3 ms·

The problems you cite with Web apps are not unique to the Web, but to client-server apps in general.

tjoff 2y ago
It is much worse than that because a proper client can have storage as well. The key difference is that the browser is not a proper client but a general purpose interpreter and that webb applications don't have a choice no matter how bad of a fit it is.
- phantomathkg 2y ago
  Web app have storage. It is only because the app you use doesn’t use it properly. Even gmail has offline mode.
  - tjoff 2y ago
    But it can't trust the storage. Maybe you are in incognito. Maybe you are not using your own computer etc. Not particularly likely it will ever sync again.
    - necovek 2y ago
      You are setting different goals: a client (non-web) app running on a different computer would not have access to local storage for another computer where that same app was running locally. FWIW, even on the same computer, you can frequently run the same client using a different profile, user account or similar, and it wouldn't have access to another instance of that same client. Browser does have local storage and you can assume it keeps the local storage. The main difference is that browsers tend to be "OSes" for multiple apps.
      - tjoff 2y ago
        You wouldn't install and configure an app on a different machine for quick instance. Which you do for a webpage. Hence outlook can't assume that the message can be recovered because it can't assume it will ever see that local storage again. A webapp has it's place. It is an inferior option but it is convenient for when you lack access to a proper client, doesn't make sense for them to target the same goals.
        necovek 2y ago
        I am surprised you still insist on the assymetry: there is nothing guaranteeing you'd ever start up that desktop client again. While it is easier to set up a "transient" web app client, it's also easier to get up a "permanent" web app client, and many people do use the very same computer and browser for accessing a web app just the same.

It is much worse than that because a proper client can have storage as well. The key difference is that the browser is not a proper client but a general purpose interpreter and that webb applications don't have a choice no matter how bad of a fit it is.

phantomathkg 2y ago
Web app have storage. It is only because the app you use doesn’t use it properly. Even gmail has offline mode.
- tjoff 2y ago
  But it can't trust the storage. Maybe you are in incognito. Maybe you are not using your own computer etc. Not particularly likely it will ever sync again.
  - necovek 2y ago
    You are setting different goals: a client (non-web) app running on a different computer would not have access to local storage for another computer where that same app was running locally. FWIW, even on the same computer, you can frequently run the same client using a different profile, user account or similar, and it wouldn't have access to another instance of that same client. Browser does have local storage and you can assume it keeps the local storage. The main difference is that browsers tend to be "OSes" for multiple apps.
    - tjoff 2y ago
      You wouldn't install and configure an app on a different machine for quick instance. Which you do for a webpage. Hence outlook can't assume that the message can be recovered because it can't assume it will ever see that local storage again. A webapp has it's place. It is an inferior option but it is convenient for when you lack access to a proper client, doesn't make sense for them to target the same goals.
      - necovek 2y ago
        I am surprised you still insist on the assymetry: there is nothing guaranteeing you'd ever start up that desktop client again. While it is easier to set up a "transient" web app client, it's also easier to get up a "permanent" web app client, and many people do use the very same computer and browser for accessing a web app just the same.