What interface mockup programs are available?

Question

Are there any interface mockup design applications for Ubuntu? I need one in order to design programs or interfaces (internet sites and more).

Answer 1

As has been suggested in many other similar threads, Pencil offers you a nice framework for prototyping and wireframing (even web stuff). And it's free.

I realise you've already said this isn't the answer you're looking for (having been linked to my question on the topic) but my scope is web development... Which is what you say you want to do... If there's something you want to do that Pencil won't let you, I suggest you edit the question to make it more clear exactly what features you need.

---

Edit: There is now a .deb installer available. If this doesn't work for you and you want the standalone version, please follow the instructions below.

The builds are currently only "for" 32bit architectures but you can install and run it just fine on a 64bit machine, you just have to bung this in a terminal (assuming you saved it to your desktop and you only have one file that matches the "evo*deb" search):

sudo dpkg -i --force-architecture ~/Desktop/evo*deb

---

On newer versions of Ubuntu, Pencil needs a launcher script to run it. I'm not sure why but I do know the following works:

1. Create a pencil.sh script in the same directory as the Pencil binary, chmod +x it and inside write:

   #!/bin/sh
   PROGDIR=`dirname $0`
   xulrunner $PROGDIR/application.ini
   

   Then you can launch it by running pencil.sh. Simples.

2. Bit less solid but a bit easier, create a launcher and set its command to:

    bash -c "xulrunner /path/to/Pencil/dir/application.ini"
   

   Or even just:

   xulrunner /path/to/Pencil/dir/application.ini
   

Answer 2

As was mentioned above WireframeSketcher wireframing tool is also available on Ubuntu. Recently I started providing a standalone version so it's not Eclipse only anymore. Give it a try.

Answer 3

I see you mention "internet sites". For web interface mockups, I like to use gomockingbird.com.

It's very quick and web-based, so it will definitely work in Ubuntu. You could probably use it for software application interface development, as well.

Answer 4

I've been playing with Pencil, it's a good program, but I couldn't get any export function to work and I didn't like the program starting a firefox process. In the other hand, I also tried balsamiq mockups, really nice program as well but I ended up sick because they use Adobe Air to make the program available for all platforms, and you already know that Adobe Air doesn't support Linux anymore. Finally I tried Wireframesketcher, I installed it in a few seconds, with an integrated Ubuntu inferface. It's very intuitive and it has got all the features I was looking for. Very powerful program.