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by jayphelps 5696 days ago
In case anyone's wondering, Wunderlist is written in HTML/JS/CSS using Appcelerator's Titanium Desktop packaging tool to make it native using the WebKit framework.

You can check out their source inside the app package. Pretty neat stuff. Pretty clean coding.
1 comments
pak 5696 days ago
I thought Appcelerator Titanium was supposed to compile to native code? I downloaded it myself, saw all the HTML and JS files in the package and wondered, what the heck is the point in making this a standalone app instead of a web app. It's a ton of UI for a very simple to-do list. If it's just a webpage running in WebKit, and this is all the binary encapsulates, I see no reason to put it online, and then add http://fluidapp.com/ to allow people to use it offline as a desktop app, if they really want. Or, just use HTML5 manifests to make it work offline in any browser.
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jayphelps 5696 days ago
I think the general point is that for certain apps, a native environment is better suited to allow easy access and organization mentally. For a to-do list, it makes some sense. That way you can ⌘+TAB over to it, add or check your to-dos, then go back to whatever it is you were doing without worrying about browser tabs.

Another benefit is that you don't have to worry about cross-browser compatibility. If it looks good in your app on your dev computer, it should look the same on everyone else's.

I do agree that since it's written using web tech, they should have a web accessible version as well. Maybe they do, and I didn't see it?

Regardless, I think the end product is more important then HOW they made it or what language was used. If it works great and looks great, who really cares?

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