Being able to build apps for iOS, Android (and more) without writing any "code" is cool - Illumination Software Creator has been doing it for years.

But wouldn't it be even cooler if you could do it all from a webpage that works on any device (including iOS and Android itself)?

Yes.  The coolness would be off-the-charts.

So I made it happen.

I call it... The App-Make-inator.

Some quick details:

• Visual development, building on the years of experience with Illumination Software Creator.
• Easy to learn and use.  No "coding" required.
• Builds native apps for multiple platforms -- including iOS, Android, Windows Phone, HTML5 and Desktops.
• Completely web-based interface with full support for designing, and building, your app or game right from Chrome on Android and Safari on iOS.
• Free to use to design and test your app or game.  You only pay for a subscription for the platforms you want to ship on.

That's right.  Build an iPhone app from the comfort of your Android tablet (and vice versa).

Here's how it works:

1. Load up the App-Make-inator webpage.
2. Design how your app looks by drag-and-drop.
3. Tell your app what it should do... also by drag-and-drop.
4. Test your app right from the web page.
5. When you're ready to deploy your app, you hit a button and, wham-o, your app is generated (including complete, native source code for the platform you want to release for).

The App-Make-inator will launch publicly in March.  Currently in closed Beta testing.

But wait... there's more.

The source code for the latest version of Illumination Software Creator 5.0 (the Linux/Windows/Mac Desktop-based daddy of the App-Make-inator) is being released under the GPL.

Q: Why release Illumination source code under the GPL?  Why now?

A: The combination of the success of the "pay (what you want) to download" system, combined with the (completely selfish) advantages of having Illumination as an open project that the community can get involved in, makes this a no-brainer.  This isn't an experiment in GPLing a closed source app.  This is the way forward.

The latest versions of Illumination Software Creator will continue to be released on the Download Page here, with the code available on GitHub.

Filed under: App-Make-inator, Game-Make-inator, Illumination, Linux, Open Source, Tech Stuff | Comments Off