Stories with Tag drag and drop

• Show HN: I Built a Visual Workflow Automation Platform – FlowRipple

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  Posted: 2025-02-22 14:20:04

  Verbose tl;dr

  FlowRipple is a visual workflow automation platform designed for building and managing complex workflows without code. It features a drag-and-drop interface for connecting pre-built blocks representing various actions, including integrations with popular apps, webhooks, and custom code execution. FlowRipple aims to simplify automation for both technical and non-technical users, allowing them to automate tasks, connect services, and streamline processes across their work or personal projects. Its visual nature offers a clear overview of the workflow logic and facilitates easier debugging and modification.

  The Hacker News post titled "Show HN: I Built a Visual Workflow Automation Platform – FlowRipple" introduces FlowRipple, a newly developed platform designed to empower users to create and manage complex workflows visually, without needing to write code. FlowRipple aims to simplify automation by providing a drag-and-drop interface where users can connect various pre-built modules, representing different actions or steps in a workflow. These modules can encompass a wide range of functionalities, from simple tasks like sending emails and manipulating data to more complex integrations with third-party services and APIs.

  The platform emphasizes a user-friendly experience, allowing individuals and businesses to automate repetitive processes and streamline operations, regardless of their technical expertise. The visual nature of FlowRipple facilitates a clear understanding of the workflow logic, enabling users to easily design, modify, and debug their automations. This visual representation promotes collaboration and allows for quick identification of bottlenecks or areas for improvement within a workflow.

  FlowRipple offers a library of pre-built connectors to popular applications and services, expanding the platform's versatility and integration capabilities. This allows users to connect their workflows with tools they already use, automating tasks across different platforms and centralizing their automation logic within FlowRipple. The platform also boasts features such as data manipulation and transformation capabilities, enabling users to process and refine data as it flows through their workflows. This allows for more complex automation scenarios and greater control over the data being handled.

  Furthermore, FlowRipple emphasizes real-time monitoring and execution logging, providing users with insights into the performance of their workflows. This allows for proactive identification of issues and facilitates optimization of automation processes. The platform's architecture is designed for scalability and robustness, enabling users to handle both simple and complex workflows reliably. In essence, FlowRipple presents itself as a comprehensive solution for visual workflow automation, empowering users to automate a wide range of tasks and processes efficiently and intuitively.

  • Workflow Automation
  • visual programming
  • No-Code
  • Low-Code
  • flow-based programming
  • automation platform
  • SaaS
  • drag and drop
  • process automation
  • business process management
  • BPM
  • workflow orchestration
  • cloud-based
  • Integration
  • API Integration

  Summary of Comments ( 35 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43139138

  Verbose tl;dr

  Hacker News users discussed the complexity of visual programming tools like FlowRipple, with some arguing that text-based systems, despite their steeper learning curve, offer greater flexibility and control for complex automations. Concerns were raised about vendor lock-in with proprietary platforms and the potential difficulties of debugging visual workflows. The lack of a free tier and the high pricing for FlowRipple's paid plans were also criticized, with comparisons made to cheaper or open-source alternatives. Some commenters expressed interest in seeing more technical details about the platform's implementation, particularly regarding its handling of complex branching logic and error handling. Others praised the clean UI and the potential usefulness of such a tool for non-programmers, but ultimately felt the current offering was too expensive for individual users or small businesses.

  The Hacker News post "Show HN: I Built a Visual Workflow Automation Platform – FlowRipple" generated several comments discussing the platform and related topics.

  Several commenters expressed interest in the project and offered positive feedback. One user appreciated the clean UI and found the platform intriguing, especially the ability to create custom components. They inquired about the underlying technology used to build FlowRipple. Another commenter praised the project for focusing on self-hosting and using local storage instead of relying on cloud services, a feature they considered valuable.

  The discussion also delved into technical details and comparisons with existing tools. One user compared FlowRipple to n8n, another visual workflow automation tool, highlighting potential benefits of FlowRipple. Another commenter discussed the challenges of building such a platform, acknowledging the complexities involved in creating a robust and user-friendly system. They specifically mentioned the difficulty of handling errors effectively, prompting the creator to explain their approach to error management within FlowRipple.

  Some users questioned the choice of certain technologies, particularly the use of React for the front-end and Go for the backend, expressing concerns about potential performance bottlenecks and suggesting alternatives. The creator responded to these concerns, explaining the rationale behind their technology choices and outlining plans for future development and optimization.

  Furthermore, a discussion emerged around the business model and potential future development of FlowRipple. One commenter asked about plans for monetization, suggesting a potential market for a self-hosted version, especially among developers. Another user inquired about the intended user base for FlowRipple, suggesting its suitability for technical users familiar with automation tools.

  The creator actively participated in the discussion, responding to questions and providing further insights into the platform's features, development process, and future plans. They acknowledged the feedback received and expressed openness to incorporating suggestions from the community. Overall, the comments reflect a positive reception to FlowRipple, with users expressing interest in its development and offering constructive feedback for improvement.

