Websites vs. Apps

[Don E]

Hey everyone,

 

It seems nowadays there's a phone app for everything. People seem to gravitate toward apps more than anything else really when it comes tasks. Websites seem secondary today because of the convenience of apps readily available for phones. It seems it's more convenient to go to an app instead of opening up your phones' web browser and typing in a website address for something. What does this mean for the future of websites? Of course websites will always be, but with the popularity of apps, makes one wonder if websites in the distant future can be.. obsolete?

 

I doubt it, but if you look around, major websites all mostly have not just a mobile version of their site.. but an app as well. The other question is, is it even worthy of learning(continuing) web development when maybe one should aim for the app development world?

 

Just thought I'd post and see what others opinions are. Thanks.

 

 

[Ingolme]

My take on the subject:

[niche]

Great question.

 

I expect the tech will merge into a few dominate ways to move information. Just as all competing techs ultimately merge. Culminating, in software that writes code. I believe the difference will be how fast everything will consolidate. I give it twenty years assuming no one hacks the grid, starts a major war, the big meteors stay way, and that the world is free of a major calamity, but that might be too much to assume.

[thescientist]

One could subscribe to the theory that if you create a responsive website, you don't need to develop a mobile app.

[justsomeguy]

I give it twenty years assuming no one hacks the grid, starts a major war, the big meteors stay way, and that the world is free of a major calamity, but that might be too much to assume.

Yeah, good luck with that. Things are so bad that when the Malaysia Airlines flight got shot down over the war zone in Ukraine, Malaysia diverted the flight to use a different flight path to avoid that airspace. They diverted the plane to fly over Syria instead. Another war zone. Apparently you can't fly from Europe to Asia without flying over at least one war.

[Don E]

Yes I'm aware that apps are basically webpages because HTML,CSS and JavaScript can be used to make phone apps(http://mashable.com/2012/07/11/language-app/). The question was more of.. should one aim at that intention instead of geared toward traditional website approach nowadays because of the popularity of apps, but anyhow, I think my question is/was already answered for the most part. Thanks.

[niche]

 

Yeah, good luck with that. Things are so bad that when the Malaysia Airlines flight got shot down over the war zone in Ukraine, Malaysia diverted the flight to use a different flight path to avoid that airspace. They diverted the plane to fly over Syria instead. Another war zone. Apparently you can't fly from Europe to Asia without flying over at least one war.

Point and game for right now. Tech races ahead of the average ability to use it sensibly. That will change and the change will be led by people that can code. IMO.

 

One of the greatest experiences of my life is the transformation I experienced (and still experiencing) from learning how to code. It changed how I think.

 

Every coder I know is more agile and efficient with their thinking. That's the change I'm banking on as more people and organizations recognize that coding is the new literacy.

 

Until then, there will be unavoidable collateral damage like routing airliners over a war zone.

Edited September 5, 2014 by niche

[davej]

I think there is a blurring of definitions -- but to me an app is a downloaded program. Once it is downloaded it may (depending on its purpose) be able to function without an internet connection or with a very low bandwidth internet or SMS connection. A webpage is essentially a program which downloads its own UI on demand but always requires an internet connection.

[Ingolme]

Most company apps connect to some sort of database online to show lists of products or provide some kind of service such as taking orders so they're hardly different than a website.

[Don E]

Yes seems like it is a blurring of definitions. davej made some good points.

 

It seems they are for the most part websites. It's as if the app icon on users' phones is basically like a shortcut to your app(website). One thing I see that can differentiate an app from a website is that some apps can access the users' phone operating system functions perhaps which requires a developing language that can allow that to take place.

[Jonathanks]

Most apps connect to the websites' database to function properly. For an ever-changing and frequently updated resource, like a news reporting platform, you definitely need a website. Okay. Imagine how facebook app would work without the website. Most times, or currently, the app is limited. You don't want to pack every function on the site into the app considering the user's device memory, like those using low-end devices. And if you don't have a website, your users would have to update the app to get latest news, like redownloading. And you'll have ~ versions each day. The app will definitely be downloaded from your website. So websites could exist for that reason.