Ask HN: Can you share websites that are pushing the utility of browsers forward?

#1

Post by brrrrrm » Mon, May 16, 2022, 3:33 AM UTC

I'm aware of the relatively recent addition of things like WebXR, WebGL, WebAssembly, WebRTC, but I feel I am woefully out of touch with the most compelling and useful examples of these novel standards.

Do you have any eye-opening websites that really demonstrate some of the true power of the modern web?

Re: Ask HN: Can you share websites that are pushing the utility of browsers forward?

#2

Post by throwaway22717 » Mon, May 16, 2022, 4:18 AM UTC

https://utcc.utoronto.ca/~cks/space/blog/web/PlainHTMLAppeal

Re: Ask HN: Can you share websites that are pushing the utility of browsers forward?

#3

Post by balloob » Mon, May 16, 2022, 4:23 AM UTC

ESP Web Tools uses WebSerial to allow users to install, update and manage firmware running on ESP microcontrollers: https://esphome.github.io/esp-web-tools/

Re: Ask HN: Can you share websites that are pushing the utility of browsers forward?

#4

Post by notsrg » Mon, May 16, 2022, 4:24 AM UTC

Figma is written in C++ and compiled to web assembly. All the UX designers I know are using it because it's pretty powerful for a webapp.

Re: Ask HN: Can you share websites that are pushing the utility of browsers forward?

#5

Post by jzox » Mon, May 16, 2022, 4:30 AM UTC

This is a nice example

https://www.3dorderbook.com/

Re: Ask HN: Can you share websites that are pushing the utility of browsers forward?

#6

Post by est31 » Mon, May 16, 2022, 4:33 AM UTC

balloob wrote: post #3

ESP Web Tools uses WebSerial to allow users to install, update and manage firmware running on ESP microcontrollers: https://esphome.github.io/esp-web-tools/

On a similar note, you can flash your pixel devices from the Google website: https://old.reddit.com/r/GooglePixel/comments/raxrjg/til_you...

You connect your phone to the desktop via USB, then navigate to the specific website. Then it uses a Web API to talk to the phone. I'm not sure whether it uses privileged access though.

Re: Ask HN: Can you share websites that are pushing the utility of browsers forward?

#7

Post by [deleted] » Mon, May 16, 2022, 4:36 AM UTC

notsrg wrote: post #4

Figma is written in C++ and compiled to web assembly. All the UX designers I know are using it because it's pretty powerful for a webapp.

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: Can you share websites that are pushing the utility of browsers forward?

#8

Post by langfo » Mon, May 16, 2022, 4:38 AM UTC

jzox wrote: post #5

This is a nice example https://www.3dorderbook.com/

That's awesome!

Re: Ask HN: Can you share websites that are pushing the utility of browsers forward?

#9

Post by FinalDestiny » Mon, May 16, 2022, 4:40 AM UTC

The WebAudioModules (WAM) have some very cool demos if you're into music: https://www.webaudiomodules.org/wamsynths/

I've been learning tone.js as of late

Re: Ask HN: Can you share websites that are pushing the utility of browsers forward?

#10

Post by mr_toad » Mon, May 16, 2022, 4:54 AM UTC

Don’t most of the newer browser versions of video conferencing products (Zoom, Teams etc) use WebRTC?