Show HN: Openexus – Building blocks for the internet • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: Openexus – Building blocks for the internet

#11

Post by lominming » Mon, Jul 31, 2023, 11:28 PM UTC

esafak wrote: post #10

Is this like Yahoo! Pipes? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahoo!_Pipes

Yahoo Pipes (or NodeRed) are what I consider “data flow pipelines” editors. These tools have very distinct characteristics: (A) usually a single piece of data or message that (B) flows through a system in one direction with (C) distinct start and end points.

Couple of core differences with what we are building:

(1) Instead of directional data flow, we have reactive data flow. For example, in the simple utility color example, [RGB Sliders] [Conversion] [HEX Color Wheel] have data flowing bi-directionally where any modules can trigger a change. Users still have the option to decide how data flows, so data flow pipelines are just a subset of what our system can do.

(2) Beyond just data or automation, we focus heavily on UI modules, allowing users to easily express interactive creations.

Re: Show HN: Openexus – Building blocks for the internet

#12

Post by esafak » Mon, Jul 31, 2023, 11:36 PM UTC

lominming wrote: post #11

esafak wrote: post #10

Is this like Yahoo! Pipes? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yahoo!_Pipes

Yahoo Pipes (or NodeRed) are what I consider “data flow pipelines” editors. These tools have very distinct characteristics: (A) usually a single piece of data or message that (B) flows through a system in one direction with (C) distinct start and end points. Couple of core differences with what we are building: (1) Instead of directional data flow, we have reactive data flow. For example, in the simple utility color…

This is not obvious. I would show an icon, maybe a question mark, that explains what it is. Or embed the editor in a regular home page and let users go full screen or open a new window.

Re: Show HN: Openexus – Building blocks for the internet

#13

Post by vdoob » Tue, Aug 01, 2023, 12:19 AM UTC

Very cool demo! I can see the potential here! Couple questions:

1. How do you compare yourselves to other WYSIWYG web app builders? Why would an app- or module- developer invest their time into this platform vs. others?

2. What are your plans for monetization, if any? An app developer might be hesitant to build anything meaningful on top a free tool, fearing that its business model might change at any time.

Re: Show HN: Openexus – Building blocks for the internet

#14

Post by lominming » Tue, Aug 01, 2023, 5:22 AM UTC

esafak wrote: post #12

lominming wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yahoo Pipes (or NodeRed) are what I consider “data flow pipelines” editors. These tools have very distinct characteristics: (A) usually a single piece of data or message that (B) flows through a system in one direction with (C) distinct start and end points. Couple of core differences with what we are building: (1) Instead of directional data flow, we have reactive data flow. For example, in the simple utility color…

This is not obvious. I would show an icon, maybe a question mark, that explains what it is. Or embed the editor in a regular home page and let users go full screen or open a new window.

Thank you for the feedback. Did you by any chance manage to connect the first 2 cells? Once you do that, it will reveal a lot more content, with a more "regular" home page that you can scroll down.