• Nullboard: Kanban board in a single HTML file

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  Posted: 2024-12-19 14:29:18

  Verbose tl;dr

  Nullboard is a simple Kanban board implemented entirely within a single HTML file. It uses local storage to persist data, eliminating the need for a server or external dependencies. The board allows users to create, edit, and move tasks between customizable columns, offering a lightweight and portable solution for personal task management. Its minimalist design and focus on core Kanban principles make it easy to use and deploy virtually anywhere a web browser is available.

  Nullboard presents a minimalist, self-contained Kanban board implementation entirely within a single HTML file. This means it requires no server-side components, databases, or external dependencies to function. The entire application logic, data storage, and user interface are encapsulated within the HTML document, leveraging the browser's local storage capabilities for persistence.

  The board's core functionality revolves around managing tasks represented as cards. Users can create new cards, edit their content, and move them between user-defined columns representing different stages of a workflow (e.g., "To Do," "In Progress," "Done"). This movement simulates the progression of tasks through the workflow visualized on the Kanban board.

  Data persistence is achieved using the browser's localStorage mechanism. Whenever changes are made to the board's state, such as adding, modifying, or moving a card, the updated board configuration is automatically saved to the browser's local storage. This ensures that the board's state is preserved across browser sessions, allowing users to return to their work where they left off.

  The user interface is simple and functional. It consists of a series of columns represented as visually distinct sections. Within each column, tasks are displayed as cards containing editable text. Users interact with the board through intuitive drag-and-drop actions to move cards between columns and in-place editing to modify card content. The minimalist design prioritizes functionality over elaborate styling, resulting in a lightweight and fast-loading application.

  Because Nullboard is entirely self-contained within a single HTML file, it offers several advantages, including ease of deployment, portability, and offline functionality. Users can simply download the HTML file and open it in any web browser to start using the Kanban board without any installation or configuration. This makes it highly portable and accessible from any device with a web browser. Furthermore, the offline functionality allows users to continue working even without an internet connection, with changes being saved locally and synchronized when connectivity is restored. This self-contained nature also simplifies backup and sharing, as the entire application state is contained within a single file.

  • kanban
  • html
  • javascript
  • single file
  • offline
  • productivity
  • project management
  • todo list
  • web application
  • client-side
  • no server
  • simple
  • lightweight
  • Open Source
  • GitHub
  • nullboard
  • self-hosted
  • static site
  • single page application
  • drag and drop
  • single file web application

  Summary of Comments ( 179 )
  https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42461688

  Verbose tl;dr

  Hacker News commenters generally praised Nullboard for its simplicity and self-contained nature, finding it a refreshing alternative to complex project management software. Several appreciated the lack of JavaScript, noting its speed and security benefits. Some suggested potential improvements, such as adding basic features like task dependencies, due dates, or collaborative editing, while acknowledging the potential trade-off with the current minimalist design. A few pointed out the limitations of using local storage and the potential for data loss, recommending alternative storage methods for more robust usage. Others highlighted the value for personal task management or small teams, where simplicity trumps feature richness. The ability to easily modify and customize the HTML was also seen as a positive.

  The Hacker News post for Nullboard, a single HTML file Kanban board, has several comments discussing its merits and drawbacks.

  Several commenters appreciate the simplicity and self-contained nature of Nullboard. One user highlights its usefulness for quick, local task management, especially when dealing with sensitive data that they might hesitate to put on a cloud service. They specifically mention using it for organizing personal tasks and small projects. Another commenter echoes this sentiment, praising its offline capability and the absence of any server-side components. The ease of use and portability (simply downloading the HTML file) are also repeatedly mentioned as positive aspects.

  The discussion then delves into the limitations of saving data within the browser's local storage. Commenters acknowledge that while convenient, this method isn't robust and can be lost if the browser's data is cleared. One user suggests potential improvements, such as adding functionality to export and import the board's data as a JSON file, allowing for backup and transfer between devices. This suggestion sparks further discussion about other potential features, including the possibility of syncing with cloud storage services or using IndexedDB for more persistent local storage.

  Some commenters also compare Nullboard to other similar minimalist project management tools. One user mentions using a simple Trello board for similar purposes, while another suggests exploring Taskwarrior, a command-line task management tool. This comparison highlights the variety of simple project management tools available and the different preferences users have.

  The lack of collaboration features is also noted. While acknowledged as a limitation, some view this as a benefit, emphasizing the focus on individual task management. One commenter also notes the project's similarity to a "poor man's Trello," further highlighting its basic functionality.

  Finally, some technical aspects are touched upon. One commenter inquires about the framework used, to which the creator (also present in the comments) responds that it's built with Preact. This clarifies the technical underpinnings of the project and showcases its lightweight nature. Another comment delves into the specific usage of local storage and how refreshing the page retains the data.