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Self-fulfilling prophecy: "Real people" are using web applications at higher rates because of programmers inevitably using the web as their main platform, creat

Self-fulfilling prophecy: "Real people" are using web applications at higher rates because of programmers inevitably using the web as their main platform, creating a self-sustaining feedback loop. But, what the herd can adopt, it can also destroy. FWIW I'm sure people who live in jurisdictions with subpar connectivity would appreciate a renaissance of desktop applications.

SwellJoe 11y ago
Do you honestly believe the success of web applications is merely an accident and not a reflection of how much better they fit our world? Admittedly, many of the benefits of the web, like storage in the cloud and online collaboration, could be replicated with traditional installable applications, but they mostly weren't. And, the lack of "installation" is a big deal. Many people are utterly helpless with computers and would be terrified of installing everything...and maybe should be. Viruses and malware have proven very difficult to defeat in installable applications, while on the web the risk of poor security is usually concentrated on the developer (or the company the developer works for) rather than the consumer. Further, low bandwidth is a reason to use web apps over installables in a lot of cases, and not the other way around as you suggest. Downloading Office on a slow/expensive link would be horrible. Using Google Docs, not so bad. I work on slow internet most of the time (I travel full-time, and use 3G/4G internet, sometimes with weak connectivity and expensive data); I save my "ooh, I want to download this new game/app" moments for when I'm somewhere with free/fast wifi. But, I still do lots of work on the web, and I don't find GMail/Inbox problematic at all on this slow link. Of course "no Internet" is different from "slow/expensive" Internet, but without Internet, you're limited to packaged software purchased at brick and mortar stores, which is not a very wise target market for developers making new stuff, in the general case.
- vezzy-fnord 11y ago
  The web's lack of "installation" is countervailed by its ad-hoc persistence methods like local storage, cookies, cache and sessions, as well as its forms of authentication in relation thereof. You can hang yourself on the web just as easily, perhaps even more so, and I have seen it happen many times. The web also has the intrinsic problem of unpredictability and unaccountability. Entire layouts can be replaced by developers instantaneously on unwitting users. Most people would not download Office, of course, but use a friend or acquaintance's pre-recorded media. Actually even if it came to torrenting it, it wouldn't be significant of a load.

SwellJoe 11y ago

Do you honestly believe the success of web applications is merely an accident and not a reflection of how much better they fit our world? Admittedly, many of the benefits of the web, like storage in the cloud and online collaboration, could be replicated with traditional installable applications, but they mostly weren't. And, the lack of "installation" is a big deal. Many people are utterly helpless with computers and would be terrified of installing everything...and maybe should be. Viruses and malware have proven very difficult to defeat in installable applications, while on the web the risk of poor security is usually concentrated on the developer (or the company the developer works for) rather than the consumer. Further, low bandwidth is a reason to use web apps over installables in a lot of cases, and not the other way around as you suggest. Downloading Office on a slow/expensive link would be horrible. Using Google Docs, not so bad. I work on slow internet most of the time (I travel full-time, and use 3G/4G internet, sometimes with weak connectivity and expensive data); I save my "ooh, I want to download this new game/app" moments for when I'm somewhere with free/fast wifi. But, I still do lots of work on the web, and I don't find GMail/Inbox problematic at all on this slow link. Of course "no Internet" is different from "slow/expensive" Internet, but without Internet, you're limited to packaged software purchased at brick and mortar stores, which is not a very wise target market for developers making new stuff, in the general case.

vezzy-fnord 11y ago
The web's lack of "installation" is countervailed by its ad-hoc persistence methods like local storage, cookies, cache and sessions, as well as its forms of authentication in relation thereof. You can hang yourself on the web just as easily, perhaps even more so, and I have seen it happen many times. The web also has the intrinsic problem of unpredictability and unaccountability. Entire layouts can be replaced by developers instantaneously on unwitting users. Most people would not download Office, of course, but use a friend or acquaintance's pre-recorded media. Actually even if it came to torrenting it, it wouldn't be significant of a load.