“WYSIWYG”… What in the heck does that mean? It may sound complicated, but this acronym is actually something that makes app-building simple! (Kind of counterintuitive, I know). WYSIWYG means “what you see is what you get” and in the context of app development, it means the app builder lets you see what your app looks like before publishing it. Some examples of this include Lumavate, Mobile Roadie, Appy Pie, and more. Using a WYSIWYG app builder is a great idea for those who are not super confident in their coding skills and would rather look at what they are building rather than just looking at behind-the-scenes code. WYSIWYG app builders are a great tool to utilize, especially if you are looking at building a Progressive Web App (PWA). Some “expert” web and app developers may try to tell you differently, but don’t let them discourage you! The web is a place for everyone, not just experts. This means that no one should be left behind just because they don’t possess a certain skill set. WYSIWYG app builders can pick up everyone who was initially left behind during the mobile movement and allow everyone to become an app developer.
5 Benefits of a WYSIWYG App Builder:
- Simplicity. Using a WYSIWYG app builder makes building apps simpler than you ever thought they could be. Instead of learning and writing code for an app, you can graphically build an app by placing components onto the app screen and do the whole process visually. Most WYSIWYG app builders provide a drag-and-drop functionality that allows users to pick the component that they want to add into the app, drag it onto the app screen, and drop it exactly where they want it to go. Simple as that!
- Faster. With the help of a WYSIWYG, you can build an app quicker than you can imagine. When using a WYSIWYG app builder you can have your app within a matter of weeks, and if you are building a PWA it could be even faster. This is pretty impressive compared to how long it takes to develop PWAs and apps through coding.
- See Changes as They Are Being Made. When using a WYSIWYG app builder you can see the changes you are making in real-time. So, if you change the color theme of your app, you will instantly see what the new colors look like. This lets you build an app faster because there is not a need to run the app, see what you have changed, decide if you like it, and then go back and make more adjustments as needed.
- Easier to Troubleshoot Errors. Similar to seeing the changes as they are being made, a WYSIWYG app builder makes it a thousand times easier to troubleshoot any problems or errors as they arise because you can see it right away. There is no need to run tests, find the problems, go back and fix them, run another test, etc. Instead, you can see the problem and fix it right away.
- Anyone Can Use It. Lastly, and I personally think the biggest benefit, anyone can use a WYSIWYG app builder. If you have any experience using a text editor (even if it’s as basic as MS Word), you will be able to use a WYSIWYG app builder. This is great for the world of apps and mobile web because it opens it up for so many more people to share info and use their voice to reach people, which is what the web is all about! Lumavate uses a WYSIWYG app builder and has a no-code platform that specifically encourages marketers to develop their own apps. That wouldn’t be possible without the existence of these app builders.
If you are interested in getting started with an app builder, you create a free account with Lumavate. Lumavate allows you to build PWAs with no code required, and see exactly what the app will look like before publishing.