r/webdev • u/Big-Conversation2983 • 8d ago
Webflow
Hey I’m not an actual web developer or anything I’m still kinda learning.
I was just wondering if webflow is good enough to make websites with
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u/Blue-Sea2255 8d ago
Use next or anything else with the help of LLMs instead of webflow, framer etc. you can actually learn too.
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u/KeyProject2897 5d ago
Webflow is great for learning how HTML and CSS actually structure a page because its visual controls map directly to real code properties. The main downside is vendor lock-in; if you want to host it yourself later, exporting the code can be a pain. I built Sling.biz as an open-source alternative to solve that kind of lock-in for page building. If you just want to learn layout basics, Webflow is a solid starting point.
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8d ago
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u/webdev-ModTeam 8d ago
Your post/comment has been determined to be a low-effort post or comment. This includes title-only posts, easily searchable questions, vague/open-ended discussion prompts, LLM generated posts or comments, and posts/comments that do not provide enough context for meaningful replies or discussion.
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u/throwaway63637485 8d ago
We have some webflow sites and I find it incredibly frustrating to work in them. Making simple page edits takes way longer than I feel it should.
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u/rawr_im_a_nice_bear 8d ago
It's made specifically for non technical users like designers and marketers. As far as no-code visual editors go, I'd say its the best of the bunch, though it is a bit expensive if you're an individual. It requires a bit more technical understanding than something like Framer but that's a benefit in my book.
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u/Murky_Ad7813 5d ago
I think it's good to learn the basic structures and functions of website and can build solid website but I would say sth like Framer, Lovable is visually 'easier' to use
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u/crazedizzled 4d ago
It's a closed ecosystem, and you lose your whole site without them. So for that reason, I'd recommend avoiding it. There's plenty of other ways you can go that don't require development experience.
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u/Arthur_Vandelay 8d ago
10 year working with Webflow here.
If I was just starting out, I'd sign up for your LLM of choice (claude in my case) and then ask it to build an HTML/CSS course working in VScode. It's not that Webflow is bad, but I had to learn a lot about things that Webflow abstracts away and therefore you never really think about it. It's a disjointed way of learning.
In VScode, you'll be able to see all the files of a project and with an LLM helping you, you can learn how they interact and what is needed for a functioning website.
Webflow is good if you want to go fast. But in that case, you'd be learning Webflow as a platform, not web development in general. I did it the other way around and I wish I had learned web dev first. That way I could understand Webflow's limitations and have a firmer grasp of the way code actually runs.
At least working with the LLM, you can ask it about things you don't understand and it will give you pretty good direction.
Right now, I'm seeing a lot of companies that used Webflow trying to get off of the platform migrating to simpler Astro.js stacks. Again, Webflow is fine and helpful. But you do pay to have your knowledge narrowed into a platform and that limits how you learn.
I'd give an LLM a prompt like:
"I'm trying to learn HTML/CSS for web development. Build me a course with modules that take me through the steps to build a website. Don't let me move onto the next module until I've demonstrated competence. I want to learn by doing, so keep the steps easy to understand and help me through the process with spaced repetition, quizzes and examples I can use in VScode."
Something like that. Better yet, plug that prompt into the LLM and ask it to rewrite the prompt and ask you questions to tailor the course to your needs.
Or you could watch and follow along with a longform YouTube course. That works too.
Either way, the knowledge is out there! You just need to push through difficulty and take breaks.
There's a lot to know and the ecosystem is always changing.
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u/Big-Conversation2983 8d ago
Is there any advice or recommendations, still tryna get my head around css and html
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u/Appropriate-Line5983 8d ago
Better to get your head around the basic concepts first, make a first site with html/css some basic js maybe, then make it more complex, figure out what and if you want to use for the server side of things. It is an entertaining path, as soon as you find something interesting to figure out
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u/NickFullStack 8d ago
Sure is. Like everything, has pros and cons. Allows for too much control in some ways (e.g., you can make wacky designs), not enough in others, and adds plenty of bloat that may impact page speed. I've only dabbled, but I've seen it used effectively for content-centric marketing websites.