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461

Why are there so many apps that could be websites? (lemmy.world)

submitted 10 months ago by sir_pronoun@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

99 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Seriously. I don't want to install something on my phone when the dev is just using a WebView, if that's what it's called. When the app is basically just a website with the browser hidden.

What's the reason for that? To attach the customer? To sell the app for money? Is there more ad revenue that way? Do you reach more people?

(Are there any good reasons for it, too? Security, maybe?)

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[–] corsicanguppy@lemmy.ca 21 points 10 months ago (3 children)

I want apps to be apps again.

On my desktop I have browser tabs for WhatsApp, messenger, Skype, gMailChatTalkHangouts and slack. I know slack's app was ass but I miss the rest.

I want a discrete app that doesn't crash with chrome and which sits in my tooltray so I don't have to fucking search for it whenever something makes a noise (ctrl-alt-a). I want to see it from the blink in the corner and not by scanning 31 windows of 7 groups of 12 tabs each.

Often times I just give up and hope it also makes my phone spork too so I can grab it there.

[–] CancerMancer@sh.itjust.works 15 points 10 months ago

Progressive Web Apps were supposed to marry these schools of thought, but maybe we hoped for too much because it's still ~~garbage~~ Chromium under the hood.

Just make everything for maximum interoperability I guess? I recently saw and forgot the name of a system for creating and displaying Github-like pull requests and associated discussions that are sent in via email. A very simple web interface displaying plain-text that could reasonably have been extended any way you like. I am beginning to see the appeal of the plain-text revolution.

[–] FooBarrington@lemmy.world 9 points 10 months ago

Just add them as PWAs using a browser you don't usually use (e.g. Edge), that should give you everything you're asking for.

[–] banneryear1868@lemmy.world 3 points 10 months ago

I want apps to be programs again*