Locofy accelerates Figma web design-to-code with AI

The International Data Corporation (IDC) forecasts a shortfall of 4 million developers by 2025, and the US Labor Department projects an 85.2 million shortage by 2030, potentially resulting in $8.5 trillion in unrealised annual revenues. In the US, between 66% and 90% of employers face challenges in finding the necessary skills, especially in tech roles which rank among the top 10 hardest positions to fill.

Additionally, research indicates that around 80% of software developers experience burnout, primarily due to high workloads. This situation underscores the urgent need for AI tools to alleviate developers' burdens. The developer shortage has also led to a sharp 20-30% rise in developer salaries, escalating development costs and placing significant pressure on companies. Recent studies reveal that 89% of US business decision-makers are concerned about timely software delivery.

AI-first automated code assistants like Locofy.ai are emerging as solutions to this rapidly growing issue by reducing development costs and time to market. According to a 2023 Stack Overflow Developer survey, 70% of respondents are using or planning to use AI tools in their development process this year.

In a significant development for frontend web development, Singapore-based Locofy.ai has announced the launch of its Large Design Models (LDMs) and a new product, Locofy Lightning. This technology utilises LDMs to transform Figma designs into web frontend code with a single click. Locofy Lightning, developed using Locofy’s in-house LDMs, promises to save developers up to 80% of the time typically required to code user interfaces from scratch.

Cameron Pak, Founder of USA-based Melos, remarked on Locofy.ai’s impact: “I’d say, Locofy is the ChatGPT equivalent for front-end interfaces in terms of ease of use and helpfulness. I think Locofy is positioned to be a game-changer for not only the low-code, no-code movement but also for those who are full-time developers, saving them time and money.”

Mark Zielinski, Chief Technology Officer at Canada-based Where is My Package, also praised Locofy: "Locofy has saved us countless hours in our design-to-code workflow and helped us work more effectively."

The traditional process of turning web designs into production-grade code can be time-consuming, often taking weeks for design and months for frontend and backend development. With Figma's rising popularity, evidenced by its use by over a million teams and accounting for 30% of its active user base, tools like Locofy.ai are increasingly vital. As a Figma plugin, Locofy.ai aims to automate about 80% of the routine, time-intensive aspects of frontend development, enabling developers to concentrate on more complex business logic and speed up the market introduction of their ideas.

Locofy Lightning's one-click solution effectively translates Figma designs into ready-to-use code, revolutionising the workflow of development teams. The heart of Locofy Lightning is its in-house built technology stack, particularly its use of Large Design Models (LDMs), which are trained on millions of designs to optimise visual elements, layouts, and code structure.

“Our investment of over $1M in the development of Locofy Lightning underscores our dedication to advancing frontend development,” said Honey Mittal, Co-Founder & CEO of Locofy.ai. “This innovation addresses a clear market need. AI is lowering the entry barrier to software development, and businesses worldwide are seeking AI-driven, automated coding assistants that uphold stringent quality standards. Locofy Lightning is particularly beneficial for agile startups and customer-centric enterprises, as it accelerates frontend development and empowers lean teams to deliver exceptional outcomes.”

Honey Mittal concluded: “Like many first saw the potential of Large Language Models with the advent of chatbots like ChatGPT, at Locofy we provide the complete solution for design-to-code by building both the foundational Large Design Models and product to make them accessible, Locofy Lightning, and we’re proud to do it from Singapore.”

Since its debut in 2021, Locofy.ai has made a significant impact, sweeping all seven awards on Product Hunt, and securing $7.5M in investments from industry leaders. After nearly two years of a free beta program and multiple rounds of user feedback, Locofy.ai introduced Locofy Lightning in response to developer demands for code quality and ease of use.

The beta release for Figma to web frontend is available as of 16 January 2024, with plans to extend the one-click solution to mobile app development in the near future.