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I guess I'm going to be the cynic here and ask, how is this an "app"? Unless I'm missing something here, where is the utility that constitutes the label of 'app

by pxlpshr 18y ago

I guess I'm going to be the cynic here and ask, how is this an "app"? Unless I'm missing something here, where is the utility that constitutes the label of 'application'? Like "cloud", I think a lot of people are misusing the word "app". In my opinion, an app suggests a meaningful purpose... otherwise it's very much akin to "art" in relation to design. Sure, art is beautiful and often conceptual... but design is form AND function. A widget - maybe - but calling it an app seems a little overkill.

cschneid 18y ago
Code that runs with a purpose. Why is this not an application? I get what you're saying, but a widget is a subset of application. Widget has all attributes of application (code that runs), and then has additional attributes (limited size & scope). I don't think the word application has any semantics that limit it to "useful".
- pxlpshr 18y ago
  I made a web-app yesterday, it printed Hello World except in l33t text. And I think that's the problem with SOME developers mentality about software. Just because it runs and compiles, does not make it an application consumers will use for lots of obvious reasons. If you want to be successful in software development, I would toss out the textbook semantic definitions, and focus more on 'applications of' technology that solves problems.
- mbreese 18y ago
  In my mind, a web-app requires interaction... otherwise it is just a website. Now, the website can be backed by a rails-app, but to call this an app bit much. In my mind, it's a dynamically generated website.
  - elliottkember 18y ago
    Yeah, that's fair enough - I wouldn't call it an app either, and I made it. There's a rails app in there, but it's only generating a page. Rails made the generation process much easier, though :)
gaius 18y ago
Agreed. If it's not an "app" it's a "startup" these days. Back when I were a lad we said to each other check out this script I wrote and that was that.

by pxlpshr 18y ago

cschneid 18y ago

Code that runs with a purpose. Why is this not an application? I get what you're saying, but a widget is a subset of application. Widget has all attributes of application (code that runs), and then has additional attributes (limited size & scope). I don't think the word application has any semantics that limit it to "useful".

pxlpshr 18y ago
I made a web-app yesterday, it printed Hello World except in l33t text. And I think that's the problem with SOME developers mentality about software. Just because it runs and compiles, does not make it an application consumers will use for lots of obvious reasons. If you want to be successful in software development, I would toss out the textbook semantic definitions, and focus more on 'applications of' technology that solves problems.
mbreese 18y ago
In my mind, a web-app requires interaction... otherwise it is just a website. Now, the website can be backed by a rails-app, but to call this an app bit much. In my mind, it's a dynamically generated website.
- elliottkember 18y ago
  Yeah, that's fair enough - I wouldn't call it an app either, and I made it. There's a rails app in there, but it's only generating a page. Rails made the generation process much easier, though :)

gaius 18y ago

Agreed. If it's not an "app" it's a "startup" these days. Back when I were a lad we said to each other check out this script I wrote and that was that.