Often, a website either looks fantastic or it has complex technical features built in (i.e. a connected database). Just think of typical public transport websites or online shops like Amazon or ebay. Sometimes, it’s not too difficult to see if a website was done by a designer or a programmer. But it does not have to be like that.
WYSIWYG systems ("what you see is what you get") like Squarespace, Jimdo or WIX are based on the HTML5 technology and usually provide a lot of design freedom but do not allow you to access the code for including complex technical functions. However, with some creative „out of the box“ thinking and a few workarounds you can come up with much more than what is usual. An example is the PDF download counter on https://www.blickpunkt-lkw-bus.com/heftarchiv which was implemented with a programmer I trust in summer 2017.
In late 2017, WIX introduced WIX Code. The claim "Creation Without Limits - Sophisticated technology. Advanced web applications." made me curious and put expectations high.
Before offering additional services to my clients, I of course have to test and approve them for myself.
First of all, it was very important for me to know if all fonts that are used in the course of a corporate design and uploaded in the WIX backend, would work seamlessly and displayed correctly in elements created with WIX Code (this is not necessarily the case with other WIX apps). As a corporate designer, a consistent design language across all channels is crucial - fonts are part of that.
I tested WIX Code with data bases I created myself, tables, user input forms and tooltip functions and was delighted to find out that fonts I had uploaded into the WIX backend before worked perfectly fine in all elements created with WIX Code. Hurray :-)
The second crucial point was WIX’s or WIX Code’s compliance with the new EU data protection GDPR coming into effect on 25 May 2018 in EU countries. Please see WIX’s statement below:
Good to know.
MY CONCLUSION:
After three days of intensive testing, I can say that WIX Code really is a well-executed symbiosis of a classic WYSIWYG modular website system with access to the code to a certain extent - I could not find full website code access - in order to get the maximum out of your website. For a well-executed maximum of design and technology.
For quite complex things you still need a programmer or coder if you don’t know how to code. But getting a coder involved in a WIX website project used to be pointless before WIX Code as he would not have had any access to the code, his hands used to be bound. Thanks to WIX Code this has changed.
Design and technology don’t compete with each other any more, but support and complement each other for a maximum user experience. Thank you, WIX, you did really well here. Hats off!
If you need a new website or a website update, simply drop me a message.