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It really makes me wonder how and why Microsoft and Google can't create a cross-platform GUI ecosystem that lasts. Like, they both will have multiple operating
by bmitc 2y ago
It really makes me wonder how and why Microsoft and Google can't create a cross-platform GUI ecosystem that lasts. Like, they both will have multiple operating systems and platforms such as web and mobile in use at their company and no doubt build a huge amount of bespoke tools. Wouldn't it behoove themselves to create a cross-platform GUI solution that actually works, is maintained, etc.?
I have been looking into building one myself, and for a company the size of Google or Microsoft, the task almost looks trivial. But somehow, they create these huge monstrosities like Flutter and .NET MAUI that crumble under their own weight.
This is especially true for Microsoft who sits upon two of the best languages around in C# and F#. Flutter often has a tough sell because it comes with Dart and vice versa. For Microsoft, is it really that hard to have a three-tiered approach to cross-platform development in that there is a separate, dedicated platform for each of web, mobile, and desktop that share common components (like drawing and animation APIs), architectures, paradigms, and of course languages?
GUI development on desktops is just a complete mess right now. Qt Quick with QML is okay, but it has a huge amount of strange limitations and has a surprising lack of just plug and plug UI components, like charts. Plus, you have to use either C++ or Python. Flutter seems better but also suffers from the lack of professional plug and plug widgets and requires the use of Dart, which is even less ideal. Plus, it requires the support (or lack thereof) from Google. For Microsoft, I could list at least half a dozen cross-platform approaches in a single blink of the eye.