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This is really nice, but I just can't get too excited over web apps. Whether it's not having direct access to my source files, relying on the service to stay up

This is really nice, but I just can't get too excited over web apps. Whether it's not having direct access to my source files, relying on the service to stay up (either from server or business issues), working when offline, not having access to OS-level services, the clunkiness and slowness compared to native, or the cognitive overhead of the app being inside another app, I think I'll always prefer desktop apps.

marknutter 14y ago
I don't understand how this comment is relevant to this post, and I'm a little sad it's currently the top comment in this thread.
- webwielder 14y ago
  Don't be sad, it's only the top post because I just posted it. As for how it's relevant, I believe I'm saying in a roundabout way that I'd much prefer Webflow if it was a native app, while making a larger point about my reservations over web apps, especially the web design web apps I've been seeing a lot of lately.
artursapek 14y ago
These limitations are all slowly disappearing as web standards are advancing fast to fill these gaps. I think soon we'll be able to give trusted web apps permission to read/write to our file systems and reach out to more OS-level interfaces that our browsers have access to. Web apps also offer advantages over native apps, like zero installation, universal compatibility regardless of OS, and the ability for publishers to put updates/patches out instantly.
- webwielder 14y ago
  >universal compatibility regardless of OS The browser becomes the OS for web apps, and in this case Webflow only supports one OS, Chrome.
  - artursapek 14y ago
    Making changes to the code to bring support to new "OS's" in this case is easy as long we're talking about the webkit gang + Firefox, which makes up most users who will have interest in webapps.
  - callmevlad 14y ago
    We're very close to having Firefox and IE10 support, so this will not be true for long.
- path411 14y ago
  This sounds like something perhaps the dropbox api would be useful for? The webapp would simply modify files in your dropbox through the api, and changes could then be pushed to your local machine through dropbox's service.
webwielder 14y ago
Serious question, as I enjoy posting on HN and don't want to run afoul of the community. Was my comment negged because I was seen as hijacking a thread by making general comments about web apps rather than addressing Webflow specifically? Or is it because of my negativity toward web apps and an appearance of ignorance on the state the art?
- lignuist 14y ago
  Don't worry. I have been downvoted just for mentioning a project that has the same name. Just wanted to make sure, that the creators are aware... I think, some posters have strong negativity sensors, which cause false positives from time to time. :)
  - callmevlad 14y ago
    In case you are wondering, we did not do any downvoting of the parent. He/she voiced a very valid concern which we've heard from many people, so no negativity sensors triggered here :)

marknutter 14y ago

I don't understand how this comment is relevant to this post, and I'm a little sad it's currently the top comment in this thread.

webwielder 14y ago
Don't be sad, it's only the top post because I just posted it. As for how it's relevant, I believe I'm saying in a roundabout way that I'd much prefer Webflow if it was a native app, while making a larger point about my reservations over web apps, especially the web design web apps I've been seeing a lot of lately.

artursapek 14y ago

These limitations are all slowly disappearing as web standards are advancing fast to fill these gaps. I think soon we'll be able to give trusted web apps permission to read/write to our file systems and reach out to more OS-level interfaces that our browsers have access to. Web apps also offer advantages over native apps, like zero installation, universal compatibility regardless of OS, and the ability for publishers to put updates/patches out instantly.

webwielder 14y ago
>universal compatibility regardless of OS The browser becomes the OS for web apps, and in this case Webflow only supports one OS, Chrome.
- artursapek 14y ago
  Making changes to the code to bring support to new "OS's" in this case is easy as long we're talking about the webkit gang + Firefox, which makes up most users who will have interest in webapps.
- callmevlad 14y ago
  We're very close to having Firefox and IE10 support, so this will not be true for long.
path411 14y ago
This sounds like something perhaps the dropbox api would be useful for? The webapp would simply modify files in your dropbox through the api, and changes could then be pushed to your local machine through dropbox's service.

webwielder 14y ago

Serious question, as I enjoy posting on HN and don't want to run afoul of the community. Was my comment negged because I was seen as hijacking a thread by making general comments about web apps rather than addressing Webflow specifically? Or is it because of my negativity toward web apps and an appearance of ignorance on the state the art?

lignuist 14y ago
Don't worry. I have been downvoted just for mentioning a project that has the same name. Just wanted to make sure, that the creators are aware... I think, some posters have strong negativity sensors, which cause false positives from time to time. :)
- callmevlad 14y ago
  In case you are wondering, we did not do any downvoting of the parent. He/she voiced a very valid concern which we've heard from many people, so no negativity sensors triggered here :)