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by nox100 902 days ago
A website works on all platforms; Mac, Linux, Windows, ChromeOS, ... maybe even Android. An app works on a single platform.

To me, they could put it on github and serve it on github pages. I suspect though that there's a bunch of non-open source libraries being used and getting into a condition that could be open sourced is person power they don't want to spend when they have an infinite list of things to work on.
2 comments
vel0city 902 days ago
So sure, release a webpage that you'll only host for a few of years. But then also release a basic executable we can run for the next hundred years after instead of making something that needs Google's blessing and continued effort to exist.

Everything being a website isn't necessarily a good thing.

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depressedpanda 902 days ago
I think you're missing the point. In this case it being a website is an awesome thing.

The underlying tech is powered by the WebSerial protocol. We basically already have the executable you're asking for. As long as Google supplies the firmware blob (and js source, though this can probably just be ripped from the current web page), anyone will be able to put up a server, and anyone with a modern browser will be able to visit the site and update -- without having to install anything locally.

Given that a 'native' app would probably be some bloated Electron abomination, I was actually pleasantly surprised that Google chose to solve the firmware update problem the way they did; it worked flawlessly for me on Linux which is seldom the case when it comes to these things.

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vel0city 901 days ago
It's hilarious to me you're glad it's not a bloated Electron abomination while also taking about the joys of it requiring a whole web browser to operate.
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nox100 901 days ago
and you require a whole OS. I expect browsers to outlast OSes. Browsers ran on MacOS 9 and software that ran on those browsers still runs today. MacOS 9 itself, not so much
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vel0city 901 days ago
I've used a lot of old web applications which require some ancient web browser (especially IE) or old version of CGI or PHP to properly be hosted or require some browser plugin that is no longer supported. The idea that it'll continue to work just because it's "web" is once again absolutely hilarious to me. Just wait another five years and all the WebUSB protocols this relies on get reinvented and this gets considered unsafe and deprecated.

And sure, when talking about an OS that's often made a point at cutting off support for old binaries it's not good. You're ignoring the fact I can still run a lot of 30+ year old software on modern Linux and often modern Windows with ease.

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d0lphin 902 days ago
Yup even Android, Chrome on Android supports WebUSB so I usually use it to flash different firmware to my Nintendo Switch on the go.
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