I have been looking at Coffee Cup's CSS Grid (and trying to follow the video tutorials with limited success due to the speed with which the instructor goes at times) as well as considering investigating RSD as a possible replacement for Adobe Muse in the future.
Can someone explain the differences/advantages/disadvantages between these 2 apps - and clarify if the trajectory is (as intimated on this forum) that these will be combined in RSD3 going forward?

Also, what is the difference between the free and paid versions of CSS Grid?

Many thanks

Pete

We don't know exactly yet, how RSD and CGB are to be combined in the new version. We simply have to wait and see.

The free version of CGB was just to make our mouth watering. If you want the updated versions, you need to get the paid version. It has also been said, that those who have paid for CGB won't have to pay for V3.

Hi Inger,

Thanks for your response.
It would be good if someone from Coffee Cup could provide a little more clarity?

What exactly are the updated versions?
What is the road map for RSD and CGB?

What does "it has also been said" mean with regard to pricing?

Thanks

Pete

In emails from their mailing lists, CC said owners of Grid will get RSD V3 for free. There seems to be some major UI changes in RSD V3, that are presently in Grid Builder. In all honesty, once you start using grids, you will not go back. All the RSD V3 will provide for grid users, is ability to edit older designs, there will be nothing of value in using rows/columns for layout. I don't consider getting RSD V3 for free a bonus. There is no reason for me to even buy it, except to use Grid Builder. Using rows, spanning columns, and using flex for layout is antiquated now. Making a set of columns, within another set of columns to act as a sub css layout? It was always insane and complicated. CSS grid makes it easy.

The difference between Grid and RSD 2 is the layout. CSS grids have no rows/columns/column spans. All of that is done within grids. For example, when you create a site, you have to decide the overall amount of columns, then work on spans within that, then position spans. Only recent versions of Bootstrap and Foundation introduced new ways to center odd number of spans using classes for example. CSS Grid tosses that away. When you need a layout, create a container, and give it a grid layout. Once you get the hang of some particular issues, it really is awesome.

The trajectory of web design, will be to toss layouts based on rows and columns, and to use css grid exclusively. CC is on top of this, so are other good html editors.

For some reason, this forum is used little, seems few people have switched over. Not sure why. Maybe because CSS Grid Builder is not final. But I can tell you this, every single person not using CSS Grid Builder are wasting time on layouts when they could be using grids. The RSD forum, is full of people figuring out how to span columns, push, pull, columns, and trying to figure out the best way to flow a design up or having to redesign initial layouts. CSS grid just makes it all easy.

My work schedule has me locked down at the moment but plan on redoing sites in it.

That's a good pitch for Grid Builder

However, you are underselling RSD V3. You will, for example, be able to open old projects and convert them section by section to a grid layout. I made a write up on Medium on the Bootstrap to Grid layout conversion for this interested. The same workflow would hold for going from a Foundation grid to CSS Grid.

There are a few other things RSD has that are not included in Grid Builder. We'll come with more details soon!

Will this be available for coffeegrinder sites?

I was wondering the same, and therefore I opened one of the Coffeegrinder templates in RSD and SD. See the difference (as preview in Ffx). The file names tell which is which.

Yes, you can open Coffeegrinder layouts in V3 but the conversion is not 100% identical (as Inger shows). But you get a head start and don't have to redo everything — it is a great way to start modernizing V1 sites, especially since you can continue to work with older version of (R)SD while you're at it.