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Then you have to deal with os compatibility. That's the main selling point of the Web, it works everywhere.

by bogdan 10mo ago

thwarted 10mo ago
Except when it doesn't because of browser or platform differences/incompatibilities.
- ameliaquining 10mo ago
  The portability of the Web is imperfect, but it's not even in the same galaxy as the portability of native app platforms; there's just no comparison.
christophilus 10mo ago
And, I don't have to run a binary to try your product. The web has a lot of flaws, but it's a good way to deliver properly sandboxed applications with low hassle on the part of the user. I've built my fair share of native vs web apps, and I vastly prefer working on web apps. As a user, I vastly prefer web apps for most things. Not all things, but most. No, I don't want to install your crappy app on my computer and risk you doing something irresponsible. I'll keep you sandboxed in a browser tab that I can easily "uninstall" by closing.
- zppln 10mo ago
  I can't think of a single thing where I prefer a web app over a native alternative, unless it's for one-off use.
  - nozzlegear 10mo ago
    I have several web apps installed over the native alternatives. Discord is the most prominent one; I've found their native app has been getting shittier by the day over recent months, while the web app remains as snappy as any Safari page. Plus I can run an adblocker and other extensions in the web app which improve the experience.
  - wiseowise 10mo ago
    Most of the “apps” are 200 MB native monstrosities that could be served by 20 kb of JS.
  - JoshTriplett 10mo ago
    I will pick a web app over a proprietary "native" app every time. That way, it can stay in a sandbox where it belongs. Discord, Zoom, Meet, Trello, YouTube, and various others, all stay in sandboxed browser tabs.
bigstrat2003 10mo ago
Well worth it. Even the very best web apps struggle to be as good as a decent native app, let alone mediocre web apps. The native operating system blows the web out of the water as an app platform.

Then you have to deal with os compatibility. That's the main selling point of the Web, it works everywhere.

by bogdan 10mo ago

Then you have to deal with os compatibility. That's the main selling point of the Web, it works everywhere.

thwarted 10mo ago

Except when it doesn't because of browser or platform differences/incompatibilities.

ameliaquining 10mo ago
The portability of the Web is imperfect, but it's not even in the same galaxy as the portability of native app platforms; there's just no comparison.

christophilus 10mo ago

And, I don't have to run a binary to try your product. The web has a lot of flaws, but it's a good way to deliver properly sandboxed applications with low hassle on the part of the user. I've built my fair share of native vs web apps, and I vastly prefer working on web apps. As a user, I vastly prefer web apps for most things. Not all things, but most. No, I don't want to install your crappy app on my computer and risk you doing something irresponsible. I'll keep you sandboxed in a browser tab that I can easily "uninstall" by closing.

zppln 10mo ago
I can't think of a single thing where I prefer a web app over a native alternative, unless it's for one-off use.
- nozzlegear 10mo ago
  I have several web apps installed over the native alternatives. Discord is the most prominent one; I've found their native app has been getting shittier by the day over recent months, while the web app remains as snappy as any Safari page. Plus I can run an adblocker and other extensions in the web app which improve the experience.
- wiseowise 10mo ago
  Most of the “apps” are 200 MB native monstrosities that could be served by 20 kb of JS.
- JoshTriplett 10mo ago
  I will pick a web app over a proprietary "native" app every time. That way, it can stay in a sandbox where it belongs. Discord, Zoom, Meet, Trello, YouTube, and various others, all stay in sandboxed browser tabs.

bigstrat2003 10mo ago

Well worth it. Even the very best web apps struggle to be as good as a decent native app, let alone mediocre web apps. The native operating system blows the web out of the water as an app platform.