I Tried A New Page Builder!

Etch sounds like a great resource. Understanding html, php, java script and css will definitely help you understand the backend of web development and design. Having been on both ends of development and design, I can see how Etch will be a great tool moving forward for anyone who has the time and desire to do a deep dive into web development.

Mark has to tell us the truth about this video.

🛠️ If you learn a tool, you can use that tool.

If you learn web development, you can build anywhere.

I’ve been watching the reactions to Etch with interest—particularly from the page builder crowd. Some of the negativity is understandable… but a lot of it reveals something deeper:

Most people haven’t actually learned web development.

They’ve learned a page builder.

There’s a massive difference.

Knowing how to drag-and-drop in Elementor or Divi means you’re learning that builder’s interface and limitations—not how websites actually work under the hood. You’re stuck with their structure, their naming conventions, their logic.

Etch flips that entirely. It teaches you to build using HTML, CSS, and PHP—the core languages of the web. You’re not just clicking buttons, you’re building muscle memory in the same syntax used by pro developers everywhere.

💡 Once you understand how to build a site without a builder or framework, you can build on any platform:

• WordPress
• Webflow
• Shopify
• Or raw, clean HTML/CSS for blazing speed and total control

That’s the real power here. Etch doesn’t just help you build sites—it helps you become a developer.

And in an industry where platforms change but principles stay the same, that skill will always be in demand.

(reposted from my comment on Youtube)

#WebDevelopment #EtchWP #NoMoreMysteryDivs #LearnToCode #FutureProof #HTML #CSS #PageBuilders

Mak, I found your post quite concerning. Like many others, I have a tendency to chase after shiny new software platforms, much like a dog chasing a ball. This habit has left me with an AppSumo account filled with over 60 purchases, all in an effort to discover the next big thing. Unfortunately, this has only hindered my agency’s growth. The truth is, most of these platforms offer similar features, and constantly switching tools only creates confusion and distraction as I try to rebuild my "stack" with the latest and greatest.

This is exactly why I’ve made the decision to stick exclusively with Divi. It’s a fantastic product, well-supported, and most importantly, it’s the tool I know best. With the release of Divi 5, there’s already a new learning curve to navigate, especially when it comes to incorporating SiteKrafter into my planned future projects.

If you abandon Divi now, it risks derailing the focus and dedication that people like me have relied upon and invested in. I, along with many others, have put faith in your enthusiasm and vision for Divi 5 and SiteKrafter. Your recent video unfortunately did little to address the growing concerns voiced by Lifetime members; instead, it felt like you might be moving away from a solid, well-thought-out plan. That’s a worrying signal for those of us who trusted in your direction.

I’m a huge supporter of your work, but I believe it would be wise to keep announcements like this separate from Divi-focused community threads for the sake of public relations. I can’t help but imagine Nick Roach would be uneasy if he saw this, potentially jeopardizing his motivation to support SiteKrafter.

My personal advice—just my opinion—is to remove the video as soon as possible. The skepticism within the Divi Community is real, and leaving the video up could cause further damage. I urge you to reflect on this carefully.

All well and good and I admire those who delve into all kinds of tools, development software or whatever you may call it. But I do have my serious reservations about this. The title alone, hello Divi 5. Mak, you have already told us that we had to be patient because you are so busy. I have used my hard-earned money when you offered the beautiful and very good Divi course in funnelstoincome.com and that money turned out to be well invested. Suddenly it became quiet there and you started with diviuniversity.com that all videos would be placed there and in principle not much would change. Unfortunately it dragged on for months, with many emails that were not answered, before I could log in to my account at diviuniversity.com, despite my lifelong membership. No trace of the Divi course anymore. Then you started with sitekrafter which was more or less forced on us. Okay, but you promised at the time not to drop Divi and to keep the Divi course up to date. Now Divi 5 is out, apart from a few examples of the possibilities, I haven't seen anything else.What SiteKrafter if I follow it correctly, you launched it which had and still has many shortcomings. I am not going to start designing a website with it for the time being.
I think, personally, that you launched it too early because Divi 5 was still in full development. In the meantime I have discovered many possibilities in Divi 5 that in principle SiteKrafter is superfluous for me at least at this moment. I would much rather see you go back to your roots and make a complete step-by-step Divi 5 course like in your first Divi Course. Work it out nicely, thoroughly and neatly as we are used to from you and I think you will get many more students. Once this is done, you can always work out your SiteKrafter thoroughly and properly and then launch it when you are sure that everything works well together. However, I fear that all this will happen when I see that you have started another channel that will inevitably absorb time from Divi5 and SiteKrafter. Sorry to write all this down but that's how I feel. I feel a bit like someone who can't see the forest for the trees

Now with the power of hindsight... I'm wondering if Etch could help me learn CSS better too... 🤔