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Why build another website builder?

makeswift.com

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Re: Why build another website builder?

#11

Post by migueloller »

omarhaneef wrote: post #5
apledger3 wrote: post #2

Hey everyone! With what seems like a new website builder popping up every week, I'm often asked the same question. Why build another one? Here's my answer. We're starting to invite people to our early access program and would love your feedback.

I clicked through the features and handbook. I wanted to test it out without an account but that option was not available. My main question is: does this let you output html+js so that I can upload it on any other site, or does the site stay hosted on your site? Looks neat, btw.

We do all hosting ourselves at the moment. As for trying it out, we're currently in early access and you'll need an invite code to use it but if you apply [1], you'll get one in your inbox pretty quickly.

And thanks!

[1] https://www.makeswift.com/early-access

Re: Why build another website builder?

#13

Post by seibelj »

detritus wrote: post #7

From https://www.makeswift.com/early-access : > Can I host a Makeswift site elsewhere? > Makeswift code can't be exported. Every page created in Makeswift is securely hosted and served via Google Cloud. I'm sorry, maybe I'm just being absolutist and cranky, but this doesn't sound to me like it's a 'website builder' - it's a tool that allows users to create presentations that can be displayed on the web. I get why you…

I consider Shopify a website builder, but I can't export my website to other hosting services.

Re: Why build another website builder?

#14

Post by sfpoet »

detritus wrote: post #7

From https://www.makeswift.com/early-access : > Can I host a Makeswift site elsewhere? > Makeswift code can't be exported. Every page created in Makeswift is securely hosted and served via Google Cloud. I'm sorry, maybe I'm just being absolutist and cranky, but this doesn't sound to me like it's a 'website builder' - it's a tool that allows users to create presentations that can be displayed on the web. I get why you…

No, you are right on. It's really a bespoke to techstars_ solution for Google Cloud. When I think I web, I think HTML and HTTP and all the resources that can be accessed under those two. Note, the web can also be SFTP and a plethora of other resources.

The lock-in here is created by a clever use of the word "Web." It's the same use that allowed marketers at Netscape to call LiveScript JavaScript because it would sell better by bandwagoning on Java. We all know how that went: decades of new users confusing JavaScript and Java. The same mistake is made here by confusing users betweent Makesswift and Swift!

The Web Remembers!

Re: Why build another website builder?

#15

Post by migueloller »

amelius wrote: post #4

Demo doesn't show responsive design, which is important for smartphones/tablets, etc.

You're totally right, this is critical. If you want to check out how we do responsive design, you can do so here [1].

We're constantly iterating on the product so some of the UX and visuals in the videos might be outdated, but the core is the same. We'll be updating these soon!

[1] https://www.makeswift.com/videos/designing-responsively

Re: Why build another website builder?

#16

Post by codegeek »

So is it like a WebFlow competitor ?

I would love a website builder that has Drag Drop CMS capability for non technical users (kinda like page builders in WordPress) but allows clean static HTML export finally (kinda like static site generators). The problem is we either have the WordPress or static site gens.

Re: Why build another website builder?

#18

Post by leviathant »

seibelj wrote: post #13
detritus wrote: post #7

From https://www.makeswift.com/early-access : > Can I host a Makeswift site elsewhere? > Makeswift code can't be exported. Every page created in Makeswift is securely hosted and served via Google Cloud. I'm sorry, maybe I'm just being absolutist and cranky, but this doesn't sound to me like it's a 'website builder' - it's a tool that allows users to create presentations that can be displayed on the web. I get why you…

I consider Shopify a website builder, but I can't export my website to other hosting services.

You could use their APIs to pull your product catalog out, but IIRC their terms of service says that's not allowed if you're migrating to another system.

l.o.l.

Re: Why build another website builder?

#19

Post by detritus »

seibelj wrote: post #13
detritus wrote: post #7

From https://www.makeswift.com/early-access : > Can I host a Makeswift site elsewhere? > Makeswift code can't be exported. Every page created in Makeswift is securely hosted and served via Google Cloud. I'm sorry, maybe I'm just being absolutist and cranky, but this doesn't sound to me like it's a 'website builder' - it's a tool that allows users to create presentations that can be displayed on the web. I get why you…

I consider Shopify a website builder, but I can't export my website to other hosting services.

Good point, although Shopify does solve a very specific problem that's beyond the realm of basic front-end HTML sites.

Although Shopify does allow you to export your webite too - it just won't be able to do very much used elsewhere, without the Liquid-supporting back-end! :)

Re: Why build another website builder?

#20

Post by migueloller »

leviathant wrote: post #18
seibelj wrote: post #13

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I consider Shopify a website builder, but I can't export my website to other hosting services.

You could use their APIs to pull your product catalog out, but IIRC their terms of service says that's not allowed if you're migrating to another system. l.o.l.

Yeah, you can't do that right now. But we do have plans to support self-hosting. We believe it will be table stakes for various customers.

We're a small team of 5 right now, though, and decided to focus on the core experience right now.

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