Feels like visual programming keeps trying to be “code, but with pictures” instead of asking what problems pictures are actually good at solving. We’ve basically been drawing the same boxes and arrows since the 80s and wondering why it still feels like wiring up a VCR.

If we really leaned into the visual cortex, maybe we’d get something where zooming out shows the big picture and zooming in shows the gritty details, like Google Maps for code. Until then, node‑and‑wire diagrams are just UML diagrams that decided to cosplay as circuit boards.

> zooming in shows the gritty details, like Google Maps for code

That's how KiCAD and other CADs for electronics make PCBs. You will put big parts (that's usually hardware design driven), then you will put smaller parts around it and then you are trying to connect each smaller part with correct signal without crossing each other.

Zooming UIs are a bit like that: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zooming_user_interface

I'm not aware of any that were very successful.