Vinko, The same problem goes for desktop and mobile applications.
Anyone with basic computer skills can open Xcode (Apple's developer tools) or Visual Studio (Microsoft) or Eclipse (Java) and drag and drop forms and make buttons and paste lovely graphics to make something look like what could ostensibly be a great UI. However the "view" layer — the forms and visual stuff — is just a part of a much bigger whole. That whole includes all your application logic, interaction with services such as databases and other APIs (e.g. twitter). There are tools that create rudimentary back-ends that do "canned" stuff, and you might even be able to find them in applications like Dreamweaver and the like. There are also tons of really good WYSIWYG-style HTML editors. Have a look at Flux - http://www.theescapers.com/flux/, or Hype - http://tumultco.com/hype/. These produce great-looking, semantic HTML. However to make them do anything beyond looking pretty, you need some development work done. If you want to compare this to building and modelling software, remember that building and modelling are just that. Models. You still need to build the building. Same goes for programming! Hope that helps, Steve On Friday, April 6, 2012 4:42:25 PM UTC+10, Vinko Grgic wrote: > > Hey everyone, > > There is something that has been bothering me for the last six months > or so... > > Why isn't there a visual based web design software tool available that > kicks ass? > > And no, I don't mean that sad excuse for a software = dreamweaver...or > even any of the online "build you website" plug and play kind of apps. > I mean a full fledged, graphic interface software (online or offline, > don't care) that allows primarily graphic designers to make custom > medium complexity websites. > > My background is in architecture, and being a confident visual > designer for some time now...it is frustrating that I have to battle > code, in particular hack away with CSS, HTML and JS to achieve > something. This post is not intended as a whinge, but simply a curious > discussion topic as to why this has not been solved yet. > > With building modelling software we've come leaps and bounds...there > is Revit, ArchiCAD, Microstation, VectorWorks and best of all SketchUp > (so easy it hurts!). These things don't care about 2D limitations (ok, > maybe a little for some of them), and they don't care about the > backend. You can literally build a project in front of your eyes using > the 3D graphic interface. > > What about a software that does that for Web Design? > > Now, I know what you might be thinking...I am aware of the god awful > abstractions that will likely result from such a monstrosity...but how > long before it works great? Or people just no longer care about what > it's doing back there because they are used to it?...I am being naive, > but so be it. Let's talk. > > I think about what must have been the first version of Illustrator, > Photoshop (which still sucks btw), AutoCAD (the father of all CAD's > really). They must have been terrible! And what sort of cactus they > must have made of the "backend"...un-linked vector object, three > dimensional clashing, error after error...with engineers and > architects used to drawing by hand literally pulling their hair out. > But today, it works wonders. > > It's not so much about the hard work of coding...in fact I enjoy most > of it. But normally I am breaking the code to achieve something I > want. It inherently does not want me to succeed, I make it submit. I > am a total newbie at web development, and my perspective must be > altered by that fact (maybe I'm doing it wrong). BUT are there any > other developers out there with a graphic design background that feel > this way? > > My guess at the reasons (not intended to offend anyone): > - the world of programmers is scared shitless of the awful > abstractions that will be caused > - the rule makers (programmers) are purists and believe all must be > done through code > - it can only ever work for plug and play (clip together) standard > type websites (e-commerce, portfolios, contact sheets, blogs...blah > blah) > - it doesn't work with back-end > - it just simply can't be done... > > I highly commend the guys over at http://www.bislr.com/...it seems > they are on this path (or maybe I just want them to be). Even for them > it seems to be compiled of already existing elements...inherent > customization of base elements just isn't all that possible. For small > business owners needing to pay web developers mint to make a basic-ish > website, Bislr will kick ass. > > Let's hear your thoughts, or just criticize me > Vinko (ready-for-anything Grgic) > @vinkogrgic -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Silicon Beach Australia mailing list. Vist http://siliconbeachaustralia.org for more Forum rules 1) No lurkers! It is expected that you introduce yourself. 2) No jobs postings. You can use http://siliconbeachaustralia.org/jobs To post to this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia@googlegroups.com To unsubscribe from this group, send email to silicon-beach-australia+unsubscr...@googlegroups.com For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/silicon-beach-australia?hl=en?hl=en
