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Ask HN: What to do as a back-end dev and with many app ideas but can't do UX?

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Re: Ask HN: What to do as a back-end dev and with many app ideas but can't do UX?

#21

Post by thebiglebrewski »

micah_chatt wrote: post #20

I literally have experienced this same issue, and was lucky enough to work for a company where building UI/UX around APIs _is_ the product. We're a no-code (but code-extensible) UI platform. https://www.skuid.com/ This isn't meant to be a marketing message, I really actually build UI's around internal API's I write all the time. It is honestly great for side projects and we have multiple F500 organizations that use i…

I know this is pretty common for F500 serving companies, but I had no idea that's what you did from looking at your landing page.

Re: Ask HN: What to do as a back-end dev and with many app ideas but can't do UX?

#22

Post by tim333 »

jdhn wrote: post #15

I would say that your best bet is to stick with an established front end library. Bootstrap[1] is the most well known, but there are others such as UI Kit (not to be confused with Apple's UIKit for iOS)[2]. If you'd like some additional advice, feel free to contact me (email should be in my profile). [1] https://getbootstrap.com/ [2] https://getuikit.com/

And rather than having to write the Bootstrap code you can use something like http://www.layoutit.com/ to drag and drop what you want, then click 'download' to get the css/html.

Also Google 'hackathon starter' for your language. Most languages have some predesigned stuff that's open and you and hack/modify.

Re: Ask HN: What to do as a back-end dev and with many app ideas but can't do UX?

#23

Post by afrophysics »

Most people don't know UI/UX, especially people who teach UI/UX. Prepare to spend 5+ years studying graphic/interface/interactive design if you actually want to get good. Get critiques from lots of people, find online communities that show design principles you want to implement in your style.

Everyone tries to take a logical approach like it's coding, but good design is an artform and should be treated as such. Contrary to common thought right now, you can't be bad at design and good at UX, unless you're a blind person making apps for other blind people.

Re: Ask HN: What to do as a back-end dev and with many app ideas but can't do UX?

#26

Post by gremlinsinc »

programbreeding wrote: post #19
jdhn wrote: post #15

I would say that your best bet is to stick with an established front end library. Bootstrap[1] is the most well known, but there are others such as UI Kit (not to be confused with Apple's UIKit for iOS)[2]. If you'd like some additional advice, feel free to contact me (email should be in my profile). [1] https://getbootstrap.com/ [2] https://getuikit.com/

Be aware that these still require you to have at least a basic understanding of CSS and HTML (the more you need to customize it, the more you'll need to know). Nothing crazy, but don't expect it to be a drag and drop designer. For Bootstrap (UI Kit might be the same but I haven't used it) your best option is to look at their examples[1], find one you like, then view the source code from it. Use that as your starting…

True, but if you have an MVP idea... best bet is just build it --even if it's not perfect/beautiful... just launch.. get some validation for the concept, maybe some early subscribers, and then hire an ui/designer to clean things up a bit.

Re: Ask HN: What to do as a back-end dev and with many app ideas but can't do UX?

#29

Post by micah_chatt »

thebiglebrewski wrote: post #21
micah_chatt wrote: post #20

I literally have experienced this same issue, and was lucky enough to work for a company where building UI/UX around APIs _is_ the product. We're a no-code (but code-extensible) UI platform. https://www.skuid.com/ This isn't meant to be a marketing message, I really actually build UI's around internal API's I write all the time. It is honestly great for side projects and we have multiple F500 organizations that use i…

I know this is pretty common for F500 serving companies, but I had no idea that's what you did from looking at your landing page.

F500 is where the money is at, so that is where the marketing is at (currently). Also, selling (no-code) development software to F500 business units requires explanation, which is a hard problem.

Re: Ask HN: What to do as a back-end dev and with many app ideas but can't do UX?

#30

Post by micah_chatt »

micah_chatt wrote: post #20

I literally have experienced this same issue, and was lucky enough to work for a company where building UI/UX around APIs _is_ the product. We're a no-code (but code-extensible) UI platform. https://www.skuid.com/ This isn't meant to be a marketing message, I really actually build UI's around internal API's I write all the time. It is honestly great for side projects and we have multiple F500 organizations that use i…

Also: You can (for free) remove the 30day trial restriction as a developer: https://www.skuid.com/developer-trial/
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