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Ask HN: How to start coding "our" version of online image editor?

4 points by adlep ↗ HN
Here is the site in question: http://www.signazon.com/car-magnets/business-magnetic-signs/computer-service-store-961.aspx

We are trying to code a web service that is similar to it. But, because we are novice programmers, we'd appreciate any feedback/advice on how to start such a project? Image editors can be done in Flash, Flex, Java, AJAX, and HTML5 Which technology would give us the best results. Please advice. Thanks HN

3 comments

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HardyLeung
If you are considering Flash app, take a look at Picnik and Pixlr to see whether you can really beat them (hard).

If you are considering AJAX, don't. There were a multitude of webapps but they got killed by Flash-based apps (Picnik, Fotoflexer, and Pixlr).

Java (client-side)... not really. Name an advantage over Flash... actually there is one, which is something you can use on Android. This may call for a come-back.

HTML5. Check out Sketchpad. It uses Canvas very well, but there are things that are very hard to do with Canvas (that Picnik/Pixlr has perfected with Flash). It depends on the type of image editor you want to implement. HTML5 may be sufficient. Look into what functionalities Canvas can offer you and cross-check that with what you want to accomplish. Contrary to public perception, HTML5 is not a cure all, certainly not as a platform for image editing.

I hope this is not a homework/research problem :D

adlep
Super answer. Thank you so much for helping us out with this. I am getting ready to start my learning journey and I've asked so that I won't invest my time into picking up a wrong technology for the job - so again - thanks for the advice. And don't worry. This is not a homework problem. Rather, it is my side project called StickyFrames. Lear more in here: http://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=2350347 We have the physical prototypes ready, but we need a well functioning web service to make this product a success.