this post was submitted on 05 Oct 2023
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Asklemmy

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I just managed to get a absolute baseline working app in avaloniaUI using this library that someone cooked up. No idea if the library is actively maintained, but uh, we'll figure that out when we get to it.

Compared to using the site, possible advantages of a desktop are:

  1. Being able to save posts offline
  2. Client side filtering
  3. performance
  4. less data usage
  5. Not having to use your browser

Other things too, I'm sure. Just trying to gauge interest here. Also I barely know avalonia or C# so just don't expect a polished app out by next monday.

all 49 comments
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[–] [email protected] 42 points 1 year ago

Personally, I tend to prefer apps on mobile and the web versions of services when working from a PC.

[–] [email protected] 25 points 1 year ago

I wouldn't. I don't prefer additional apps on my PC because I switch between three computers, so the browser is much easier for me. But that's just me.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 1 year ago

yeah, appreciate the sentiment, but my desktop already has an app to view websites

[–] [email protected] 19 points 1 year ago

Not really. I'm happy with the web ui

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Apps for desktop websites isn't a thing. That's what browser are made for.

[–] [email protected] 12 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Apps for desktop websites isn’t a thing

It totally is a thing. But at the same time, you're not wrong, since they all run on electron lmao.

[–] [email protected] -3 points 1 year ago

I'd say that makes it even more of a thing, as people clearly want apps even if they're wrapped up websites

[–] [email protected] 10 points 1 year ago

I'm down for that. Sounds awesome.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago

Web browser works perfectly well, can even install sites as an app on mobile

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago (1 children)

As long as it's open source :-)

Would love some mod tools, scraping tools, discovery tools, information dashboard for a server etc.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

I don't see any reason to not make it open source

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago

No, not really. It's a website.

Why not go the userscript route (apart from having to deal with JS which is definitely a legit reason in my book) like RES?

[–] [email protected] 7 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 year ago (4 children)

.NET means it'll be a huge pain to get it running on linux, so it's a no from me.

[–] [email protected] 9 points 1 year ago* (last edited 11 months ago)

[This comment has been deleted by an automated system]

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Avalonia does support Linux. :)

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Avalonia works just fine on linux. Also if things work out, it will be AOT compiled. Plus with WSL, linux should be easy to test for me. Mac will be the only problematic one, as I don't have one.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

The thing is that WSL isn't a good place to test it. I've had major issues with stuff like EDSM (for elite dangerous). It works fine on windows, linux with mono just straight up doesn't work and proton is still a pain because of all the windows dependencies.

There's also a reason why keepassXC exists, a rewrite was probably easier than making the .NET orginal run properly on linux.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 1 year ago

Are you sure? ASP.NET Core or console apps work fine on GNU/Linux, I didn't try GUI tho.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Just note that you can use Liftoff on desktop, and I think thunder too, but not sure.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

That mobile UI doesn't really cut it

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

Why's that? I actually find all the desktop apps shows the Post's imgs/gifs as a small thumbnail, which I don't like when scrolling the feed. For me everything there works well and pretty convenient.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Just make it with electron and then it can be a website in a browser replacing a website in a browser πŸ˜‡

[–] [email protected] 14 points 1 year ago

Naaah, I still have some shame left.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

It would have to offer something substantial that can't be done in a browser; the only thing I can think of off the top of my head is maybe some kind of command-line app if there's a demand for it. I think the current UI is fine but the kind of improvements you're looking for might be better for a browser extension like RES.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

Yes! I tried a couple for Linux and they were shite πŸ˜‚

To answer the 'just use the browser' comments - I don't like the tiny image box for posts. I'd like a much larger display for image/video-based posts so I can enjoy them at a glance. I'll only click into them if I especially want to read or post comments

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Yep. I loved Apollo, and cross platform ios and macos was one of the reasons. Been looking for similar ever since.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (2 children)

Time to look at Voyager: [email protected] It's very Apollo'ish.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Been on voyager for weeks. Honestly the amount the damn app crashes on the phone, I am considering looking for something better, but if it has an application for my mac I will give it another chance.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Huh? No crashes here. I'm using the app that's on the Apple app store.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

yes, the one on the app store. It freezes, and has to be reloaded. Also it often refuses to show newer content for a few days. Just shows the same twenty or so articles on the home screen, even after reloading.

It is annoyingly buggy, basically.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

No, a browser is fine

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Would have to have sync of settings / layout / etc. Beauty of something like alexandrite is having my config in any browser I use

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (2 children)

Idk about cloud sync, but I could probably let you export/import settings from json or something

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Would probably be a deal breaker for me tbh, i hate having to manually sync settings between PCs, I'd probably just stick with Alexandrite or similar

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

What kind of settings are you changing often, beyond the initial setup?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago (1 children)

I'm thinking things like layout, blocks, filters etc

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

blocks at least are stored in your lemmy account and managed server side.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 year ago

You could implement 'drive sync' giving options of NextCloud, GDrive, Dropbox, etc

[–] [email protected] -1 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)
  1. Not having to use your browser

How is having an app for every stupid website in anyway an advantage?

[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 year ago

If you think lemmy is stupid, I don't think you're part of my target audience