Posts by gilphilbert

Linux Mint 21.2 includes a bit of feature creep from the GNOME world

Re: GNOME

This is perhaps because the people who don't like the changes complain, while the people who are either indifferent or like the changes tend to be quiet in their happiness.

I've used Gnome since "the early days" and transitioned through the change to Gnome 3. Was it smooth? Absolutely not. The first versions were pretty rough but I stuck with it and these days I'm very happy. I have tried the alternatives, but I just enjoy Gnome more - I find it easy to navigate (I'm mostly keyboard driven, for reference) and nice to look at - even though I don't use any user themes.

The Gnome team obviously have a design goal they're heading towards but it's a lot of work and they're taking an iterative approach to get there. Some changes force user behavior changes and, let's be honest, people don't like to change (I read the words "that's not how *I* want to do it very regularly). You can bet that the Gnome team works with users when they make these changes, they just can't work with everyone!

Apple's Safari browser runs the risk of becoming the new Internet Explorer – holding the web back for everyone

Re: clearly you don't pay for the developers

No, it's not.

Are you aware that you have to grant access to a web app for it to access Bluetooth or your battery status? The web browser won't just allow websites and web apps to access that data without asking your first. Just because your browser has an API, does not mean it's accessible to any site you browse to. As a developer, you have to request access and the user must explicitly provide it, the default behavior is to block access.

But let's take an example. You buy a smart light switch and need to set it up, so you head to the app store and download the app and - read carefully - give it access to your Bluetooth stack so it can detect the light switch.

That developer had to create an Android app for you, and an iOS app for Apple users plus a Windows app, etc. But they could just develop a single app *with the same permissions* that targets all devices.

You're giving the same developer the same permissions and getting the same experience - possibly a better one. Modern web APIs allow all this, as well as that web app to be look and behave like a native application.

Re: clearly you don't pay for the developers

I love that the one thought-out response from a developer explaining why this model actually works for them is immediately downvoted.

The modern browsers that you all seem to hate create real value for developers who can create a single web app (using those APIs you see no value in) that provides a consistent user experience on any platform, all using web standards. Developing native apps for iOS and Android is time consuming and complex and involves writing two entirely different implementations of the same app. Want to target Windows users too? Another implementation. Linux users? Another one. It's impossible for a one-man operation to do. But a single modern web app can do it all with a single implementation that's actually less likely to have bugs and can introduce new features more quickly.

I actually signed up to make this post to support developers like Michael. You guys all want a good, consistent experience? This is what these developers are trying to do. They're not arrogant and they don't think they know better than you. If you think this, chances are you don't know a professional web developer.