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Show HN: Capsule – Single-file web apps that save their data into SQLite

withcapsule.app

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Re: Show HN: Capsule – Single-file web apps that save their data into SQLite

#111

Post by bashtian »

pbronez wrote: post #77
nater5000 wrote: post #63

I don't know, this seems like an idea that maybe works in a specific context being generalized past the point of the original idea making sense. If the user needs to download a specific application to run this these web apps, then why not just send them that initial application in the first place? Why jump through the hoops of using Capsule when the same hoops can be jumped through to get to the same endpoint? If thi…

Seems pretty useful in an enterprise context to me. I see it as an alternative to 10 million vibe coded apps to dockerize and manage. You can put the runtime on everyone’s machine and provide a web version for really collaborative stuff. Bonus points for an intelligent way to manage these stored in OneDrive and other cloud folders. Easy to get corruption on SQLite files stored there.

There are a few things in Capsule to avoid corruptions of the file during syncing. The DELETE journal mode is used and writes are batched into transactions so that updates are always complete changes. And if there is a copy created because of a conflict merging two capsule files is supported.

Re: Show HN: Capsule – Single-file web apps that save their data into SQLite

#112

Post by dizzard »

crab_galaxy wrote: post #98
pbronez wrote: post #77

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Seems pretty useful in an enterprise context to me. I see it as an alternative to 10 million vibe coded apps to dockerize and manage. You can put the runtime on everyone’s machine and provide a web version for really collaborative stuff. Bonus points for an intelligent way to manage these stored in OneDrive and other cloud folders. Easy to get corruption on SQLite files stored there.

It could be useful for us with home labs for the same reasons. Kind of annoying to deploy docker containers for all the services I build that amount to personalized/skinned trello boards.

Not trying to plug myself, but I’ve been working on a similar project for this exact reason. It doesn’t use special file types. Just HTML and localStorage proxies to sync devices.

It’s self-hostable too. I’ve got a bunch of super niche todo lists and personal apps running on my home server with it.

https://github.com/momja/Exhibit

Re: Show HN: Capsule – Single-file web apps that save their data into SQLite

#113

Post by zarrdoz »

This would be great if it evolved in a universal format/spec/feature supported by all major browsers. Only then you'd have to deal with cross web engine compatibilities. And if capsules need to do something non-trivial then you need to consider all the security aspects of having system, file or network level access. Just like any executable. Otherwise with custom app to run capsules it feels like something that can be vibe coded with electron/nw.js rather easily.

But there is something compelling in the idea - there is need for an interactive smart document format that you can share around easily. Kind of like a next gen markdown derivative cross with jupyter notebook where you bundle data, live parametric visualizations, code, audio, video, asciicinema like playback, comments, metadata, file artifacts etc

Re: Show HN: Capsule – Single-file web apps that save their data into SQLite

#114

Post by dizzard »

teraflop wrote: post #104
Reviving1514 wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Why not on a shared drive like dropbox? Concurrent editing wouldn't work, though.

Beyond "not working", concurrent editing is likely to silently lose data, or corrupt data, or possibly just fill up your drive with lots of "conflicted copies" that you have to manually reconcile.

When I read about this project, it doesn’t seem like concurrency is much of a concern. I think it’s _supposed_ to be treated like sharing a document with someone else.

If a capsule is a recipe, like in one of the examples, that’s pretty cool. If a capsule is a recipe _manager_, then I think it would get messy.

Re: Show HN: Capsule – Single-file web apps that save their data into SQLite

#119

Post by m-p-3 »

bashtian wrote: post #82
m-p-3 wrote: post #66

It kinda reminds me of MS Access, which ended up being a pain in the butt for IT departments, but also covered a need within some department with limited resources. Really curious to see where this goes. Do you plan to open-source the client, or simply make the file specification open when stabilized?

I'm currently 50/50 on open source the full app vs just the spec. Since I'm currently having a strong idea of what features and functionality is still missing I feel that open-sourcing right now would distract to much in this phase. But maybe when the main features are done it would make sense to have more people looking at and improving it.

Do what you feel is best for this project and good luck :)

Re: Show HN: Capsule – Single-file web apps that save their data into SQLite

#120

Post by probablyStimmed »

I like that there are so many haters who don’t get it or don’t think it’s useful and then there are 5 or so very similar projects in various stages of development listed in the comments. It’s giving “what if I don’t like beans?”
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