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But very often it is software development. And there isn’t always some bright line between them. Like it or not, the web is an excellent platform for deliverin

But very often it is software development. And there isn’t always some bright line between them. Like it or not, the web is an excellent platform for delivering software applications to users, especially one-off or infrequently used applications. Let’s use software development tools, rather than web publishing tools, to develop that software.

zilti 3y ago
Hopefully WASM will fill that area, and browsers can go back to being browsers.
- shadowgovt 3y ago
  Not as long as the only way that wasm interfaces to the DOM is through the JavaScript layer.
docmars 3y ago
It's worth mentioning that the friction to deploy a web app is nearly zero these days, depending on how complex it is. As an example, shipping a macOS or iOS app, via official means, requires a lengthy review & approval process, upfront costs, buy-in into native languages with little to no use outside of these platforms, a limited selection of tools, and hard decisions about which version of the OS to support based on the features you need vs. the market share of older versions. People (and teams) choose web development for the lower barrier to entry, and as a platform, browsers get products most of the way to their goals, and fast.
- skydhash 3y ago
  My preference is local first desktop applications. Sometimes it’s because I prefer files, sometimes it’s because native apps are more fluid and more egonomic.
  - zztop44 3y ago
    What about for getting quotes on insurance? Or booking a restaurant? Or a flight or hotel? Submitting your taxes? Getting printable directions to a trailhead? Proving feedback on someone’s Figma document? Previewing a 3D model before getting it printed… Is it your preference to install a new local first desktop application any time you wish to do any of these things?
    - skydhash 3y ago
      That depends where the data and the logic all. If they only store the data, but I’m doing all the computation, it may as well be a local app (figma, the 3d viewer..) or at least have an API so I can build my own interface. I’m not against Web Apps, but many take my browser as free real estate.
- nvm0n2 3y ago
  Shipping a macOS app doesn't require view of any kind, beyond notarization, which is just an automated malware scan and takes only a few seconds.

zilti 3y ago

Hopefully WASM will fill that area, and browsers can go back to being browsers.

shadowgovt 3y ago
Not as long as the only way that wasm interfaces to the DOM is through the JavaScript layer.

docmars 3y ago

It's worth mentioning that the friction to deploy a web app is nearly zero these days, depending on how complex it is. As an example, shipping a macOS or iOS app, via official means, requires a lengthy review & approval process, upfront costs, buy-in into native languages with little to no use outside of these platforms, a limited selection of tools, and hard decisions about which version of the OS to support based on the features you need vs. the market share of older versions. People (and teams) choose web development for the lower barrier to entry, and as a platform, browsers get products most of the way to their goals, and fast.

skydhash 3y ago
My preference is local first desktop applications. Sometimes it’s because I prefer files, sometimes it’s because native apps are more fluid and more egonomic.
- zztop44 3y ago
  What about for getting quotes on insurance? Or booking a restaurant? Or a flight or hotel? Submitting your taxes? Getting printable directions to a trailhead? Proving feedback on someone’s Figma document? Previewing a 3D model before getting it printed… Is it your preference to install a new local first desktop application any time you wish to do any of these things?
  - skydhash 3y ago
    That depends where the data and the logic all. If they only store the data, but I’m doing all the computation, it may as well be a local app (figma, the 3d viewer..) or at least have an API so I can build my own interface. I’m not against Web Apps, but many take my browser as free real estate.
nvm0n2 3y ago
Shipping a macOS app doesn't require view of any kind, beyond notarization, which is just an automated malware scan and takes only a few seconds.