6 ms·

Why does anyone use the app instead of the site?

Spivak 7y ago
The site also is a heavy resource hog but you're right that it's overall less. There are plenty of lightweight clients that use the Slack API. I don't see why people complain so hard that the official client is heavy. Weechat with Slack is a dream feels like the good-ole IRC days.
- shereadsthenews 7y ago
  The site doesn’t use any resources when I close its tab.
  - sciurus 7y ago
    The desktop app doesn't use any resources when you close it either. What's your point?
    - shereadsthenews 7y ago
      That’s only true if you configure it in a particular way. By default it stays running when closed so it can notify you and update its badge.
orhmeh09 7y ago
For me it’s a usability thing—I tend to lose track of SPA tabs, often by closing the window or not being able to differentiate them from content tabs. I do use web apps but I vastly prefer using my machine’s window manager and window buttons/lists.
- chii 7y ago
  I use a tool like applicationize (https://applicationize.me/ https://applicationize.me/) to make a chrome app for a site. It mimicks an app, but is running as a tab in chrome. Saves memory but gives the benefit of separate window and workspace management (I can tab to it, it can have icon etc).
nunez 7y ago
Can't make calls through the site with Firefox
rymate1234 7y ago
I personally use a 3rd party client which uses actually native code rather than electron https://cancel.fm/ripcord/ https://cancel.fm/ripcord/
randomsearch 7y ago
Using lots of browser tabs instead of applications appears to me to be a step backward in usability. Instead of relying on the window manager to organise your work, you add cognitive load instead.
- beatgammit 7y ago
  Eh, you can just put Slack into it's own window if you're going to use multiple tabs for it. Personally, I just pin it next to my email and it works fine. I'm not a fan of how much RAM or CPU it uses. I tried the desktop app hoping it would be better, but it seems like it's perhaps worse (I use Firefox, so
  - quickthrower2 7y ago
    Not great for web developers. We have enough tabs open and if every window is a chrome icon it’s a pain to find stuff. I’ve got karma tests running, selenium tests, incognito windows testing security etc etc.
    - shereadsthenews 7y ago
      If the other poster has the tan pinned then it is probably very easy to find. Perhaps even command-2 if it’s pinned in the second tab from the left.
  - mgalgs 7y ago
    Not a great solution if your window manager groups application windows together (e.g. gnome shell and osx).
dingaling 7y ago
> Why does anyone use the app instead of the site? Because on Android at least the website detects that you're on a mobile device and switches to read-only mode. Correct, you can't even post a reply without fudging user-agent or installing the app.
- saagarjha 7y ago
  Isn't the Slack app on Android native?
estomagordo 7y ago
Why would I hide my chatrooms in several browser tabs? Sounds maddening.
- saagarjha 7y ago
  Slack is the only reason I used pinned tabs, FWIW.
- quickthrower2 7y ago
  As a web developer I’m often using my browser as a guinea pig. Hell a selenium test shut the whole shit down and hijacked it today. I’m not going to run slack in the browser.

The site also is a heavy resource hog but you're right that it's overall less. There are plenty of lightweight clients that use the Slack API. I don't see why people complain so hard that the official client is heavy. Weechat with Slack is a dream feels like the good-ole IRC days.

shereadsthenews 7y ago
The site doesn’t use any resources when I close its tab.
- sciurus 7y ago
  The desktop app doesn't use any resources when you close it either. What's your point?
  - shereadsthenews 7y ago
    That’s only true if you configure it in a particular way. By default it stays running when closed so it can notify you and update its badge.

orhmeh09 7y ago

For me it’s a usability thing—I tend to lose track of SPA tabs, often by closing the window or not being able to differentiate them from content tabs. I do use web apps but I vastly prefer using my machine’s window manager and window buttons/lists.

chii 7y ago
I use a tool like applicationize (https://applicationize.me/ https://applicationize.me/) to make a chrome app for a site. It mimicks an app, but is running as a tab in chrome. Saves memory but gives the benefit of separate window and workspace management (I can tab to it, it can have icon etc).

nunez 7y ago

Can't make calls through the site with Firefox

rymate1234 7y ago

I personally use a 3rd party client which uses actually native code rather than electron https://cancel.fm/ripcord/ https://cancel.fm/ripcord/

randomsearch 7y ago

Using lots of browser tabs instead of applications appears to me to be a step backward in usability. Instead of relying on the window manager to organise your work, you add cognitive load instead.

beatgammit 7y ago
Eh, you can just put Slack into it's own window if you're going to use multiple tabs for it. Personally, I just pin it next to my email and it works fine. I'm not a fan of how much RAM or CPU it uses. I tried the desktop app hoping it would be better, but it seems like it's perhaps worse (I use Firefox, so
- quickthrower2 7y ago
  Not great for web developers. We have enough tabs open and if every window is a chrome icon it’s a pain to find stuff. I’ve got karma tests running, selenium tests, incognito windows testing security etc etc.
  - shereadsthenews 7y ago
    If the other poster has the tan pinned then it is probably very easy to find. Perhaps even command-2 if it’s pinned in the second tab from the left.
- mgalgs 7y ago
  Not a great solution if your window manager groups application windows together (e.g. gnome shell and osx).

dingaling 7y ago

> Why does anyone use the app instead of the site? Because on Android at least the website detects that you're on a mobile device and switches to read-only mode. Correct, you can't even post a reply without fudging user-agent or installing the app.

saagarjha 7y ago
Isn't the Slack app on Android native?

estomagordo 7y ago

Why would I hide my chatrooms in several browser tabs? Sounds maddening.

saagarjha 7y ago
Slack is the only reason I used pinned tabs, FWIW.
quickthrower2 7y ago
As a web developer I’m often using my browser as a guinea pig. Hell a selenium test shut the whole shit down and hijacked it today. I’m not going to run slack in the browser.