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Show HN: Etch functional visual programming in the browser

letset.ch

20 pointstjsdavies8 comments

How to add nodes? It seems than right-click doesn't work in your canvas/workspace, also it's static, I mean can't zoom in-out, also, the node itself is not collapsible, ...

Also, if I ware you, wouldn't fix input and output nodes, instead I would add input and output nodes into node menu and let they be free on canvas

But I like four things in your approach: collapsible components/lists, typing/defining input values of nodes directly on canvas, adding new variables, and sub-graphs

See how real nodes are: https://github.com/nortikin/sverchok/pull/3284

Hi, thank you this is great feed back I obviously need to look at the UX here. You (currently) double click the background to create new nodes. There are reasons for this but I may need to rethink it.

I will also think again about having input output nodes on the canvas as it does solve some issues. I however prefer the visual metaphor of having them floating at the edge of the screen.

I am considering making it zoomable / pan able but in someways I like the restriction on complexity. I want to encourage people to create "sub-graphs" instead of add more nodes.

I know its not far from perfect yet but EtcH is designed from the ground up to be a "language" rather than a way to wire together pre-defined nodes. Im glad its those innovative parts that you like :)

I know that you want it be as functional as possible

Input --> Function/Relation --> Output

When you talk about language, do you mean you want to build a "textual/visual" solution?

User be able to not only develop visual nodes but also some "simple" textual code define nodes

Everything in EtcH will be purely functional which both simplifies things and allows us to create interesting new features. Lots of influence here from languages like Elm There will be no textual solution as the plan is to make that unnecessary. Instead complex functionality should be built up by composing functionality from a just a few core language features operators, map etc... A good library/module solution will be needed. I haven't quite got to that bit yet.

It is always nice to see a new visual programming language.

Is Etch a new language, the user interface or both?

It this going to be a commercial product? As a creator or many node-based editors, the first thing I wanted to do was look at your graph implimentation.

Thanks for sharing!

Thanks, and lots of good questions. I guess it's both a new language and an interface. It's certainly not based on any others. I did write a bit about the thinking behind it here https://letset.ch/why. Im not quite sure whether it will be a commercial product yet it would be nice to be able to spend my time working on it but I have to pay the bills somehow. If I can I would like to keep it free to use and possibly make it open source.

This looks cool.

thank you!

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