[Roast my idea] Figma for webdevelopers - A collaborative canvas (DnD) that exports code
Hello folks,
I am thinking of building a new SaaS app and wanted your validation.
Idea: A drag-n-drop builder (similar to shuffle.dev) which allows designers to create websites directly from the website. The product would have an infinite canvas with ability to link each pages together and export the entire website at once. Also there would be option to load popular component libraries or create own components.
Bonus feature: Users can deploy the website directly via integrations.
What do you think? Do you know someone who would like to use such an app?
Sounds good, but the use case would be for smaller static websites from my point of view. From my experience in larger orgs there are typically not uniform reusable components that would be one size fit all. Often times, when designers have something in mind and the specs from figma are helpful, but from the dev standpoint they can't be used verbatim. There are usually some variances because the components being used are shared across other pages, and implemented slightly differently.
When working with designers for me they have a fundamental understanding of html/css (padding, margins, borders, etc).
I see. What about creative agencies who build websites for clients? Would they find it useful to load components and have a builder to simply drag n drop and export pages?
Yup I could see it being useful in that scenario
Great idea, I'm building it (and profitable but took years) with https://versoly.com/ (no infinite canvas, but not sure how that would work with responsiveness)
Hard part is convincing the world designers can code with visual tools. The second you show code they retreat.
If you're open to partnership can look at building your bonus feature on top of Versoly (worse case you can use that code to build a competitor).
I signed up for an account at Versoly. I'll check it out this week and will see if we my vision matches with the product (and maybe ways how we could work together). Thanks for the offer mate.