[jakelazaroff]

Other than the web, how can I make apps that…

- are instantly usable just by following a link

- people can share with others, without needing to install anything, by just sending a link

- work equally well on all major mobile, desktop and tablet platforms

- don't require any sort of app store or gatekeeper to distribute or use

This isn't developers not caring about the user. These are huge UX advantages, and there's no way to get them all other than building on the web.

[croes]

>- are instantly usable just by following a link

Depends on the size of the web app and by data bandwith

>- people can share with others, without needing to install anything, by just sending a link

true, as long as the web page still exists.

>- work equally well on all major mobile, desktop and tablet platforms

I wish, most of the time web apps are either optimized for mobile phone, tablet or desktop not all three of them.

>- don't require any sort of app store or gatekeeper to distribute or use

The app can therefore change without your knowledge and execute malicious code the next time it is called.

https://medium.com/hackernoon/im-harvesting-credit-card-numb...

Not to mention that the web app is gone when the site no longer exists.

[denton-scratch]

> I wish, most of the time web apps are either optimized for mobile phone, tablet or desktop not all three of them.

This. I'm fed-up of "mobile first". I know why it's done, more website hits are from phones than desktop/laptop systems. But "first" is supposed to mean that something comes after; an awful lot of projects aren't "mobile first", they're simply designed for mobile.

I hate smartphones. I can't use them. I can't read the screen properly, and my fingers all turn to thumbs when I try to interact with them. I own one, so that I can call a taxi when I'm out, and so I can receive SMS messages. And some government services require a mobile number. But I have no data plan, and my smartphone normally just sits on my desk.

[jakelazaroff]

Just wanted to call out point 4 — native apps can absolutely change without your knowledge and execute malicious code as well. And the potential risk is higher for native apps (on desktop, at least) — the browser sandbox is another advantage of web apps!