How to create visual development tools usable by an end user?

Question

For instance, Google's App Inventor for Android is aimed to serve non-programmers. Are there any researches on this matter, which deal with the following questions:

1. Real tests, showing to what extent such tools can be really usable by end users.
2. What are tips and tricks in creating such a tools?

Thanks.

Answer 1

It depends on who you end users are, the capabilities of an 25 year old Microsoft Office user are different to that of a 18 Year old. Identifying your some key user stories might help you decide how usable you need to make your development tool.