Macaw could be the Photoshop of web design

Aiming to make web design as easy as using an image editor, Macaw creates workable code that matches the standards of human developers.

For those who don’t know how to code, creating a website typically means either using online WYSIWYG tools or getting the help of someone who does. Macaw is a new program that aims to make web design as easy as using an image editor, while creating workable code that matches the standards of human developers.

Although many online tools will leave users with a clean-looking site, the code underneath can often be unreadable and badly organized because it’s been written by a computer, meaning any future tweaks become unmanageable. Macaw uses an interface similar to the Adobe Creative Suite, giving designers a visual way of drawing and laying out their sites. Each of the coded aspects of elements can be tweaked in real time using the HTML and CSS settings located in the sidebar. The program is capable of creating fluid grids and responsive pages — commonly used by today’s web developers — as well as saving common styles to be used throughout the site and applied in a click. Most importantly, Macaw outputs clean, semantic code that can be easily navigated by humans. The program was available to buy for USD 99 through its Kickstarter page, which broke its funding target by more than 300 percent. New orders will be taken from the Macaw website in the near future. The video below explains more about the program:

Macaw follows in similar footsteps to platforms such as AppSeed and Pixel Press, which help anyone create apps and computer games, respectively, without the need for code. Are there ways to help amateurs create code visually, while simultaneously teaching them how to program?

Image source: Pixabay