Hacker News Board Hacker News, browsed like a classic message board
Live data from Hacker News

CSS editor built with Cappuccino

xeo-css.com

Post reply on HN
Print view View original

11–20 of 28 posts

Re: CSS editor built with Cappuccino

#11

Post by hermanthegerman »

kennywinker wrote: post #9
hermanthegerman wrote: post #6

I find it kind of strange to restrain the rather unlimited possibilities of web pages and web apps to the small subset of interaction patterns that the OS GUI field allows - i have been way more impressed by all the slick, simple interfaces i found in web apps than by recent desktop developments. I wish the ease and beauty and possibilities of web dev would influence the desktop, rather than the other way around.

I agree trying to make desktop style apps in-browser doesn't work, but I don't think the answer is make desktop apps more like browser apps. I can't think of a browser app that I would tolerate if it was presented as a desktop one... I except a -lot- more on the desktop.

Hmm.. web apps are usually half app, half information system, which really supports help systems and stuff like that. I like the way they support me, as connected information and easily provided context is ubiquitous, while desktop apps always give me this feeling that they follow too strict rules to match stuff that probably doesnt need the framework at all..

Re: CSS editor built with Cappuccino

#12

Post by tjarratt »

jrnkntl wrote: post #2

I could never use such an online editor for a couple of reasons: - CSS editing requires a lot of shifting back and forth between preview/css and code completion. A native (mac) app like CSSEdit allows you to open up a 'live preview' that instantly refreshes while you're typing your css. - Access to your local filesystem - Although Cappuccino makes for an 'almost-desktop-like' experience. It's still not the real deal…

a) It's free! b) Their homepage clearly says it's in beta. They probably still have some features they'd like to launch.

So far in the 30 minutes I tooled around with it, I picked up a few interesting ideas for a project I'm working on to teach myself more css. In so far as I've already improved my skills, I'd say I can see myself using this tool. Dropping $40 or more for a native app like CSSEdit is probably a good idea if your work will pay for it (or if you can write it off as a tax expense), but I can't easily afford to do that every time a good app comes around.

In short, this is a decent app at the current price.

Re: CSS editor built with Cappuccino

#13

Post by tjarratt »

Luecke wrote: post #10
jrnkntl wrote: post #2

I could never use such an online editor for a couple of reasons: - CSS editing requires a lot of shifting back and forth between preview/css and code completion. A native (mac) app like CSSEdit allows you to open up a 'live preview' that instantly refreshes while you're typing your css. - Access to your local filesystem - Although Cappuccino makes for an 'almost-desktop-like' experience. It's still not the real deal…

You're looking at the limitations of the application itself, not the potential of it, and not the full potential of what Cappuccino is capable of.

Not to hate on Cappuccino (I'm actually a fan of the framework), but this is the most common defense of web apps that are trying to perform the same functions as native apps. There are some definite strengths here, as well as weaknesses, and it doesn't pay to ignore one while praising the other.

Re: CSS editor built with Cappuccino

#14

Post by gtdminh »

jrnkntl wrote: post #2

I could never use such an online editor for a couple of reasons: - CSS editing requires a lot of shifting back and forth between preview/css and code completion. A native (mac) app like CSSEdit allows you to open up a 'live preview' that instantly refreshes while you're typing your css. - Access to your local filesystem - Although Cappuccino makes for an 'almost-desktop-like' experience. It's still not the real deal…

agree, this looks like the app to advertise their company. i can create the mac GUI flavor without cappucino suction

Re: CSS editor built with Cappuccino

#17

Post by sp4rki »

tjarratt wrote: post #12
jrnkntl wrote: post #2

I could never use such an online editor for a couple of reasons: - CSS editing requires a lot of shifting back and forth between preview/css and code completion. A native (mac) app like CSSEdit allows you to open up a 'live preview' that instantly refreshes while you're typing your css. - Access to your local filesystem - Although Cappuccino makes for an 'almost-desktop-like' experience. It's still not the real deal…

a) It's free! b) Their homepage clearly says it's in beta. They probably still have some features they'd like to launch. So far in the 30 minutes I tooled around with it, I picked up a few interesting ideas for a project I'm working on to teach myself more css. In so far as I've already improved my skills, I'd say I can see myself using this tool. Dropping $40 or more for a native app like CSSEdit is probably a good…

