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Forrst: Where Designers Who Code meet Developers Who Design

15 points by jmonegro 17y ago

kylebragger 17y ago
If you want an invite, email kyle AT forrst . com and mention HN and I'll get you one.
bmelton 17y ago
I'm a recent new user of Forrst, and while I do like it, I was convinced that it wouldn't achieve much market popularity without really great news articles done about it. I've been thinking about it as a Pownce-like app, in more of a Twitter-based format, but I guess the reason for its success is the same as HN's, which is the focus seems very narrow. I like that about it, and as a programmer who designs (that hadn't ever categorized himself in that way before) -- I realize it's a very apt cross-section of what I've encountered on Forrst. Seriously though, it definitely gets a thumbs-up from me, though not necessarily for the masses.
- kylebragger 17y ago
  Glad you're enjoying it thus far. I think you're spot on in saying it's not necessarily going to have mass-appeal. I think it fits that very interesting niche of designer/developer blend. Excited to see where it goes from here.
  - bmelton 17y ago
    The one thing I see lacking in this, so far, is the ability to find like-minded friends. I'm not deep 'in the scene' of either development or design, though I have plenty of developer friends (with a smattering of designers), but it would be neat to connect with NEW people whose work I could appreciate.
    - kylebragger 17y ago
      That is one of the biggest things I'm working on right now. I'm calling it "people you should know" and I'm antsy to release it as soon as possible.
DenisM 17y ago
I skimmed the articles and couldn't figure out what this thing does. Anyone has a tl;dr version? Thanks.
- jmonegro 17y ago
  It's an awesome private, invite-only (for now, though you get a 15 minute window every day to signup without an invite) social network-ish site to share and find stuff for designers and developers.
  - DenisM 17y ago
    I assume you are somehow related to this site. Let me give you a bit of advice: look at that sentence above and realize that you did not get into what it actually does until after 50% into the sentence. I don't really care about "awesome" and "private" part, before I start caring about that I need to know what it can do for me. This is the problem with the article as well. If you want to get the word out you need to cut to the chase.
    - jmonegro 17y ago
      "I assume you are somehow related to this site" ummmm, no? You asked for a tl;dr, I gave you a tl;dr. If you don't like it, maybe you should read the article instead. If I think the site is great and I want to express that, I do. So I'm supposed to hate every site I'm not related to? Or maybe just praise every site I'm related to? edit: changed He for You
      - DenisM 17y ago
        Well, wrong assumption on my part. Never mind.
  - DenisM 17y ago
    So it's just a forum for developers and designers? How is it better than hundreds of other forums out there? Why should I pick this one over all the others?
pbh 17y ago
I have two top level questions for Kyle if he's still around (even though this isn't an Ask HN or Tell HN or anything). First, what is the problem you are trying to solve? Second, what do you think are/will be the key components of your approach? At least to me, the problem I have is that I'm a developer who isn't any good at design. I'd love to be able to make small (and big) projects that look professional. Unfortunately, while I know lots of good developers, I don't know any good designers. Furthermore, working on a web site with someone seems to involve a lot of trust: there's a lot of asymmetric information involved. How does the web designer know I'm really doing anything? How do I know that the web designer is really doing anything? Doing things iteratively can help, but it's obviously not possible to do everything iteratively. I could also try to learn some design skills, but ultimately I think that I'm unlikely to be able to match a decade of specialisation in my free time. It seems like most attempts at solving this problem amount to either portfolio sites or dating/outsourcing style sites. But these approaches don't seem to solve the trust problem. Forrst seems to be trying to make a forum/community for designers, developers, and designers/developers, but I wonder if designers really want to learn about Common Lisp web frameworks, or whether developers are really interested in design problems. I also wonder whether trading links, code snippets, and images can produce the same kind of trust as that produced by working side-by-side on an actual project. That said, this may not be the goal.
- kylebragger 17y ago
  Both good points. > First, what is the problem you are trying to solve? Second, what do you think are/will be the key components of your approach? Before Forrst existed, I didn't really enjoy sharing design- or development-related things on Twitter or Tumblr -- it felt like sharing these things into a black hole. I wanted somewhere that felt more close-knit, and where interesting discussion could be had around those things. For me, Forrst is that place (and I'm hoping others will agree). I don't think you necessarily need to be a designer-developer combo; designers with an interest in development (who may or may not write code, too), and developers who appreciate (or create) design, both could potentially find a good fit on Forrst. One of the biggest goals I have for Forrst is to help people connect and engage with like-minded peers. Am I far off in inferring you see Forrst as a place where you could potentially meet a designer or developer to collaborate with? I think this may be a very interesting -- and plausible -- side effect of having a very focused community. > Forrst seems to be trying to make a forum/community for designers, developers, and designers/developers, but I wonder if designers really want to learn about Common Lisp web frameworks, or whether developers are really interested in design problems. I also wonder whether trading links, code snippets, and images can produce the same kind of trust as that produced by working side-by-side on an actual project. That said, this may not be the goal. Agreed, not 100% of the content posted on Forrst will be relevant to 100% of its users. There are some things in the works that should help to address the filtering problem -- being able to find things that are highly relevant to you is something I hope Forrst help with. Like I mentioned before, I think that even if you're not 100% hybrid dev-designer, anyone with an interest or appreciation for the other side would be at home on Forrst. Feel free to email me at kyle AT forrst.com (or reply here) if there's anything I can clarify for you. -Kyle

15 points by jmonegro 17y ago

If you want an invite, email kyle AT forrst . com and mention HN and I'll get you one.

