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> the absolute best delivery mechanism right now is static HTML and JavaScript served from a free web host with an established reputation. It can be, depending

> the absolute best delivery mechanism right now is static HTML and JavaScript served from a free web host with an established reputation. It can be, depending on the nature of the software. However, for a heaping ton of software (such as libraries or software that is meant to be used without internet access) it can be the worst option. The real answer, as always, is that there is no universal one-size-fits-all solution to this.

tlarkworthy 2y ago
you do not need the internet to open a ".html" file. With some "importmap" gymnastics you can embed images and libraries inside that file, all without the internet, offline-first https://bsky.app/profile/chrisshank.com/post/3llmhyr33q22x https://bsky.app/profile/chrisshank.com/post/3llmhyr33q22x
- __MatrixMan__ 2y ago
  Even so, you have to run a webserver and then run a browser separately and let the app sort of envelop you in this bubble made of norms that don't jive with the rest of your OS. Like, good luck making it append logs to a file without writing a third component that you now have to manage the state of in addition to the first two. For the majority of things I do I just want to shove data in one end and get data out of the other end without ever having to build a UI or wondering if it's "up" or "down".
  - tlarkworthy 2y ago
    no you don't need to run a webserver, it works from a file domain directly. But true its not a CLI. Been thinking about whether that is possible though.
    - JohnFen 2y ago
      You don't need to run a dedicated webserver, but you do need some sort of layer that parses the html and JS and executes the JS. That is, effectively, a web server. That is not appropriate for all sorts of software. For a lot, though, sure, that can work. It's just not a universal solution.
      - xnx 2y ago
        > you do need some sort of layer that parses the html and JS and executes the JS A web browser?
        JohnFen 2y ago
        Right, that's my point. That requirement is problematic for a lot of use cases.
      - tlarkworthy 2y ago
        Yes that's a browser and it implements a standard supported by multiple vendors for multiple operating systems.
  - OptionOfT 2y ago
    Back in the day Internet Explorer could save a webpage. It would store an HTML page and a folder with all the images in it next to the HTML page. And somehow they were linked. Deleting one deleted the other. You could open the HTML page from your disk, in Internet Explorer. No internet required. Update: they weren't linked at the filesystem level. Explorer.exe tracks .htm/.html and a folder_<something> together: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/manage#connected-files https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/manage...

tlarkworthy 2y ago

you do not need the internet to open a ".html" file. With some "importmap" gymnastics you can embed images and libraries inside that file, all without the internet, offline-first https://bsky.app/profile/chrisshank.com/post/3llmhyr33q22x https://bsky.app/profile/chrisshank.com/post/3llmhyr33q22x

__MatrixMan__ 2y ago
Even so, you have to run a webserver and then run a browser separately and let the app sort of envelop you in this bubble made of norms that don't jive with the rest of your OS. Like, good luck making it append logs to a file without writing a third component that you now have to manage the state of in addition to the first two. For the majority of things I do I just want to shove data in one end and get data out of the other end without ever having to build a UI or wondering if it's "up" or "down".
- tlarkworthy 2y ago
  no you don't need to run a webserver, it works from a file domain directly. But true its not a CLI. Been thinking about whether that is possible though.
  - JohnFen 2y ago
    You don't need to run a dedicated webserver, but you do need some sort of layer that parses the html and JS and executes the JS. That is, effectively, a web server. That is not appropriate for all sorts of software. For a lot, though, sure, that can work. It's just not a universal solution.
    - xnx 2y ago
      > you do need some sort of layer that parses the html and JS and executes the JS A web browser?
      - JohnFen 2y ago
        Right, that's my point. That requirement is problematic for a lot of use cases.
    - tlarkworthy 2y ago
      Yes that's a browser and it implements a standard supported by multiple vendors for multiple operating systems.
- OptionOfT 2y ago
  Back in the day Internet Explorer could save a webpage. It would store an HTML page and a folder with all the images in it next to the HTML page. And somehow they were linked. Deleting one deleted the other. You could open the HTML page from your disk, in Internet Explorer. No internet required. Update: they weren't linked at the filesystem level. Explorer.exe tracks .htm/.html and a folder_<something> together: https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/manage#connected-files https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/shell/manage...