If you're an aspiring painter, you buy brushes, paper, inks, etc. If you're an aspiring CSS guru, you buy the CSS editor that makes you more productive. For me it's Vim (whoa wait... free!), for some it's Textmate, and for most it's CSS Edit. Also in CSS Edit's defense there is no better visual CSS editor, and there hasn't been one for years and years. If you're into CSS I'd reckon buying CSS Edit is the best way to go. If you're going to be into programming also, I'd say take a look into Vim, Emacs, or Textmate and never look back.

Re: CSS editor built with Cappuccino

#18

Post by Luecke »

sp4rki wrote: post #17
tjarratt wrote: post #12

Earlier quoted context omitted.

a) It's free! b) Their homepage clearly says it's in beta. They probably still have some features they'd like to launch. So far in the 30 minutes I tooled around with it, I picked up a few interesting ideas for a project I'm working on to teach myself more css. In so far as I've already improved my skills, I'd say I can see myself using this tool. Dropping $40 or more for a native app like CSSEdit is probably a good…

If you're an aspiring painter, you buy brushes, paper, inks, etc. If you're an aspiring CSS guru, you buy the CSS editor that makes you more productive. For me it's Vim (whoa wait... free!), for some it's Textmate, and for most it's CSS Edit. Also in CSS Edit's defense there is no better visual CSS editor, and there hasn't been one for years and years. If you're into CSS I'd reckon buying CSS Edit is the best way to…

Why look back when you can look forward?

Re: CSS editor built with Cappuccino

#19

Post by Luecke »

kennywinker wrote: post #9
hermanthegerman wrote: post #6

I find it kind of strange to restrain the rather unlimited possibilities of web pages and web apps to the small subset of interaction patterns that the OS GUI field allows - i have been way more impressed by all the slick, simple interfaces i found in web apps than by recent desktop developments. I wish the ease and beauty and possibilities of web dev would influence the desktop, rather than the other way around.

I agree trying to make desktop style apps in-browser doesn't work, but I don't think the answer is make desktop apps more like browser apps. I can't think of a browser app that I would tolerate if it was presented as a desktop one... I except a -lot- more on the desktop.

here are a few that I use all the time…

http://githubissues.heroku.com (a desktop version of this exact app exists)

http://280slides.com/

http://picsengine.com/

It's funny because you're willing to tolerate a lot more crap on the desktop all the time. If a web app has a "loading" screen you say "IT TAKES TOO LONG" even though the desktop counterpart takes twice as long. If the web app UI becomes a bit sluggish people complain, yet desktop UIs become sluggish ALL THE TIME, and no one cares because you're used to it…

The reality is, to build a web app you can't just be at par with the desktop counter part, you have to be BETTER. It's an uphill battle, but tools like Cappuccino and even SproutCore will help, but in the end it's still up to you to make the effort to bring your app up to 120%.

Re: CSS editor built with Cappuccino

#20

Post by sp4rki »

Luecke wrote: post #18
sp4rki wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If you're an aspiring painter, you buy brushes, paper, inks, etc. If you're an aspiring CSS guru, you buy the CSS editor that makes you more productive. For me it's Vim (whoa wait... free!), for some it's Textmate, and for most it's CSS Edit. Also in CSS Edit's defense there is no better visual CSS editor, and there hasn't been one for years and years. If you're into CSS I'd reckon buying CSS Edit is the best way to…

Why look back when you can look forward?

Because regardless of when the tools where created, the important thing is the quality of such tools. I'd rather go with tools that make me productive, while keeping out an eye for the new players, than to be on the cutting edge and lose some of the edge I might get from using 'older tools'
Post reply on HN