PencilCase
Dev tools
app builder
SHOW HN2015
52points
29comments
#547of 2,565 in 2015
Top 22%of 2015 by points
How HN took it
MixedNo clear lean
5 positive, 10 neutral or asking, 0 mixed, 6 critical, out of 21 comments about the project. Thread score -0.01.
Pricing: 2 for, 5 againstIdea: 2 for, 0 against
The thread, comment by comment
Each row is a top-level comment and its replies, in HN's order. Select a cell to open that comment on HN.
positive neutral or mixed critical about another commenter or something else the maker
What HN said
What people liked
Interesting concept and solid implementation
From 2 comments
To offer a counterpoint to fit2rule's comment, I'm probably smack in the middle of your target demo (currently employed as a business analyst, technically competent but not a…
brianlash on HNThis is an interesting concept. But I can't help but think it looks like it's focused on UI design interaction, and not necessarily full app design. What provisions are in place…
ssewell on HN
Subscription pricing is fair for business use
From 2 comments
To offer a counterpoint to fit2rule's comment, I'm probably smack in the middle of your target demo (currently employed as a business analyst, technically competent but not a…
brianlash on HNNot arguing with fit2rule--he/she can buy what he/she chooses--but I think a subscription model is Just Fine. If I'm making money or even pursuing a hobby, $300/yr is completely…
midnightmonster on HN
Objections
Subscription pricing is a major turnoff versus a one-time purchase
From 4 comments
Can you justify the subscription model? To me this is a major turnoff.
fit2rule on HNI'd like to buy it once for a fixed price, use the heck out of it, and purchase an upgrade offered to me as a loyal customer, when it happens, if I want to. Milking money out of…
fit2rule on HNI'd rather have a fixed cost than a continuing cost. Why is it better to be paying for a tool every month rather than to own the tool, outright? I'm not seeing the argument for…
fit2rule on HNMy feedback: your subscription model has completely soured me to your product. I get that you have your reasons for choosing the economic position to support your own continued…
fit2rule on HN
Focus may be UI design rather than full app design
From 1 comment
This is an interesting concept. But I can't help but think it looks like it's focused on UI design interaction, and not necessarily full app design. What provisions are in place…
ssewell on HN
Possible App Store policy conflict with downloading and running JavaScript
From 2 comments
Question for the developers: It looks like the iOS app allows you to download apps built with the desktop tool, which supports evaluation of Javascript snippets. Isn't this…
buza on HNThe difference I'm specifically curious about is the issue about 'downloading' arbitrary code and evaluating it. Current app offerings don't have this support because Apple has…
buza on HN
Requests
Offer a cheaper monthly option or a one-time purchase
From 3 comments
The advantage of subscription is that everyone is always running the latest and greatest. Typically software will instead charge for major version releases in the future which…
crayment on HNNot arguing with fit2rule--he/she can buy what he/she chooses--but I think a subscription model is Just Fine. If I'm making money or even pursuing a hobby, $300/yr is completely…
midnightmonster on HNI'd like to buy it once for a fixed price, use the heck out of it, and purchase an upgrade offered to me as a loyal customer, when it happens, if I want to. Milking money out of…
fit2rule on HN
Expose persistent storage, push notifications and external APIs to non-developers
From 2 comments
This is an interesting concept. But I can't help but think it looks like it's focused on UI design interaction, and not necessarily full app design. What provisions are in place…
ssewell on HNOur goal is definitely to allow full app design. Currently we unlock most of these more powerful features by allowing you to write JavaScript. For example we expose a key value…
crayment on HN
Questions
Does it allow access to native APIs?
From 2 comments
This looks great! Does it allow access to the native APIs?
sbashyal on HNDevs here. We use JavaScriptCore to expose native Objective-C APIs. This gives you access to any API we expose right in PencilCase: Studio. To go beyond that we allow exporting…
crayment on HN
Is JavaScript execution allowed under App Store policy?
From 3 comments
Question for the developers: It looks like the iOS app allows you to download apps built with the desktop tool, which supports evaluation of Javascript snippets. Isn't this…
buza on HNHi, one of the devs here! You're correct, PencilCase: Player can evaluate JavaScript using the JavaScriptCore framework included on the device. The App Store already has a lot of…
interstateone on HNYeah, App Store guidelines can be ambiguous, and JavaScriptCore becoming a public framework could be seen as an endorsement of this type of functionality, but we don't have any…
interstateone on HN
Alternatives named
Neonto Studio
From 1 comment
Another tool for designing native iOS apps is Neonto Studio. It supports Android too: http://neonto.com Neonto's generated code is "runtime-free" -- there's no framework or other…
pavlov on HN
Flash Studio
From 2 comments
like flash studio right?
jlebrech on HNI think that's a valid comparison. If Flash Studio was designed today for mobile with some inspiration from HyperCard (specifically how it allowed non developers to build great…
crayment on HN
Xcode
From 1 comment
The gif looks like it does some of what Xcode does...
vermooten on HN