Previously, we wrote about ProtoShare, an online prototyping tool that aims to make the process of wireframing and prototyping more collaborative online. Other tools like Balsamiq also exist online, and then there are more offline prototyping tools like Axure, which has, for long, lacked Mac compatibility, but now there is a Mac version in the works.Another online prototyper that didn't get a mention on ThreeMinds before is RapidRabb. Developed in Berlin and originally launched in December 2008, RapidRabb's very similar to ProtoShare in terms of features. The Java-based online editor in RapidRabb seems to offer a few more items/widgets to drop in the wireframes. Compared to Balsamiq, both Protoshare and RapidRabb appear a bit cleaner and more versatile.
With this many online and offline prototyping tools now out, the software tools for rapid prototyping, even if they're not perfect yet, definitely exist. What may be more of a challenge for many design teams is - after they have the tools - how to make collaborative prototyping a truly effective part of the existing process.
Update: RapidRabb has recently changed its name to pidoco.com.
Karri Ojanen
Strategists & Planners
Comments (5)
Hello Karri,
thanks for covering us in your blog. Glad to hear you like it. Just a small glitch: our editor is not really Java-based but runs natively in the browser using JavaScript.
Kind regards,
Silvan from RapidRabb.it
Posted on May 21, 2009 14:41
Thanks for your comment, Silvan. You're right, of course - RapidRabb is not 'Java-based' but uses JavaScript and runs in the browser.
Posted on May 21, 2009 18:43
In the series of rapid prototyping desktop tools, allow me to point you to FlairBuilder.
It's built on Adobe AIR so it's cross-platform and features as large set of fully functional components (links, buttons, tabs etc. all work as expected) and an easy preview mode. Try it online at http://www.flairbuilder.com/demo .
Cheers,
Cristian
Posted on May 24, 2009 03:04
Thanks, Cristian, for pointing out FlairBuilder. I haven't yet had a chance to test it myself, but it seems like a very capable tool as well as the other ones listed earlier.
Posted on May 25, 2009 10:50
Hi Christian,
interesting that you mention flairbuilder, which underlines Karri's statement of more prototyping tools being available today. However I understood the emphasis of the two blog posts to focus on the shift away from desktop/air/single-user tools towards collaborative online tools.
The open question in the end - "how to make collaborative prototyping a truly effective part of the existing process?" - is indeed a challenge. I guess tools that feature real-time-collaboration - like RapidRabb.it or Google Docs - take down barriers in collaboration, simplify communication processes and help co-workers in their daily creative work.
Best regards
Silvan from http://RapidRabb.it
Posted on June 9, 2009 08:48