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Nodes.io – A new way to create with code

nodes.io

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Re: Nodes.io – A new way to create with code

#71

Post by pharke »

After taking a quick look at existing visual scripting tools[0], it seems like the main feature differentiating this from the others is that the nodes are code modules instead of primitives. I think this is where visual programming can really shine, write modules in a text editor and then wire them up in a visual editor. This gives you the high level, conceptual view of the program flow without the excessively verbose visual spaghetti of wiring up individual operations and control flow statements. I think UE4's blueprints can work this way as well, writing a new node in C++ and then wiring it up, but they're not really portable to the wider development ecosystem.

[0] https://github.com/ivanreese/visual-programming-codex/blob/m...

Re: Nodes.io – A new way to create with code

#72

Post by chrisweekly »

galfarragem wrote: post #57

Unpopular idea here (from a hobbyist programmer). I would "kill" for a text editor/IDE/REPL shaped as a spreadsheet where each cell is a block of code with 2 possible views (text or result) linkable to other cells. This "spreadsheet" would be programming language agnostic (each cell could use a different language) and I could organize/format my cells (location, colors, size, etc) as I wish.

Yes! This concept aligns with MWeststrate's ideas about reactivity / observables, implemented in MobX

https://mobx.js.org/README.html

Re: Nodes.io – A new way to create with code

#73

Post by davidkpiano »

strogonoff wrote: post #39
rgovostes wrote: post #38

Tangentially related, I've been thinking about how it is somewhat difficult to describe state machines in regular textual code, and it would be nice to have a drag-and-drop visual interface for mapping out the states and transitions, then tie regular code to the transition events. Is there anything like that out there? Or a good open source diagramming library that might lend itself to prototyping this?

You might be interested in XState[0] and its visualizer[1]. It is not drag and drop, but it does provide a nice visualization that can help debug state logic. I imagine it’s possible to extend it to support visual manipulation and code generation. Project is JS/TS-specific, however. [0] https://github.com/davidkpiano/xstate [1] https://xstate.js.org/viz/?gist=bbcb4379b36edea0458f597e5eec...

Thanks for sharing!

> It is not drag and drop

> I imagine it’s possible to extend it to support visual manipulation and code generation

It will be soon ;-)

Re: Nodes.io – A new way to create with code

#74

Post by galfarragem »

FractalHQ wrote: post #68
galfarragem wrote: post #57

Unpopular idea here (from a hobbyist programmer). I would "kill" for a text editor/IDE/REPL shaped as a spreadsheet where each cell is a block of code with 2 possible views (text or result) linkable to other cells. This "spreadsheet" would be programming language agnostic (each cell could use a different language) and I could organize/format my cells (location, colors, size, etc) as I wish.

Ellx.io is doing this at the moment afaik

Ellx.io seems promising, I'll toy with it a bit, thanks! Unsurmountable objections:

- not language agnostic (JS only, AFAIK).

- lack of native desktop app to keep it fast.

- not spreadsheet view only. I would then hide/collapse syntax highlighted code inside of cells as I wish.

Re: Nodes.io – A new way to create with code

#75

Post by hermitcrab »

eyelidlessness wrote: post #17
punkbit wrote: post #12

Nodes.io is looking great! *For other HN readers: If you're going to leave a message, can you ask yourself, if it's really worth to be so negative? *

I very seldom share anything of my own here for this reason. It’s cool to have high expectations but it’s really a shame how much people just dump on everything without any consideration for the intent or level of effort that went into something. It’s disheartening. I have a project I’ve just launched that I’m incredibly proud of, with all the warts a just launched thing might have, and I’ve barely mentioned it here…

Trying selling software commercially online for a few years. Your skin will soon thicken up a bit. ;0)

Re: Nodes.io – A new way to create with code

#76

Post by hermitcrab »

fermienrico wrote: post #42
eyelidlessness wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I very seldom share anything of my own here for this reason. It’s cool to have high expectations but it’s really a shame how much people just dump on everything without any consideration for the intent or level of effort that went into something. It’s disheartening. I have a project I’ve just launched that I’m incredibly proud of, with all the warts a just launched thing might have, and I’ve barely mentioned it here…

Why are negative comments bad? I wouldn’t mind at all. Rudeness is not acceptable but people poking holes at your project is a good thing. People poked holes at Dropbox back in the day. Just take negative comments, grow a thick skin and move on. Please don’t hesitate one iota, would love to see your work. The thing is, HN is a pretty safe place to test and get early feedback. Are the comments tell you it sucks? Hey,…

I agree totally. And, as a one-man-band indie developer who is totally dependent on sales of my software to make a living, the pain of low sales is much greater than the pain of any criticsm. Also a lot of the comments have been incredibly useful, even if they were a bit painful.

Re: Nodes.io – A new way to create with code

#77

Post by david-cako »

galfarragem wrote: post #57

Unpopular idea here (from a hobbyist programmer). I would "kill" for a text editor/IDE/REPL shaped as a spreadsheet where each cell is a block of code with 2 possible views (text or result) linkable to other cells. This "spreadsheet" would be programming language agnostic (each cell could use a different language) and I could organize/format my cells (location, colors, size, etc) as I wish.

Replit has touched on this idea, @tylerangert on twitter

Re: Nodes.io – A new way to create with code

#78

Post by ingenieros »

pharke wrote: post #71

After taking a quick look at existing visual scripting tools[0], it seems like the main feature differentiating this from the others is that the nodes are code modules instead of primitives. I think this is where visual programming can really shine, write modules in a text editor and then wire them up in a visual editor. This gives you the high level, conceptual view of the program flow without the excessively verbos…

There's really nothing unique or "differentiating" about nodes.io Plenty of other visual scripting environments offer power users the ability to code their own nodes: cables.gl, TouchDesigner, vvvv, Grasshopper, Houdini.....

Re: Nodes.io – A new way to create with code

#79

Post by ibn_khaldun »

ralusek wrote: post #2

I'm so sick of this ironic brutalist web design. That HTML blue. It's so frequently paired with that gross salmon color.

I have not thought about the irony of “HTML blue” before, but I am not a fan of its use, nor that inner-nostril shade of pink (please don’t insult salmon by calling the color that). I love Space Mono/Grotesk and I don't understand why they chose Space Mono as the body type, when it has a lower x-height and lower weight. They were already using Space Grotesk to begin with for headings and else where (albeit sparingly/unpredictably)...strange.

All of this has nothing to do with the software, which looks really interesting and may be quite successful in the future. But it's worth noting and there's nothing wrong with pointing these things out. ralusek's post should not be so grey.

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