Development roadmap

[x] Tech tests

First technical tests exploring different technical platforms for ease of development and basic feature support like vector graphics rendering, UI components and file system interaction.

[x] Prototype 0

Technical prototype with basic features more like the application:

• Basic UI layout
• Basic document format with saving and loading
• Basic layers and output generation
• Basic value and color parameters
• Basic export of output

[x] Prototype 1

A first more functional prototype for first round of testing and early structural feedback by selected testers:

• Layer node sequence for generation in layers
• First basic layer nodes (Fill, Stroke, Transform, Repeaters)
• Connections between parameters
• Linked instance layers
• Layer grouping and ungrouping
• Basic view drawing tools (Rectangle, Circle, Polygon, Line)
• Improved UI with collapsing panels
• Basic Undo functionality (Undo of parameter changes)
• Prototype user testing (closed/internal)

[x] Prototype 2

A second more fully featured prototype for a second more in-depth testing with focus on the more basic traditional features, such as drawing and transforming layers, modifying properties, adding layer nodes etc. The focus here being to see how the more fundamental concepts are understood by selected testers experienced with other traditional graphic design software:

Done:

• Inline warnings/help system for nodes, parameters, layers
• Basic text support (Text tool, text node, text parameters and connections)
• Image import support (Bitmap and SVG vector graphics import)
• Improved view tool manipulation (Nested transformed layers, handles for rotating and transforming)
• Randomization features
• Basic OS clipboard integration
• More layer nodes
• Prototype user testing (closed/internal)

[x] Prototype 3

A third prototype with focus on the more advanced parametric features like connections between nodes, value sets and complex relationships for testing by selected testers with more experience/interest in parametric design:

Done:

• Improved connections UI (New connection dragging and improved hierarchical socket connection menu)
• Support for socket sub-component connections (adding connection to/from x or y of size or scales for example)
• Basic document Input parameters management (adding and removing custom Inputs controls)
• Connection expressions/parameter input nodes (modifying parameter input values)
• Prototype user testing (closed/internal)

[-] Prototype 4

In progress

A forth prototype with focus on the more advanced parametric features like importing data sets and applying to elements, for testing by selected testers with more experience/interest in parametric design:

Done:

• Improved layer reordering
• Layer copy and pasting
• Layer generation indexes
• Data imports and use

To do:

• More layer nodes focused on applying effects to groups
• Prototype user testing (closed/internal)

[ ] Prototype 5

A fifth prototype with focus on getting content into the designs, so open testing testers can actually do something with it:

To do:

• Path drawing and editing tools (Custom path drawing and generation)
• Parsing imported SVGs into path elements that can be modified freely and not just used as static images
• Text to outline paths conversion
• Accelerated rendering of basic paths
• Prototype user testing (closed/internal)

Open testing 1

A first round of test versions for testing and feedback by a smaller group of external testers:

Done:

• Basic on-boarding dialogue
• Version/update checking system

To do:

• License system
• Basic sample files
• Basic settings
• More tooltips, warnings and other inline help feature contents

Open testing 2

A second testing version with focus on improvements based on the feedback from the first test and the inclusion of some more complex drawing tools:

• More layer node transformation handles
• More layer nodes
• Allow changing node types
• Additional export formats
• Fixes and improvements based on the first testing rounds

Open testing 3

A third test version for testing and feedback by a larger group of external testers:

• Rendering and generation performance optimization
• Fixes and improvements based on the first testing rounds

1.0 Release

The first full release version available for sale.

• Distribution systems (Download and purchase pages)
• Fixes and improvements based on testing rounds

Future updates

Some possible such future expansions that (probably) won’t make it into the first release:

• Multiple artboard support
• Animation
• Batch processing (setting input parameters from list and exporting outputs)