Hey Daniweb!

A bunch of us have been putting together a web-based drawing app. In a nutshell, users connect in real-time to draw or chat on a sort of interactive whiteboard. Plenty of these are made in Flash, but we are determined to build it in JavaScript and HTML5; a site that immediately works on mobile (because it's not Flash), tailors to everybody from drawing tablet users to people who want to screw around, chat and play games — and with an awesome, modern look that other apps lack. The thing that works so well is these kinds of programs give you a lot of freedom of expression that I think by making more accessible we can popularize, and truly get a future-proof, lasting community going.

Current drawing apps aren't too popular as they're not accessible to the host of many devices people use, chatting's not versatile or user-friendly enough to compete with chat sites, and their designs look god-awful like it's still the 90's. So with what we're after, there's insane potential in this project.

http://i.imgur.com/ZBz9gQi.png

This is the interface. I hope it gives you some sense of what we're aspiring for. It's predominantly JS, HTML, and CSS with server-client communication in HTML5's WebSockets, and some points in PHP. If you're good with any of these, message me here, Skype drawplanet or email form@drawplanet.net. I'll be more than happy to answer any questions. And if you're critical of anything, nothing's set in stone. It's very much a by the community, for the community type of project.

Also on the hunt for people good with P2P networking, node.js, SQL, or server management.

Recommended Answers

All 6 Replies

At the moment we're hellbent on completing the first build with full-duplex drawing. A lot of JS goes into developing the tools. PHP's mainly account integration and forum features.
In design there's a separate UI for mobile, and in fact for anybody good with Photoshop or vector graphics there's some cool stuff we're keen to create.

Drop a message, or do Skype or email, if it's a project you want to get behind. :)

Still on the hunt. Fun project, hasn't been done before.

Hi Draw, your project seems really nice. The idea is great and the desktop interface looks good.

I just like to point it out, that, even if the interface it's 100% JS/HTML/CSS it doesn't mean it'll work wonders in all devices.
In a desktop interface you can have all those dialog boxes arround the corner of the drawing board, in tablets and specially phones, you can't. I mean, you can, but it'll be a horror show for people to be able to click the pencil icon that they want.
I hope you already have that in mind.

Another problem that I've had recently with mobiles was about drag and drop. For desktop I usually use jquery ui that work great. But the drag doesn't work for mobiles.

Anyway... I don't think here is the place to look for people to join the team.
Maybe you could try the Business Exchange section of the forum.

Good luck.

Member Avatar for iamthwee

Another problem that I've had recently with mobiles was about drag and drop. For desktop I usually use jquery ui that work great. But the drag doesn't work for mobiles.

If you use jquery punch

http://touchpunch.furf.com

the drag and drop works on mobiles

@Iamthwee, I've tried it once, but I had problems nesting the elements. I was using drag in sort of a tree view, and i wasn't able to make it work at the time.
Maybe I just got bored and gave it up because it was not essential.
Should try again some time.

Hey, sorry for the untimely response,
Right you are on mobile that would be a catastrophy, so that's just the desktop UI. Mobile has a separate UI with touch input in mind. We're looking into Cordova for some mobile development.

There's 7 devs on board at the moment, though we're looking for a little more expertise in some JavaScript frameworks, particularly Meteor. And while data's handled with WebSockets, we're also looking to do WebRTC and for incompatibility switch to WebSockets. Data management otherwise in SQL, and MongoDB or Redis.

Hit me up a message.

Be a part of the DaniWeb community

We're a friendly, industry-focused community of developers, IT pros, digital marketers, and technology enthusiasts meeting, networking, learning, and sharing knowledge.