4 ms·

The way for Epic and other developers (especially game developers) to bypass the app store walled gardens and associated distribution tax is to go through the o

The way for Epic and other developers (especially game developers) to bypass the app store walled gardens and associated distribution tax is to go through the open web instead, delivering their software directly to consumers. Leveraging new bleeding edge browser technologies such as WebGPU and WebAssembly, it's going to be possible to distribute games and applications online that can run at near native performance as webapps. These webapps can then be pinned to the homescreen for an even more authentic app-like experience. Yes, WebGPU isn't available on Safari yet, but when it is it will be a paradigm shift ushering in a new era of distribution of software, one where you don't have to go through the platform owner's store as the only option available to you.

ForHackernews 3y ago
Ugh. This is why they're coming for the web with Google's "Web environment integrity" stuff. > a paradigm shift ushering in a new era of distribution of software Maybe I'm just old and grumpy but this isn't NEW at all. Until about ten years ago when you bought a computer you owned it and could install whatever you wanted on it.
- timeon 3y ago
  Between App Store and Web there are still normal apps that you can download/copy from external disk.
  - ForHackernews 3y ago
    not on iDevices there aren't
emgeee 3y ago
Doesn't Apple have a history of dragging their feet with adopting new technologies in Safari? Not sure why this would be any different...
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]
toyg 3y ago
> Yes, WebGPU isn't available on Safari yet ... I wonder why that is ... Apple knows everything about bypassing restrictions. Their initial play on iOS was meant to be webapps - just so that carriers (which had, until then, dictated what could and could not be delivered and installed on every device) would be totally bypassed. It just so happened that the carriers capitulated to Jobs' marketing magic so completely, that Apple didn't have to go that way - they could become the gatekeeper themselves. WebGPU on Safari, if it ever lands, will always be borked "just enough" that it won't be viable as a commercial platform. Apple will fight for their cut as viciously as a mob boss fights for his corners.

ForHackernews 3y ago

Ugh. This is why they're coming for the web with Google's "Web environment integrity" stuff. > a paradigm shift ushering in a new era of distribution of software Maybe I'm just old and grumpy but this isn't NEW at all. Until about ten years ago when you bought a computer you owned it and could install whatever you wanted on it.

timeon 3y ago
Between App Store and Web there are still normal apps that you can download/copy from external disk.
- ForHackernews 3y ago
  not on iDevices there aren't

emgeee 3y ago

Doesn't Apple have a history of dragging their feet with adopting new technologies in Safari? Not sure why this would be any different...

deleted 3y ago

[deleted]

toyg 3y ago

> Yes, WebGPU isn't available on Safari yet ... I wonder why that is ... Apple knows everything about bypassing restrictions. Their initial play on iOS was meant to be webapps - just so that carriers (which had, until then, dictated what could and could not be delivered and installed on every device) would be totally bypassed. It just so happened that the carriers capitulated to Jobs' marketing magic so completely, that Apple didn't have to go that way - they could become the gatekeeper themselves. WebGPU on Safari, if it ever lands, will always be borked "just enough" that it won't be viable as a commercial platform. Apple will fight for their cut as viciously as a mob boss fights for his corners.