[IxDA Discuss] More on Prototyping Tools...

[Scott Bower]

If you want to make it fast, it is relatively simple to create a
roundtrip Flash prototyping tool with a simple CMS system
behind it allowing for quick visual, multi-variable changes when
you are doing user testing. It can be as dynamic as you
want. It integrates easily with PHP/mySQL and you can build custom
visual creation tools/widgets right into the swf backend. The code
is all external and can be easily reused. A friend of mine
built a CMS tool out of Flash (Flash CMS, Flash frontend) that was
an on-the-fly game generator for Cartoon Network 4 years ago. Much like
the design flexibility given to endusers on some Playstation games.
It cut a significant amount of money out of the development process.
You are only limited by your imagination and your programming talent.

Actionscript is becoming a very verbose OOP language and it is
becoming easier for programmers that have never worked
in it to make the switch.

Scott
www.werkplace.com

>
> On 5/15/06, leo.frishberg at exgate.tek.com <leo.frishberg at exgate.tek.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Is Flash a reasonable alternative for a lot less money? I'm 
>> unconvinced
>> that Expressions will have sufficient resources (both in visual and
>> interactive design) for my purposes near term (or maybe ever).
>>
>> Criteria for a prototyping tool for my needs:
>>
>> 1) Create interactive elements with visual design developed within 
>> tool
>> or ability to bring in externally developed imagery
>> 2) Ability to place elements quickly on screen (WYSIWYG)
>> 3) Ability to assign / program interactivity actions
>> 4) Prototype can operate on Wintel machine with minimum of required
>> support infrastructure (i.e., .exe would be fine for us).
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