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Show HN: Turn JS visualizations into data products anyone can use

blockspring.com

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Re: Show HN: Turn JS visualizations into data products anyone can use

#11

Post by blockspring »

Blahah wrote: post #9

I think this is a cool idea, and the blog post made sense. This is a really nice way of making visualisations reusable. Judging by how others have missed the point though, you might want to work on simplifying the pitch. How about starting the post with a simple diagram explaining the flow like: (code your visualisation) -> (add the BlockSpring API) -> (we generate a web interface for your visualisation) -> (now anyo…

Ha, mind me copying and pasting this until we have time to make a real diagram?

It's funny how much better other people can be at explaining your own product.

And thanks for your feedback. If you have any advice on the API itself or any other ideas, definitely let us know!

Re: Show HN: Turn JS visualizations into data products anyone can use

#12

Post by morgante »

This looks very, very cool. It's basically exactly what I've been looking for to make data journalism easier.

Do you offer some sort of API for using the web interface? I'd love to bake BlockSpring right into our CMS. Feel free to contact me@morgante.net if you'd be interested in discussing.

Re: Show HN: Turn JS visualizations into data products anyone can use

#13

Post by Blahah »

blockspring wrote: post #11
Blahah wrote: post #9

I think this is a cool idea, and the blog post made sense. This is a really nice way of making visualisations reusable. Judging by how others have missed the point though, you might want to work on simplifying the pitch. How about starting the post with a simple diagram explaining the flow like: (code your visualisation) -> (add the BlockSpring API) -> (we generate a web interface for your visualisation) -> (now anyo…

Ha, mind me copying and pasting this until we have time to make a real diagram? It's funny how much better other people can be at explaining your own product. And thanks for your feedback. If you have any advice on the API itself or any other ideas, definitely let us know!

Feel free - all my comments are CC0 :)

Re: Show HN: Turn JS visualizations into data products anyone can use

#15

Post by hackerews »

morgante wrote: post #12

This looks very, very cool. It's basically exactly what I've been looking for to make data journalism easier. Do you offer some sort of API for using the web interface? I'd love to bake BlockSpring right into our CMS. Feel free to contact me@morgante.net if you'd be interested in discussing.

Thanks morgante!

The API for consuming graphs is something we're working on this week.

I'll definitely send you an email. We'd love to hear more about your use case.

Re: Show HN: Turn JS visualizations into data products anyone can use

#16

Post by hackerews »

polskibus wrote: post #14

It's a pity I can't edit sample data in-browser. It would be much easier to do it in-browser for simple data sets - shorter feedback loop.

Interesting - are you picturing editing sample data when you are previewing a graph?

For example, on this page https://www.blockspring.com/graph_templates/60 and the preview modals, you could toy with the sample data so you get a better understanding of how the graph works?

Re: Show HN: Turn JS visualizations into data products anyone can use

#18

Post by blockspring »

frenchhacker wrote: post #17

Very interesting. I like the dashboard look 'n feel. Are you using a pre-existing JS library for the dashboards or did you develop your own ?

Hey thanks frenchhacker. We made some modifications to gridster for the dashboards. It's a great library, check it out - http://gridster.net/.

Re: Show HN: Turn JS visualizations into data products anyone can use

#19

Post by Blahah »

hackerews wrote: post #16
polskibus wrote: post #14

It's a pity I can't edit sample data in-browser. It would be much easier to do it in-browser for simple data sets - shorter feedback loop.

Interesting - are you picturing editing sample data when you are previewing a graph? For example, on this page https://www.blockspring.com/graph_templates/60 and the preview modals, you could toy with the sample data so you get a better understanding of how the graph works?

I also think this would be nice - allowing in-place data editing and copy/paste would be great. It lowers the barrier to trying out the product, which will ultimately engage more people. I actually browsed away from the plot page when I realised I had to upload data to use it (even if I could download the sample data and re-upload it).

Re: Show HN: Turn JS visualizations into data products anyone can use

#20

Post by blockspring »

Blahah wrote: post #19
hackerews wrote: post #16

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Interesting - are you picturing editing sample data when you are previewing a graph? For example, on this page https://www.blockspring.com/graph_templates/60 and the preview modals, you could toy with the sample data so you get a better understanding of how the graph works?

I also think this would be nice - allowing in-place data editing and copy/paste would be great. It lowers the barrier to trying out the product, which will ultimately engage more people. I actually browsed away from the plot page when I realised I had to upload data to use it (even if I could download the sample data and re-upload it).

That's great feedback! We will definitely implement this.
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