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> I wonder why there isn't a mobile OS that simply lets you build apps with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS and gives you reliable storage without all this effort. T

by creesch 4mo ago

> I wonder why there isn't a mobile OS that simply lets you build apps with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS and gives you reliable storage without all this effort. There is! You just have to time travel all the way back to 2009 when webOS was launched by Palm. Time travel is the easy part, you then also need to somehow prevent Palms demise and webOS fading into obscurity as a smartphone OS. If 2009 is too far back you can try your luck in 2012 with Firefox OS. Joking aside, people and companies have given it a go. But a combination of bad timing and various other events never made that reality happen in our timeline.

paytonjjones 4mo ago
Maybe I'm missing something but aren't PWAs pretty dead-simple on both iOS and Android? Maybe it's the "reliable storage" part that's the gap?
- shakna 4mo ago
  The amount of effort that goes into keeping Termux barely functional, has a lot to do with Android and the platform making it harder and harder, to access a dev environment on a phone. Running `npm install` on Android isn't so easy. (Caveat: The new Android Terminal that only works on a handful of models.)
- inigyou 4mo ago
  I thought I read that one or both of them removed or heavily restricted PWA support to funnel more apps to their 30%-taking app store.
  - nozzlegear 4mo ago
    No that's not correct, they both support PWAs with a large feature set. I built and have been maintaining a client's PWA (an internal tool for their employees) for over 10 years now. Not my site, but someone on HN (can't remember who) built it: https://pwascore.com https://pwascore.com
  - shakna 4mo ago
    iOS was PWA-only to begin with, but at the same time, OS X didn't support them at all. It was a messy time, but has since changed. [0] [0] https://github.com/mdn/content/issues/32969 https://github.com/mdn/content/issues/32969
rjsw 4mo ago
You can still buy KaiOS phones, I have one.
- creesch 4mo ago
  Sure, but they aren't exactly widespread or even close to mainstream.
ChiperSoft 4mo ago
Alternatively, you could try to keep HP from killing the TouchPad

by creesch 4mo ago

paytonjjones 4mo ago

Maybe I'm missing something but aren't PWAs pretty dead-simple on both iOS and Android? Maybe it's the "reliable storage" part that's the gap?

shakna 4mo ago
The amount of effort that goes into keeping Termux barely functional, has a lot to do with Android and the platform making it harder and harder, to access a dev environment on a phone. Running `npm install` on Android isn't so easy. (Caveat: The new Android Terminal that only works on a handful of models.)
inigyou 4mo ago
I thought I read that one or both of them removed or heavily restricted PWA support to funnel more apps to their 30%-taking app store.
- nozzlegear 4mo ago
  No that's not correct, they both support PWAs with a large feature set. I built and have been maintaining a client's PWA (an internal tool for their employees) for over 10 years now. Not my site, but someone on HN (can't remember who) built it: https://pwascore.com https://pwascore.com
- shakna 4mo ago
  iOS was PWA-only to begin with, but at the same time, OS X didn't support them at all. It was a messy time, but has since changed. [0] [0] https://github.com/mdn/content/issues/32969 https://github.com/mdn/content/issues/32969

rjsw 4mo ago

You can still buy KaiOS phones, I have one.

creesch 4mo ago
Sure, but they aren't exactly widespread or even close to mainstream.

ChiperSoft 4mo ago

Alternatively, you could try to keep HP from killing the TouchPad