Figma's New Features: Dev Mode, Variables, Advanced Prototyping, and More
Figma is a popular design tool that enables teams to collaborate on projects in real time. Figma has recently announced some exciting new features and updates that will make design and development work more efficient, expressive, and realistic. In this article, we will explore some of these features and how they can benefit you.
Dev Mode: A new workspace for developers
Dev Mode is a new feature that allows developers to inspect and export design information from Figma files without switching tools or contexts. Dev Mode is like a browser inspector for Figma files, where you can hover and click on any object on the canvas and get measurements, specifications, styles, assets, and code snippets. You can also customize the code appearance using plugins and integrate with other tools like Jira, GitHub, and Storybook. Dev Mode also helps you keep track of design changes and versions, as well as communicate the readiness of frames for development using labels. Dev Mode is currently in beta and available for free for all users throughout 2023.
Variables: A way to create adaptable designs
Variables are a new feature that allows you to store reusable values and apply them to your designs. You can use variables for colors, numbers, texts, and booleans, and create different modes for different themes or contexts. For example, you can create a light mode and a dark mode for your app using color variables and switch between them easily. You can also use variables to create dynamic prototypes using mathematical expressions and logic operators. Variables are available to everyone, while plugin and REST APIs for variables are exclusive to the Enterprise plan.
Advanced prototyping: A way to make more realistic prototypes
Figma has also introduced some new features that allow you to create more dynamic and realistic prototypes using fewer frames and interactions. Some of these features include:
Variable interactions: You can use variables to set and modify values in your prototypes without creating multiple frames or variants. For example, you can use a number variable to create a slider that changes the value of a text layer.
Unlock mathematical expressions: You can use operators like add, subtract, multiply, and divide to generate dynamic string or number values in your prototypes. For example, you can use an expression to calculate the total price of items in a shopping cart.
Logic operators: You can use operators like equal to, not equal to, greater than, less than, etc., to create conditional logic in your prototypes. For example, you can use a logic operator to show an error message if a user enters an invalid email address.
Advanced animations: You can use easing curves and delays to create more natural and smooth animations in your prototypes. For example, you can use an easing curve to create a bounce effect for a button.
These features and updates are just some of the ways that Figma is empowering teams to design, prototype, and build better products. To learn more about these features and how to use them, visit the Figma blog post here at - https://www.figma.com/blog/config-2023-recap/.
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