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MacOS. "Cross-platform" really just means Mac and Windows, and Mac is too hard to develop for, even if you use a cross-platform toolkit (you have to own a Mac,

MacOS. "Cross-platform" really just means Mac and Windows, and Mac is too hard to develop for, even if you use a cross-platform toolkit (you have to own a Mac, and you have to install the latest XCode, and you need to figure out how to navigate XCode's bewildering and buggy GUI, and you have to digitally sign your app every time you release a new version). Meanwhile, making a webapp that will work on all platforms (including Linux, Android, and iOS, as an added bonus) is the default. Just create it somehow, and it'll work on all of them.

sirjaz 5y ago
Again, this doesn't answer why these webapps come out as mobile apps, but not desktop apps? Same support out there
- wasmitnetzen 5y ago
  For some reason, people love mobile apps and hate using the browser on mobile, but the reverse is true on the desktop: Web wins, installing a native program is cumbersome.
- Macha 5y ago
  iOS has ~50% market share and an inbuilt payment mechanism that users have a higher rate of using than on desktops apps, and is a platform where people have been conditioned that "there's an app for that" compared to one where people have been conditioned "Don't run that exe, it might be a virus!".
- phendrenad2 5y ago
  Oh that's simple. It's impossible to make a webapp that works well on mobile. On mobile, you must be able to tap on buttons that are located along an edge of the screen. Those are the easiest to access points. However, in a web browser, doing so will invoke the search box, the menu bar, the back button, any number of unlucky events. So companies are forced to make a mobile app.
lowbloodsugar 5y ago
Pretty sure you'll need to own a PC if you wan't to develop for windows.
- phendrenad2 5y ago
  Common misconception. You can cross-compile from Linux or MacOS. For testing, yes, you'll need a copy of Windows, which you can easily run in a VM. Technically, you can run a MacOS VM on Windows, also, but it isn't an easy process, and many would give up.
  - lowbloodsugar 5y ago
    Sure. But what are you running linux on? Pencil and paper? Seems like, if we follow your argument, the Mac is the best purchase because we can develop for all platforms on it. Your argument, fundamentally is "I bought the wrong computer." Or as you put it, "I already bought a PC and I don't want to also buy a Mac". That's very different from "Mac is too hard to develop for because you need a Mac".

sirjaz 5y ago

Again, this doesn't answer why these webapps come out as mobile apps, but not desktop apps? Same support out there

wasmitnetzen 5y ago
For some reason, people love mobile apps and hate using the browser on mobile, but the reverse is true on the desktop: Web wins, installing a native program is cumbersome.
Macha 5y ago
iOS has ~50% market share and an inbuilt payment mechanism that users have a higher rate of using than on desktops apps, and is a platform where people have been conditioned that "there's an app for that" compared to one where people have been conditioned "Don't run that exe, it might be a virus!".
phendrenad2 5y ago
Oh that's simple. It's impossible to make a webapp that works well on mobile. On mobile, you must be able to tap on buttons that are located along an edge of the screen. Those are the easiest to access points. However, in a web browser, doing so will invoke the search box, the menu bar, the back button, any number of unlucky events. So companies are forced to make a mobile app.

lowbloodsugar 5y ago

Pretty sure you'll need to own a PC if you wan't to develop for windows.

phendrenad2 5y ago
Common misconception. You can cross-compile from Linux or MacOS. For testing, yes, you'll need a copy of Windows, which you can easily run in a VM. Technically, you can run a MacOS VM on Windows, also, but it isn't an easy process, and many would give up.
- lowbloodsugar 5y ago
  Sure. But what are you running linux on? Pencil and paper? Seems like, if we follow your argument, the Mac is the best purchase because we can develop for all platforms on it. Your argument, fundamentally is "I bought the wrong computer." Or as you put it, "I already bought a PC and I don't want to also buy a Mac". That's very different from "Mac is too hard to develop for because you need a Mac".