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I believe native and browser-based apps can and will coexist. As a web developer, I've had my share of frustrations with the browser and I certainly would welc

by mekoka 15y ago

I believe native and browser-based apps can and will coexist. As a web developer, I've had my share of frustrations with the browser and I certainly would welcome a more flexible and feature rich alternative for some use cases. To give an example, I can see native development overturn browser dominance in the manufacturing of Content Management Systems. For years these apps have been tied to browser technology and their usability and features have been limited because of it. Sure it makes them easy to deploy (all you need is a browser), but in exchange you get crappy wysiwygs, lack of remote access (ftp, ssh), image editing that sucks and a string of other annoyances that we've simply learn to accept out of convention. But when you think of it, there's no reason it should be like this. Organizations typically only have a handful of people that require access to the admin panel. You could simply have them install a native client that communicates with the server via http, exactly like the browser does, but offers a much more elaborate API. The added bonus would be the possibility to easily delegate various other tasks to other tools (Unix style). Other normal web users (consumers) can continue to access the frontend (as opposed to the admin panel) via browsers. This is a future I can definitely embrace.

bad_user 15y ago
I'm not sure I agree. Since I discovered Google Apps, I forgot about Microsoft Office. Google Docs is always there. It may be a crappy experience on my Android, but I have access to content I wouldn't otherwise. Collaborative editing and sharing is really easy too - I don't have to ask other people to buy iPhones / iPads / Androids to get them up to task. They only have to have an email on which I send an invite. And sure you can make a better native app and I would appreciate one on my Android, however I remember how this one time I forgot my phone and borrowed the iPhone of a friend to access a really important document. On the whole, web apps are more accessible. Native apps are a nice bonus to this experience, however if the core is not web-based, then it loses a lot of value.
- dextorious 15y ago
  """On the whole, web apps are more accessible. Native apps are a nice bonus to this experience, however if the core is not web-based, then it loses a lot of value.""" Well, that can be easily solved with native apps that also have a web counterpart, for desperate times (i.e in the middle of Tahiti without your laptop/mobile phone/tablet).

by mekoka 15y ago

bad_user 15y ago

I'm not sure I agree. Since I discovered Google Apps, I forgot about Microsoft Office. Google Docs is always there. It may be a crappy experience on my Android, but I have access to content I wouldn't otherwise. Collaborative editing and sharing is really easy too - I don't have to ask other people to buy iPhones / iPads / Androids to get them up to task. They only have to have an email on which I send an invite. And sure you can make a better native app and I would appreciate one on my Android, however I remember how this one time I forgot my phone and borrowed the iPhone of a friend to access a really important document. On the whole, web apps are more accessible. Native apps are a nice bonus to this experience, however if the core is not web-based, then it loses a lot of value.

dextorious 15y ago
"""On the whole, web apps are more accessible. Native apps are a nice bonus to this experience, however if the core is not web-based, then it loses a lot of value.""" Well, that can be easily solved with native apps that also have a web counterpart, for desperate times (i.e in the middle of Tahiti without your laptop/mobile phone/tablet).