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0 pointspbreit1y ago0 comments

Premature by 17+ years? He was and remains completely wrong.

0 comments

With all of the APIs _modern_ browsers are exposing these days, web apps are extremely capable and remain the best multi-platform solution.

DCH34161y ago

No? Most modern apps these days _are_ just web apps. Why does it need the overhead architecture of running full standalone applications when a web clip works just as well? Plus there's no need for updating.

The problem at the time was multifaceted. The devices couldn't handle it, the network couldn't handle it, and webkit was still relatively limited. But it did work. https://9to5mac.com/2021/06/03/remembering-apples-sweet-solu...

Miraste1y ago

I have never, ever used a web app that runs as well as the native app.

anon70001y ago

Oh, well I can provide an example. Music League’s PWA on iOS is quite a bit better than the app — partly because you can avoid the ads!

Performance isn’t incredible, but neither is the “native” app (95% sure it’s react native or similar), which frequently dips below 60fps.

jonas211y ago

If that's the case, then why does nearly every company have a native app in addition to their website? Surely, they could save a lot of time and money by just not building and maintaining the app.

DCH34161y ago

Because it's a pain in the ass to distribute. And there's not much for support integrated into mobile operating systems for seamless browser windows.

MacOS is getting there kind of lately with safari being able to turn web pages into apps. But there isn't really built in mechanisms for that: https://www.macrumors.com/2023/06/14/how-web-apps-work-macos...

2 more replies

slothtrop1y ago

Native apps make more money, because of phone data. A lot of effort is now put into facilitating cross-platform builds, a wrapper/container around a glorified web app is among the easiest ways

chasd001y ago

There's no adblock for native apps. Also, they can keep running/monitoring-you in the background easier.

skydhash1y ago

Most modern apps are just services. If you don’t mind you computer being a thin client to someone’s computer on the internet, go ahead. But the rest of us do use native software because the web is just a pale imitation.

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse

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candiddevmike1y ago

With all of the APIs _modern_ browsers are exposing these days, web apps are extremely capable and remain the best multi-platform solution.

DCH34161y ago

Miraste1y ago

I have never, ever used a web app that runs as well as the native app.

anon70001y ago

Oh, well I can provide an example. Music League’s PWA on iOS is quite a bit better than the app — partly because you can avoid the ads!

Performance isn’t incredible, but neither is the “native” app (95% sure it’s react native or similar), which frequently dips below 60fps.

jonas211y ago

If that's the case, then why does nearly every company have a native app in addition to their website? Surely, they could save a lot of time and money by just not building and maintaining the app.

DCH34161y ago

Because it's a pain in the ass to distribute. And there's not much for support integrated into mobile operating systems for seamless browser windows.

2 more replies

slothtrop1y ago

Native apps make more money, because of phone data. A lot of effort is now put into facilitating cross-platform builds, a wrapper/container around a glorified web app is among the easiest ways

chasd001y ago

There's no adblock for native apps. Also, they can keep running/monitoring-you in the background easier.

skydhash1y ago

j / k navigate · click thread line to collapse