, no good way to connect them through.

OK… committed to taking a look at a first-level solution, and this doesn’t seem to be the right one. Next I’ll look at a hosted open-source solution.