The.com raised more than $5 million to encourage innovation in web development. They lead the charge to improve automation, streamline collaboration, and empower users to make their vision a reality online.
Clarke McKinnon is the co-founder of the startup and shares his vision and inspiration to help build the future internet.
“Before The.com, website platforms interpreted your code for you – deciding that a wall must exist between your code and yourself. McKinnon states that we know this because they have all used them for years. “So we decided to create something new in the web building space. A platform that enhances your skills rather than wasting them.
McKinnon says many people agree with us on certain things, and some disagree. “But we are here to impact the internet and give everyone access to the power of a Web Engineer – leveraging automation and systems, versioning and integrations, and other tools.”
Use low-code to empower users.
Despite their ease of use for non-technical users, many “drag-and-drop” website builders are still popular.
These limitations lead to more repetition in web design through templates and pre-built features, which ultimately limits what a user can accomplish. If people cannot create their ideas due to the no-code restrictions, they can either give up or work with an expert developer to bring their vision to life.
This frustration is the source of low-code platform development’s enthusiasm and energy. This enthusiasm and energy have created a market expected to grow from $7.61 million in 2021 to $36.43 million by 2027.
“We don’t want to hide the code. McKinnon states that instead, McKinnon focuses on being a lens and making the web’s genuine building blocks more easily understood, powerful, and enjoyable.
The.com was created to empower creators to realize their vision by providing them with the knowledge and tools to make the internet of their dreams.
McKinnon states that low-code platforms may require a little more knowledge of code basics and how to code-think, but they can be used for the project’s entire life. The right low-code tools could make a big difference for a brand or business. It all comes down to the ability of code and the flexibility of everyday user experience.
Collaboration builds better building blocks for web creators
The.com is not only focused on empowering users with more access to the core elements of a website but also believes in collaboration as a fundamental tenet of its platform.
“The web was always about people. The future of the internet will hinge on how capable we make people. What percentage of people can use it to build it? McKinnon states that the web’s future will be unrecognizable if we can get closer to 1. It will look like The.com but less like a traditional design tool. It will be a place for people to learn, experiment, test, version, share, and automate.
Collaboration is a traditional part of website building. The.com wants to change that. The.com has a unique community marketplace and in-app communication. They also have a library of micro-templates, or blocks, as The.com developers refer to them.
“It is rare for a site to have only one contributor. McKinnon states that The.com values collaboration and community-backed web design. Website creators can break down areas into blocks that can be shared on a free marketplace. The website pieces created by these creators remain the community’s property but can be modified to create something entirely new.
Collaboration is essential for website development. “The internet is constantly evolving, so it is important to collaborate. McKinnon states that creators can inherently build larger websites by borrowing website blocks from other people. “As the community grows, so does the ability of each individual to use the platform. Proper web development happens as a team.
Automating Web Creation Will Increase Its Speed
The.com is also a leader in the industry’s implementation of more efficient automation during website development. Although this is still in its infancy, McKinnon believes that automation will become a key component of web building in the future.
McKinnon says that automation in web development has been a surface-level tool capable of doing minor tasks like populating product pages. It has been limited to a minimal extent in web development, but it was not powerful enough or accessible for anything significant.
The.com is expanding its automation function in web development. This platform allows website creation on a large scale because users can create pages and websites from various data sources, such as Notion Docs and Google Sheets, submissions, forms, Airtables, and other databases.
McKinnon states that this level of automation is new for most companies. Therefore, we don’t yet know how it will be used. We’ve seen people try to automate less apparent tasks, such as proposals, digital signage, and personnel onboarding. This new area is exciting, so we recommend you keep an eye out for it.”
It’s time to go beyond the basics of web development
The fundamentals of website development, such as security and speedy load times, will remain essential. However, companies like The.com will continue to push the boundaries of web development if they don’t have a passion for creating opportunities for creators.
Although the internet has witnessed a lot of innovation, website building is still in its infancy. McKinnon shares that this is where McKinnon’s mission began: to get people to access high-quality fundamentals. “Once they have these, we help bring power to the table.”
The future of the internet is being realized by a solid low-code infrastructure, development tools, better collaboration, and new ways to utilize automation.
McKinnon suggests that you treat your website with respect. Try new things. Keep your website content current and updated often. Automate. Be persistent. You’ll understand what we mean when you look at the platform. The primitives are set up to show how the web works. The forum was also designed to help you get more involved and automated.