I'm a recent new user of Forrst, and while I do like it, I was convinced that it wouldn't achieve much market popularity without really great news articles done about it. I've been thinking about it as a Pownce-like app, in more of a Twitter-based format, but I guess the reason for its success is the same as HN's, which is the focus seems very narrow. I like that about it, and as a programmer who designs (that hadn't ever categorized himself in that way before) -- I realize it's a very apt cross-section of what I've encountered on Forrst. Seriously though, it definitely gets a thumbs-up from me, though not necessarily for the masses.

kylebragger 17y ago
Glad you're enjoying it thus far. I think you're spot on in saying it's not necessarily going to have mass-appeal. I think it fits that very interesting niche of designer/developer blend. Excited to see where it goes from here.
- bmelton 17y ago
  The one thing I see lacking in this, so far, is the ability to find like-minded friends. I'm not deep 'in the scene' of either development or design, though I have plenty of developer friends (with a smattering of designers), but it would be neat to connect with NEW people whose work I could appreciate.
  - kylebragger 17y ago
    That is one of the biggest things I'm working on right now. I'm calling it "people you should know" and I'm antsy to release it as soon as possible.

DenisM 17y ago

I skimmed the articles and couldn't figure out what this thing does. Anyone has a tl;dr version? Thanks.

jmonegro 17y ago
It's an awesome private, invite-only (for now, though you get a 15 minute window every day to signup without an invite) social network-ish site to share and find stuff for designers and developers.
- DenisM 17y ago
  I assume you are somehow related to this site. Let me give you a bit of advice: look at that sentence above and realize that you did not get into what it actually does until after 50% into the sentence. I don't really care about "awesome" and "private" part, before I start caring about that I need to know what it can do for me. This is the problem with the article as well. If you want to get the word out you need to cut to the chase.
  - jmonegro 17y ago
    "I assume you are somehow related to this site" ummmm, no? You asked for a tl;dr, I gave you a tl;dr. If you don't like it, maybe you should read the article instead. If I think the site is great and I want to express that, I do. So I'm supposed to hate every site I'm not related to? Or maybe just praise every site I'm related to? edit: changed He for You
    - DenisM 17y ago
      Well, wrong assumption on my part. Never mind.
- DenisM 17y ago
  So it's just a forum for developers and designers? How is it better than hundreds of other forums out there? Why should I pick this one over all the others?

pbh 17y ago

I have two top level questions for Kyle if he's still around (even though this isn't an Ask HN or Tell HN or anything). First, what is the problem you are trying to solve? Second, what do you think are/will be the key components of your approach? At least to me, the problem I have is that I'm a developer who isn't any good at design. I'd love to be able to make small (and big) projects that look professional. Unfortunately, while I know lots of good developers, I don't know any good designers. Furthermore, working on a web site with someone seems to involve a lot of trust: there's a lot of asymmetric information involved. How does the web designer know I'm really doing anything? How do I know that the web designer is really doing anything? Doing things iteratively can help, but it's obviously not possible to do everything iteratively. I could also try to learn some design skills, but ultimately I think that I'm unlikely to be able to match a decade of specialisation in my free time. It seems like most attempts at solving this problem amount to either portfolio sites or dating/outsourcing style sites. But these approaches don't seem to solve the trust problem. Forrst seems to be trying to make a forum/community for designers, developers, and designers/developers, but I wonder if designers really want to learn about Common Lisp web frameworks, or whether developers are really interested in design problems. I also wonder whether trading links, code snippets, and images can produce the same kind of trust as that produced by working side-by-side on an actual project. That said, this may not be the goal.

kylebragger 17y ago
Both good points. > First, what is the problem you are trying to solve? Second, what do you think are/will be the key components of your approach? Before Forrst existed, I didn't really enjoy sharing design- or development-related things on Twitter or Tumblr -- it felt like sharing these things into a black hole. I wanted somewhere that felt more close-knit, and where interesting discussion could be had around those things. For me, Forrst is that place (and I'm hoping others will agree). I don't think you necessarily need to be a designer-developer combo; designers with an interest in development (who may or may not write code, too), and developers who appreciate (or create) design, both could potentially find a good fit on Forrst. One of the biggest goals I have for Forrst is to help people connect and engage with like-minded peers. Am I far off in inferring you see Forrst as a place where you could potentially meet a designer or developer to collaborate with? I think this may be a very interesting -- and plausible -- side effect of having a very focused community. > Forrst seems to be trying to make a forum/community for designers, developers, and designers/developers, but I wonder if designers really want to learn about Common Lisp web frameworks, or whether developers are really interested in design problems. I also wonder whether trading links, code snippets, and images can produce the same kind of trust as that produced by working side-by-side on an actual project. That said, this may not be the goal. Agreed, not 100% of the content posted on Forrst will be relevant to 100% of its users. There are some things in the works that should help to address the filtering problem -- being able to find things that are highly relevant to you is something I hope Forrst help with. Like I mentioned before, I think that even if you're not 100% hybrid dev-designer, anyone with an interest or appreciation for the other side would be at home on Forrst. Feel free to email me at kyle AT forrst.com (or reply here) if there's anything I can clarify for you. -Kyle