AppCanvas–The Photoshop of Web Applications [Review]

If you are a non-programmer, creating a dynamic web application doesn’t come so naturally to you. Be it about creating a simple ToDo application, a replica of Twitter or even a blog, there are no such tools/utilities to help you get started.

AppCanvas let’s you create complex Web Applications without writing any code. It has a Photoshop like WYSIWYG interface, that is easy to master than most web frameworks that need you to know programming. Apps you create can either be hosted on AppCanvas site or downloaded as PHP/MySQL software. The platform also let’s you add application logic visually by connecting various elements and actions. No programming needed. The Bangalore based startup currently focuses on exporting Web applications as PHP/MySQL but, will soon start exporting to JSP/RoR/Python and also support Native IPhone/IPad applications.

AppCanvas Target Segment

• Non-programmers who want to create custom dynamic applications.
• Appcanvas exports code and allows injecting code for advanced functionality. Developers who want to retain control of their development environment, can still use Appcanvas to do 90% of the work and later modify the code manually.
• Appcanvas, used without its dynamic capabilities, is a powerful tool to design web sites which can be directly exported to HTML. This in itself is a powerful product that many designers and developers want.

Demo Apps

— blog.appcanvas.com. A fully functional blog written from scratch.
— todos.appcanvas.com. A simple todo-list application.
— hackernews.appcanvas.com. A Hackernews (news.ycombinator.com) clone.

As far as monetization is concerned, AppCanvas will probably have to go the Appstore route – i.e. revenue share with developers (who will take certain modules and build/sell apps).

The challenge for the company remains obvious – i.e. reaching out to the right community (which mostly is in US) and now that the cat is out of the bag (i.e. the idea is out in the public), be nimble and fast.

Give AppCanvas a spin and share your comment/feedback with the team. Do you think a vertical focus will help (i.e. say a iPhone.AppCanvas, Android.AppCanvas?).

What’s your take?

[AppCanvas is one of the startups demoed at UnPluGGd.]

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