February 12th, 2020 ×
Are Web Dev GUIs Going to Replace Us?
 Wes Bos Host
 Scott Tolinski Host
In this episode of Syntax, Scott and Wes talk about web dev GUIs — what are they, are they going to replace developers, are they good or bad, and more!
Hasura - Sponsor
Hasura is an open source real-time GraphQL engine. It connects to your databases & microservices and instantly gives you a production-ready GraphQL API. Check it out at Hasura.io.
LogRocket - Sponsor
LogRocket lets you replay what users do on your site, helping you reproduce bugs and fix issues faster. It's an exception tracker, a session re-player and a performance monitor. Get 14 days free at logrocket.com/syntax.
Show Notes
1:30 - What is "codeless"?
- The codeless movement is coming in with a force. Are they just selling something? Or is it a real concern?
 - All types of jobs are being replaced by computers
- Truckers
 - Cashiers
 - Lawn mowers
 - Doctors
 - Why not web developers?
 
 
7:22 - First experience building sites with a GUI?
10:18 - Entire website builders:
- Wix
 - Squarespace
 - Webflow
 - Modulz
 - Grid.io
 - Wordpress Builders
 
13:17 - When are GUIs useful?
- Brochure site
 - Basic e-commerce
 
20:26 - Is a GUI/Codeless always better?
- It depends what you're capable of doing
 
25:21 - Levels of hell GUI assistance in builders
- CMS - Just modifying content and basic markup
 - Access to code, drag blocks into place
 - No or minimal access to code
 - No modification outside of options
 
31:36 - Are there GUIs for making applications?
- Native Mobile
 - Zapier
 
36:54 - Are jobs at risk?
- 
Yes
- I think a lot of WordPress tinkering has already been replaced
 - The guy who knows what buttons to push is at risk?
 - Webmaster jobs where the roll was just occasionally updating HTML and text
 
 - 
No
- Government
 - Educational institutions
 - Major corporations that can't have their content stored via a service
 
 
39:55 - Our favorite GUIs to help development
- 
Scott:
 - 
Wes:
- Sketch CSS Export
 - Digital Ocean
 - Cyberduck
 - Transmit
 - ZSH
 - VS Code
 
 
Links
- Roomba's first autonomous lawnmower
 - Notepad++
 - Geocities
 - Angelfire
 - Sketch
 - Figma
 - Gatsby
 - Excel
 - Meteor
 - Recurly
 - Gumroad
 - Begin.com
 
××× SIIIIICK ××× PIIIICKS ×××
- Scott: Baron of Botox
 - Wes: Owlet Smart Sock
 
Shameless Plugs
- Scott: How To Build A GraphQL API - Sign up for the year and save 25%!
 - Wes: All Courses - Use the coupon code 'Syntax' for $10 off!
 
Tweet us your tasty treats!
- Scott's Instagram
 - LevelUpTutorials Instagram
 - Wes' Instagram
 - Wes' Twitter
 - Wes' Facebook
 - Scott's Twitter
 - Make sure to include @SyntaxFM in your tweets