11 ms·

It's beyond me why anyone would write a desktop application in JS, CSS, and HTML, and require node as a dependency. These technologies are already bastard child

It's beyond me why anyone would write a desktop application in JS, CSS, and HTML, and require node as a dependency. These technologies are already bastard children of the 'just make it work' mentality. Using them for an environment they were never designed for, when there is decades of existing infrastructure purpose-built (and far easier to use), makes no sense. The only reason that I can come up with for why someone would build a desktop app with these technologies is that they cbf to learn to use the correct tools for the job. As for "the best client for developers" -- I'll stick with irssi, thanks.

bagels 12y ago
What does "cbf" mean, in this context?
- pubby 12y ago
  Can't be fucked.
kika 12y ago
Node - for node-webkit, I believe. As for the general question - why use web technologies for desktop app, I think it's like "Qt for those who don't want to use C++". Cross-platform GUI toolkit. As someone who used Qt extensively in the past I don't see a lot of value in using web technologies to develop desktop apps, unless there's a plan to use the same codebase on the real web. But it's just me.
- girvo 12y ago
  > unless there's a plan to use the same codebase on the real web I'm currently building a desktop application for work, and this is the reason we've got with node-webkit -- we are using the same code-base for a client side web application with slightly different uses. Being able to do so is quite a boon, to be honest, and is cutting down dev time dramatically.
coderzach 12y ago
Building things with js, css, html, takes much less time than writing the same thing in objective-c. Also, way easier to build cross platform.
- fail2ban 12y ago
  Not sure why anyone interested in writing a cross-platform application would even think of Objective-C. You must be an OSX user. Just as one example, Komanda could've been done with Python and any of the variety of cross-platform GUI toolkits available for that language. It would run everywhere, faster, using native widgets, and in a language designed for the desktop.
  - nwh 12y ago
    Could QT be made to look as pretty? QT based apps are notoriously hard to work with on OSX, they never quite manage to fit in at all. That said I can't get this one to function at all, so it's a moot point as far as usability goes.
    - jeorgun 12y ago
      Replicating web-style prettified UIs seems to be one of the major goals of QML. In any case, if your alternative is an HTML/CSS/JS/Node application, I don't think replicating native look and feel is really that likely to be a sticking point.
  - ilaksh 12y ago
    Python is not faster than Node.
    - Nagyman 12y ago
      Perhaps not, but he didn't say that. There is more than just language at play in this scenario. Will a native widget, initiated by Python, out perform JS/CSS/Node-Webkit ... maybe. The OP saying the app will run faster is not refuted even if NodeJS runs some things faster than Python.
possibilistic 12y ago
This kind of elitism is what turns so many people off about technology. What if these are kids that are building this? Do you care so much about your view that you would want to shut them down? Not everyone has the time or interest in learning systems programming or C/C++. In the end, optimization forces operating at levels beyond our comprehension and ability to fully model will determine whether or not this project sees continued development. Personal lives, adcademic interest, social proliferation of memes, economic constraints...all serve as inputs. Don't force an outcome like this. You might damage the author's impetus to try again with more ambition in the future. Let nature run its course; you may occasionally find yourself surprised by the outcome. In general, it is pointless to rationalize your choices to the rest of the world, which frankly doesn't put as much effort into listening as you might think. Sorry if I come across as rude. I just think this could be better framed as constructive criticism.
- fail2ban 12y ago
  I'm not being elitist. I'm stating my opinion; if you take it as an affront, that's not my problem. So what if they're kids? Do you expect me to self-censor in order to potentially spare the feelings of a developer who may or may not be young? If what they're doing is better, then in time, I'll be proven wrong. As you say, let nature run its course. Hacker News is a place where people discuss technology. Opinion is inherent in discussion. I don't apologize for anything I wrote.
  - vdaniuk 12y ago
    Hacker News is a place where people at least try to build a coherent, rational discourse. Your posts detract from that goal and these two comments of your are a net negative to the discussion. But you already know that as you are posting from an anonymous username.
    - deleted 12y ago
      [deleted]
  - possibilistic 12y ago
snarfy 12y ago
It's not a desktop application. It's a browser application masquerading as a desktop application. It makes sense if you believe the desktop is dead and the browser won, which many people do.
- fail2ban 12y ago
  Precisely my point. Instead of being a browser application masquerading as a desktop application, I posit that it's generally better to just write a desktop application.
moonshinefe 12y ago
Actually, it's far easier to write one web app that can be used on smartphones, desktop systems, tablets etc., on all platforms. Believe it or not people actually use smartphones and tablets now, and even if you hate that and use desktop for all chatting and all repository notifications and the like, some people don't, and making stand alone GUI applications isn't helping those people. And indeed often, just making the web app is easier than getting your app to look good natively across multiple operating systems, especially now with mobile being so prominent.

