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There a lot of new features coming to Figma every Config, like a Figma version of Powerpoint or Illustrator. But this forum is full of requests related to issues people face building UIs.

Here are some recent Figma updates that are really amazing:

  • Keep aspect ratio
  • Reorder variable modes

These features cannot be replaced with plugins or external apps, and they save a lot of time for large projects. But, it took years to implement so much requested concepts. And now, with the new “Grid” feature (which is very much needed) — same situation: it is unusable in its current state. And there’s no hope it will usable when out of beta (as it was with variables).

 

Don’t get me wrong, I really like accessibility check in the new color picker. But this can be done, a bit slower, with a plugin. And, there are lot of basic things, that cannot be done at all:

  • to set a prototype size per flow. Why can’t I have my desktop mockups on the same Figma page as my mobile mockups?
  • to use component variants for states (my “Home” ❖Tab in my ❖TabBar, when swapped from “active” to “inactive”, stops inheriting its label & icon from the main component, and has to be updated manually for every screen)
  • to control auto-layout direction with variables (for common responsive setups)
  • to have auto-layout (wrapped) cards have same height AND be set to hug content
  • to set all dimensions/sizes in % of the parent (manually and via variables)

 

Or, less important, but also huge time savers

  • text wrap for variables table (using hover all the time is annoying)
  • variable values shown in inspect panel w/o hover (same)
  • search in variable table
  • assigning any variable type as a text layer value (for documentation)
  • bulk control of nested component properties if multiple instances of the same component are selected
  • control color opacity with variables
  • have FigJam arrows in Figma


And, just from the top of the head, “great to have” topics which are not covered at all

  • to have local overrides for a shared design system
  • to have simple solution for responsive setups
  • to use simple math with numeric variables
  • to have native variables exporter

etc etc

I’ve given up hope on Figma ever getting basic design and prototyping abilities to where they need to be. Some feature requests like % widths have been around for years here. Stuff that is the most simple CSS that you get out of the box in Webflow is non-existent in Figma.

I’m just waiting for someone to build a tool like Figma that uses HTML/CSS for rendering instead of a proprietary emulation that has no advantages. Webflow/Framer are fine for making basic marketing sites, but I need something that gives me the full power of CSS with the benefit of a canvas to explore designs on.

 Agreeing with all of the above, especially your first point which we have been struggling with for FOUR YEARS.. see thread below:

 

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