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

submitted 11 months ago by sir_pronoun@lemmy.world to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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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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[-] Markimus@lemmy.world 7 points 11 months ago

Also, a mobile app design is a fundamentally different design process to desktop. It requires extra time / effort to develop for both.

[-] otp@sh.itjust.works 10 points 11 months ago

OP is talking about apps that are basically links to websites.

They design the website entirely, but it's not available through a web browser -- only the app. But fundamentally, it's a website that a browser would be able to run.

[-] user224@lemmy.sdf.org 1 points 11 months ago

For example AliExpress. It's often unusable because the CSS doesn't load.

[-] Markimus@lemmy.world 1 points 11 months ago

I know that; when you develop a website, you typically design mobile-first and then design the desktop version afterwards. If you're just building it as an application you can skip a whole lot of CSS and design nonsense that would go into that process.

this post was submitted on 05 Jan 2024

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