bagels 12y ago

What does "cbf" mean, in this context?

pubby 12y ago
Can't be fucked.

kika 12y ago

Node - for node-webkit, I believe. As for the general question - why use web technologies for desktop app, I think it's like "Qt for those who don't want to use C++". Cross-platform GUI toolkit. As someone who used Qt extensively in the past I don't see a lot of value in using web technologies to develop desktop apps, unless there's a plan to use the same codebase on the real web. But it's just me.

girvo 12y ago
> unless there's a plan to use the same codebase on the real web I'm currently building a desktop application for work, and this is the reason we've got with node-webkit -- we are using the same code-base for a client side web application with slightly different uses. Being able to do so is quite a boon, to be honest, and is cutting down dev time dramatically.

coderzach 12y ago

Building things with js, css, html, takes much less time than writing the same thing in objective-c. Also, way easier to build cross platform.

fail2ban 12y ago
Not sure why anyone interested in writing a cross-platform application would even think of Objective-C. You must be an OSX user. Just as one example, Komanda could've been done with Python and any of the variety of cross-platform GUI toolkits available for that language. It would run everywhere, faster, using native widgets, and in a language designed for the desktop.
- nwh 12y ago
  Could QT be made to look as pretty? QT based apps are notoriously hard to work with on OSX, they never quite manage to fit in at all. That said I can't get this one to function at all, so it's a moot point as far as usability goes.
  - jeorgun 12y ago
    Replicating web-style prettified UIs seems to be one of the major goals of QML. In any case, if your alternative is an HTML/CSS/JS/Node application, I don't think replicating native look and feel is really that likely to be a sticking point.
- ilaksh 12y ago
  Python is not faster than Node.
  - Nagyman 12y ago
    Perhaps not, but he didn't say that. There is more than just language at play in this scenario. Will a native widget, initiated by Python, out perform JS/CSS/Node-Webkit ... maybe. The OP saying the app will run faster is not refuted even if NodeJS runs some things faster than Python.

possibilistic 12y ago

This kind of elitism is what turns so many people off about technology. What if these are kids that are building this? Do you care so much about your view that you would want to shut them down? Not everyone has the time or interest in learning systems programming or C/C++. In the end, optimization forces operating at levels beyond our comprehension and ability to fully model will determine whether or not this project sees continued development. Personal lives, adcademic interest, social proliferation of memes, economic constraints...all serve as inputs. Don't force an outcome like this. You might damage the author's impetus to try again with more ambition in the future. Let nature run its course; you may occasionally find yourself surprised by the outcome. In general, it is pointless to rationalize your choices to the rest of the world, which frankly doesn't put as much effort into listening as you might think. Sorry if I come across as rude. I just think this could be better framed as constructive criticism.

fail2ban 12y ago
I'm not being elitist. I'm stating my opinion; if you take it as an affront, that's not my problem. So what if they're kids? Do you expect me to self-censor in order to potentially spare the feelings of a developer who may or may not be young? If what they're doing is better, then in time, I'll be proven wrong. As you say, let nature run its course. Hacker News is a place where people discuss technology. Opinion is inherent in discussion. I don't apologize for anything I wrote.
- vdaniuk 12y ago
  Hacker News is a place where people at least try to build a coherent, rational discourse. Your posts detract from that goal and these two comments of your are a net negative to the discussion. But you already know that as you are posting from an anonymous username.
  - deleted 12y ago
    [deleted]
- possibilistic 12y ago

snarfy 12y ago

It's not a desktop application. It's a browser application masquerading as a desktop application. It makes sense if you believe the desktop is dead and the browser won, which many people do.

fail2ban 12y ago
Precisely my point. Instead of being a browser application masquerading as a desktop application, I posit that it's generally better to just write a desktop application.

moonshinefe 12y ago

Actually, it's far easier to write one web app that can be used on smartphones, desktop systems, tablets etc., on all platforms. Believe it or not people actually use smartphones and tablets now, and even if you hate that and use desktop for all chatting and all repository notifications and the like, some people don't, and making stand alone GUI applications isn't helping those people. And indeed often, just making the web app is easier than getting your app to look good natively across multiple operating systems, especially now with mobile being so prominent.