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Ask HN: A React-like framework for building pannable/zoomable canvas apps?

I want to experiment with zoomable, pannable interfaces on the web. Basically, an interface like Figma, but for interacting with different types of structured data. Think: web-ish interfaces for web-ish data on an infinite pannable, zoomable canvas.

Why? I've become incredibly bored with how homogenized the web has become, everything a neat, perfect grid. Moreover, I want to explore what might be possible in building interfaces outside of these repeatable patterns and paradigms.

I'm aware of a few react libraries for rendering to canvas such as react-konva, react-ape, etc. Most of what I've found are plugins for React itself.

That might be the right way to think about the problem, but it might not be. I'm at the earliest exploratory stage of this, so it's worth questioning if React is the right abstraction for this in the first place.

Hence, is there something like React (but not React) for building these types of zoomable/pannable interfaces?

OTOH, maybe React is the right abstraction, in which case, I'd love to hear anyone's experiences building these types of interfaces.

7 points ajsharp 4 years ago 9 comments

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