See Jane Code has posted a preview release of JaneBUILDER for PHP and MySQL, which is described as "a visual editor for PHP [allowing] users to build complex PHP pages by dragging and dropping." The final version ($100) is expected to ship in the next few weeks.
Comments
This is the best news for ages, at long last we won't need to relie on a coder using a PC to make my pages dymanic...
No offence intended to Coders or PC's but they both cost so much to feed and maintain, at long last we'll be able to make some profit for us... and do what we want with the page design because we can, rather than being told - "oh, I'm not sure if we can do that, it will take another 2 days"
A Design Agency
(60% print cos it pays the bills - 40% web cos we love it)
I'm immensely skeptical of the usefulness of this program. (I mean, for $100?!) Any person who has used PHP/MySQL for 10 minutes with a decent tutorial can write the code this thing generates. I don't see any mention of the more complex side: SQL Joins, etc. Useless.
I would think other PHP developers would agree with me: spend your $100 on a good book instead.
I think your missing my point - as a designer - ie. very little programming skills. This is ideal for our needs. I wish i had the time to read and learn ANOTHER book on how to programme in... but I don't. I'm trying to run a business with 8 people which already takes up 400 hrs of my time every week...
...so please, rather than knocking something before you've even tried it. take a look and maybe there's a little something in there for you that will make your life easier.
:-)
A Design Agency
That's pretty impressive for a weeks worth of work. I thought I was doing pretty good working 167 hours a week, with 6 minutes for sleep and 3 for eating ( 1 minute per meal ) each day. I guess I'll have to cut back if I'm gonna compete with you though...
Seriously though, I'll take a look at this, but I'll be very surprised if it achieves what it says on more than simple queries...which means a coder will still be needed for the real stuff. Still I guess the coder could then work only on serious stuff rather than minor selects for everyone... Have to see I guess...but my first instinct is to agree with the fellow who suggested you spend the money on a decent book...and it'd only cost half as much.
SC
As a general rule, you are always better off learning how something actually works (HTML, PHP, SQL, etc.) rather than learning how to use a piece of software (FrontPage, Dreamweaver, GoLive).
Think of it this way ... what if someone said "oh, great! PageMaker is even easier to use now! Now we won't have to wait on our design agency to put together a brochure or newsltter for us, we can just do it ourselves, because we have this piece of software that is easy to use." Obviously, that person may still lack actual design skill, as well as communications training, editing skills, etc. The same is tru of those who prefer an easy solution to web development. Learning what the code can do and can't, how the languages work, can help you understand how to best address the needs of your client.
So use this tool, yes, but ALSO invest a little time and energy understanding what PHP/MySQL/etc. is and how it actually works. You'll be thankful in the long run.
Ok, to 400 hours guy:
I gave Jane a chance just now and checked it out. If you are considering buying this at any price higher than free, then you are getting ripped off. The functionality is incredibly weak. Sure, it seems to write code correctly, but it's definitely not the best tool for the job. The code it does write could be learned the old fashioned way in less than an afternoon.
You basically have to open Jane, enter all your database info, including each table, for it to be of any use. It would take far less time to just write the code by hand.
Anyway, if you think it''s right for you, then have at it. However, I would strongly suggest that you spend $19.99 on a good book, instead. I recommend "PHP Essentials" by Julie Meloni - ISBN: 0-7615-2729-X It's the first one I read, and it was very helpful. The stuff that Jane does is pretty much covered in the first chapter. I learned it in an afternoon.
Why pay some PC person to code when you can pay a Mac person to code?
Code, Jane, code!
There are people who can't even use AppleScript after being shown how it works.
Any time there is a GUI app that can "shortcut" writing code ppl jump on it so they don't have to learn to code.
Yes you can write HTML by hand, but try doing complex CSS, JavaScript and DHTML by hand and then use GoLive or Dreamweaver.
Knowing the Code can help you understand why things work (or don't), but its not always required to use something. People drive cars who have no clue how the engine, tranny works or how to fix them if they break. We don't tell (force) them to be a mechanic, they simply go to someone who is and has all the proper tools.
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Mac OS X?
This looks interesting, but a Mac OS X version is "coming soon"? It seems like a PHP tool would be a natural fit for Mac OS X, considering it doesn't even run on Mac OS 9 without something like WebTen.