Can we possibly do without apps on PCs ?

  • zamithal@programming.dev
    8·
    6 hours ago

    These comments are all so aggressive, let me try answering this in a less rude way.

    App is short for application, at the end of the day no matter where you install an app from an app is a packaged chunk of software meant to accomplish a task. Microsoft word is an app, chrome is an app, flappy bird is an app, calculator is an app, any “program” that you launch is an app.

    Now where the waters get muddy is app stores. App stores such as the apple store or Google play are apps specifically built to help you install other apps. The intent of these is to provide users a safe location they can search for other apps and install them without fear of viruses and receive updates automatically. Windows and Linux have their own app stores too, the windows store, though sad and decrepit is supposed to provide the same assurances as Mac’s app store.

    Now can you use the computer without apps? Yes! Your computer just won’t do much since you’ve forgone your calculator, games, and any other purpose built software you might have installed.

    Can you use the computer without the “app store”? Yes! You can install the application from anywhere, it doesn’t need to be the app store. Apple and Google get a cut of the money made by apps sold on the app store. Because of this they are incentives to discourage users from installing apps from elsewhere. They’ve called installing apps from elsewhere “side loading” in order to make it sound scary and not normal but it is in fact the normal way we have been installing apps since before these app stores arrived.

    The last type of app I want to call out because it’s a bit different. Web apps are apps you can use by going to a web page. These apps are installed on someone else’s computer and you get to use it when you open the page. It’s still an app, you just don’t have to install it. There are special types of computers (for example. Chromebooks) that are built around these types of apps.

    Hope this helps!

  • okwhateverdude@lemmy.worldEnglish
    13·
    11 hours ago

    Like treat every PC like a BASIC or Forth machine? Not sure the normies would like needing to code their own shit.

      • okwhateverdude@lemmy.worldEnglish
        8·
        8 hours ago

        Now we’re getting metaphysical here. When does a Forth ForÞ word become an “app”?

        EDIT: Should have looked more closely at who replied to me. Fixed that. 😉

  • entwine@programming.dev
    2·
    8 hours ago

    I decided to ask ChatGPT:

    That’s a fascinating question — and it depends on what you mean by “apps.”

    If we mean traditional installed applications (like Word, Photoshop, VSCode, etc.), then yes, it’s increasingly possible to get by without them — but only in certain scenarios. Here’s how it breaks down:

    <a bunch of bullet points and emojis>

    So once again, Lemmy users show how STUPID they are for not realizing how fascinating this question is. Get clanked, meatbags.