Player OneAug 2, 2023
Dan Gillmor

App developers, I am BEGGING you to provide web versions and not force us to do our work on tiny screens and thumb-type everything. This goes triple for apps that are restricted to just one of the two major corporate mobile platforms.

For many if not most, this should be readily possible, given how many apps are websites with app wrappers.

I gladly pay for or donate to software that helps me...

Aug 2, 2023 at 4:31pmWeb
Show threadJohn BreenAug 2, 2023
@dangillmor And if you must make an app, make it a PWA app, a very thin layer on top of something that already works as a browser-based webapp.
Show threadLee CalvinAug 2, 2023
@jab01701mid @dangillmor Fully agree
Show threadChris LewisAug 2, 2023
@dangillmor what software would help you? I can help! 😀
Show threadMatt GriffinAug 2, 2023
@dangillmor it would help if they would make the product be the product. Right now the data is the actual product and they can't get nearly as much of that in a web app.
Show threadCallistoAug 2, 2023
@mattgriffin @dangillmor Exactly! I never use an app when a webpage will do, and that is why.
Show threadBarry Schwartz 🫖Aug 2, 2023
@dangillmor I could definitely use this for controlling robotic vacuum cleaners.
Show threadStephen TAug 2, 2023
@dangillmor I’ve had a web app for @photoephemeris since 2014 - it’s now a bigger part of the business than the mobile apps (and so much more fun to develop…)
Show threadKevin Karhan Aug 2, 2023

@dangillmor +9001%

The biggest asshole move are then apps that are not delivered via @fdroid and that are purposefully designed to brick on non-#GAPPS -Android like #Anbox...

Show threadMichael LabowiczAug 2, 2023
@dangillmor vote with your feet. I refuse to use apps with no web version
Show threadDarwin WoodkaAug 2, 2023

@mlabowicz @dangillmor yeah, I pretty much hate phone apps. I only use maybe one or two of them anyway, and then only because all I have on me is my phone and not at least a laptop or tablet.

This idea that everything needs to be on a phone is nonsense anyway.

Show threadA. RiveraAug 2, 2023

@darwinwoodka @mlabowicz @dangillmor

"This idea that everything needs to be on a phone is nonsense anyway."

Preach on.

Show threadA. RiveraAug 2, 2023

@dangillmor

One of my personal peeves: apps. I prefer to work on the web, and will avoid an app, mainly due to the small screen, big finger can't function issue.

Show threadCallistoAug 2, 2023
@bloodravenlib @dangillmor Same - but even when I'm away from home with no computer but my phone, I still prefer the web, because data. (Full size Bluetooth keyboard paired to my mobile devices takes care of the rest of it.)
Show threadunexpectedteapotAug 2, 2023

@dangillmor it's funny how inefficient phones are once you use them for anything other than calls and quick chats. Also, almost every phone in the market is bundled with surveillance capitalism software and frameworks (i.e: Google Play/Firebase inserting itself in applications to handle things like notifications) that make up the most used application on phones.

We need to abandon the duopoly of Apple and Google.

Show threadDr. Angus Andrea Grieve-SmithAug 3, 2023

@dangillmor As an app developer, I occasionally ask, "why can't this just be a responsive web app?"

The answer is usually that the app makers want access to some features that's easier to obtain on mobile. Offline data, location, notifications - they used to be much harder to get in a browser, but the browser makers have been adding them at a fairly rapid clip, so there's not much excuse now!