In recent years, the big trend in computing has been going from installing programs on computers to accessing the applications online through cloud services. With the rise of HTML5, coding websites to look and work like apps has become much easier, leading companies to focus their efforts on cloud-based apps. Although desktop applications are still more popular, web apps are gaining ground and are poised to overtake the desktop market if trends continue.
Why Are Web Apps So Popular?
People love being able to get started with something right away, and the fact that web apps don’t need to be installed is one of the major reasons they’re so popular. For example, although Spotify was originally only available as a downloadable app, it’s now available as a web app as well thanks to some handy media player add-ons. This expands its reach because people who prefer to only have web browsers installed on their computer can still use the service.
Most people these days use more than one computer or mobile device during the course of a day. Web apps make it easy to access the app from a wide range of devices, even ones running different platforms. The ability to store information on the cloud and pick up right where you left off is a major selling point for web apps, since they allow you to work on the app from work, home and even your mobile device.
Increasingly smaller and more portable computers and smartphones also encourage the shift toward using fewer local resources to run the app. Cloud-based apps can do intricate tasks, all without relying on system memory and computing power. When memory is at a premium, users don’t want to overload their devices with all of the apps they just use for fun. Running these apps on the web is an appealing alternative.
What Are the Disadvantages of Web Apps?
The main disadvantage of web apps is that you need to be online to access them. If there’s an Internet outage, then accessing data through the app is impossible. Some web apps can cache data, but that requires system memory, and therefore, user permission. Essential apps, particularly for work, may be better installed on local machines to make sure work can continue through outages. In addition, people who are concerned about data loss may prefer to have information on the local computer as well as on the cloud to make sure there’s an easy backup.
Web apps also aren’t very practical for people who have slow connections. A lot of information needs to be constantly passed back and forth, so they work best on high-speed connections. Even on the best connection, web apps will probably still be a little slower than native apps because they have to interpret the code as they run.
Future Outlook on Web Apps
Although web apps have several disadvantages, these are going to become less prominent in the future. Connectivity is increasingly ubiquitous, thanks to 3G and 4G networks, so it’s becoming rarer to experience outages. People have a mobile lifestyle, and app developers are adapting to make programs and information more accessible from everywhere. Keep an eye out for web versions of your favorite apps and get ready to take your computing to the cloud.
Cameron uses cloud-based apps to keep his multiple devices in sync.