6 ms·

> However as a developer and as a software business owner/investor, it's (much) better to write web apps. Why do you say that?

dtly 6y ago
Scaling out cross-platform, lower cost of investment to support multiple OS/Devices. User does not need to worry about dependencies and libraries - they just need to make sure they're running a somewhat up-to-date version of a modern browser. Users are not tied to a single device either.
Dotnaught 6y ago
As a business, it's not to your advantage to have to ask permission from app store owners. The web does not require permission from a third-party that may decide to compete with you.
- benibela 6y ago
  But with the app stores you get more users I basically had no users for one of my desktop apps for seven years, till I ported it to mobile and put it in the normal app store
amelius 6y ago
Because of the main advantages of SaaS: recurring payments and data lock-in.
- tonyedgecombe 6y ago
  Adobe achieves that with desktop apps, if you can call it an achievement.
  - TomMarius 6y ago
    Sadly I am not Adobe
  - WilliamEdward 6y ago
    Achievement is a big word here. They had to shove it down people's throats with a bloated, buggy, and expensive app suite.
    - tonyedgecombe 6y ago
      Yes although people still put their hand in their pocket every month so they must be getting some value from it.
rohan1024 6y ago
I think he is saying that because with webapps you have - control over your software and updates - no one can pirate your software/service
- ken 6y ago
  How do you have more "control over your software" with a web app? With a native app, I can do virtually anything. With a web app, I can really only do what (Google ∩ Apple ∩ Microsoft)'s web browser teams decided to prioritize, and allow, and optimize. As for 'pirating', is that a serious concern these days? I've only ever heard about it being an issue at big companies selling software to other big companies, where it's solved with "license servers".
  - hellisothers 6y ago
    I think they mean rapid, continuous deployment. If it’s a web app you can push out changes every day to near universal adoption. With a native app you have to cajole users to update
    - alexgmcm 6y ago
      Also on mobile you are constrained by the app store requirements as well.
    - ken 6y ago
      There are auto-updaters for desktop software, too.
    - rohan1024 6y ago
      This is exactly what I meant.
  - ZoomZoomZoom 6y ago
    >> How do you have more "control over your software" with a web app? It means they can break a program I'm using at any moment they wish, even after I paid for it.
tfehring 6y ago
Here's PG's response from 2001: http://www.paulgraham.com/road.html http://www.paulgraham.com/road.html

dtly 6y ago

Scaling out cross-platform, lower cost of investment to support multiple OS/Devices. User does not need to worry about dependencies and libraries - they just need to make sure they're running a somewhat up-to-date version of a modern browser. Users are not tied to a single device either.

Dotnaught 6y ago

As a business, it's not to your advantage to have to ask permission from app store owners. The web does not require permission from a third-party that may decide to compete with you.

benibela 6y ago
But with the app stores you get more users I basically had no users for one of my desktop apps for seven years, till I ported it to mobile and put it in the normal app store

amelius 6y ago

Because of the main advantages of SaaS: recurring payments and data lock-in.

tonyedgecombe 6y ago
Adobe achieves that with desktop apps, if you can call it an achievement.
- TomMarius 6y ago
  Sadly I am not Adobe
- WilliamEdward 6y ago
  Achievement is a big word here. They had to shove it down people's throats with a bloated, buggy, and expensive app suite.
  - tonyedgecombe 6y ago
    Yes although people still put their hand in their pocket every month so they must be getting some value from it.

rohan1024 6y ago

I think he is saying that because with webapps you have - control over your software and updates - no one can pirate your software/service

ken 6y ago
How do you have more "control over your software" with a web app? With a native app, I can do virtually anything. With a web app, I can really only do what (Google ∩ Apple ∩ Microsoft)'s web browser teams decided to prioritize, and allow, and optimize. As for 'pirating', is that a serious concern these days? I've only ever heard about it being an issue at big companies selling software to other big companies, where it's solved with "license servers".
- hellisothers 6y ago
  I think they mean rapid, continuous deployment. If it’s a web app you can push out changes every day to near universal adoption. With a native app you have to cajole users to update
  - alexgmcm 6y ago
    Also on mobile you are constrained by the app store requirements as well.
  - ken 6y ago
    There are auto-updaters for desktop software, too.
  - rohan1024 6y ago
    This is exactly what I meant.
- ZoomZoomZoom 6y ago
  >> How do you have more "control over your software" with a web app? It means they can break a program I'm using at any moment they wish, even after I paid for it.

tfehring 6y ago

Here's PG's response from 2001: http://www.paulgraham.com/road.html http://www.paulgraham.com/road.html