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Ask HN: Anyone making a living off of desktop applications?

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Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living off of desktop applications?

#71

Post by mherrmann »

jventura wrote: post #59
mherrmann wrote: post #32

I'm just launching a file manager ( https://fman.io ). In general I'd say use web / SaaS whenever possible. If you do go with desktop, you may be interested in a blog post I just wrote about the technologies we ended up picking: https://fman.io/blog/picking-technologies-for-a-desktop-app-... .

I read your blog and it seems that you have something similar to my case, at least as technologies are concerned. I also have my business logic in Python and one of my ideas is PyQt (or Qml through pyotherside). How are you shipping the application to users without Qt or Python installed? Are you using something like cx_freeze?

I haven't fully decided yet but was thinking of using py2app. I have to see.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living off of desktop applications?

#72

Post by rxlim »

First, of course you can make a living out of desktop applications. In the echo chamber of HN you could maybe get the idea that they are no longer relevant, but out in the real world millions of people need to do real work, but don't have a stable connection to the Internet.

Second, If you decide to create a desktop application, then make it native. I must strongly advise against using any of these "web frameworks" e.g. Electron, QTwebkit etc. to create desktop applications. They are slow, bloated and probably contain many security holes because of the huge complexity of browser engines.

They only exists because many developers don't know anything else than web development, instead of learning new skills they created this abomination. One earlier post said that minumum an i3 was required for the apps to remain snappy, think about it, that is just ridiculous especially in a time where PC's are upgraded much less frequently than they used to be. I would NEVER install an application created using a web framework.

I have good experinces with Rust and Golang when creating native applications for multiple OS.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living off of desktop applications?

#73

Post by cylinder »

I can offer the perspective of the customer. I am a bit fed up with web apps these days, and would find a good desktop solution refreshing. You should include cloud backups and sync, however, that is key. But, web apps are getting slower and slower -- even the 1 or 2 seconds it takes to open a new link stresses me out when I'm in the zone and trying to work fast. I am even trying to move away from Gmail to Outlook now.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living off of desktop applications?

#74

Post by lostmsu »

Fail story: I have SSD + HDD caching for Windows ( https://diskache.io/ ). But due to lack of marketing skills, and, perhaps, lack of common store for system software for Windows, even free Beta version has been downloaded by like 3.5 people during 3 months of availability.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living off of desktop applications?

#75

Post by Retric »

jventura wrote: post #47
codecamper wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

separation of concerns. Just write the logic in a fairly portable language.

I do have it in Python! I've successfully build some frontend experiments with Android ( http://joaoventura.net/blog/2014/python-android/ ), Web (with Flask) and Qt (PyQt5 and pyotherside). My problem is with the choice of the best frontend approach, and since I'm only one guy working on this, I am trying to find my "best" decision..

Generally, if it works as a website use that. Desktop apps are for things you can't do with a website.

EX: File system tools, AAA FPS, etc.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living off of desktop applications?

#76

Post by amdavidson »

lostmsu wrote: post #74

Fail story: I have SSD + HDD caching for Windows ( https://diskache.io/ ). But due to lack of marketing skills, and, perhaps, lack of common store for system software for Windows, even free Beta version has been downloaded by like 3.5 people during 3 months of availability.

Friendly comment, I read the name of this product as disk ache. I'm gathering that this is not where you were shooting.

If you want to retain the name, I recommend looking into how you capitalize / kern / otherwise present the name to try and get you the association you're going for.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living off of desktop applications?

#77

Post by stcredzero »

dejv wrote: post #70
danieltillett wrote: post #11

Earlier quoted context omitted.

What are the low level problems you have been running into?

Three main things: - memory space for printers and sound cards changed in Vista, so when you have some constellation of printers and you change the printer in dialog whole program just crash, because it is trying to touch restricted memory or something. - running Paradox in network is quite difficult. Whole database was written in 80s before things like tcp/ip was thought as a good thing and all the networking part w…

Three main things: - memory space for printers and sound cards changed in Vista, so when you have some constellation of printers and you change the printer in dialog whole program just crash, because it is trying to touch restricted memory or something.

Can this functionality be separated out into a different process, or called from a DLL compiled using Visual Studio?

Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living off of desktop applications?

#78

Post by kowdermeister »

mherrmann wrote: post #32

I'm just launching a file manager ( https://fman.io ). In general I'd say use web / SaaS whenever possible. If you do go with desktop, you may be interested in a blog post I just wrote about the technologies we ended up picking: https://fman.io/blog/picking-technologies-for-a-desktop-app-... .

Very good idea, if you can pull off what sublime did to text editors, then take my money :) I'm still using Total Commander, but I definitely see the need for a more focused app that help my directory browsing habits.

Subscribed, rooting for your project.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living off of desktop applications?

#79

Post by stcredzero »

partisan wrote: post #2

This type of analysis paralysis will kill your project. > I have to think about the future, and so I have to try to make the right choice on this.. You don't have to make the right choice right now. For now, focus on getting something complete so that you can prove the idea out.

It's not about making the ultimate right choice. It's about not getting trapped in a dead end, or in a situation where you can't change your mind.

Re: Ask HN: Anyone making a living off of desktop applications?

#80

Post by ausjke »

pabloski wrote: post #58
ausjke wrote: post #56

Earlier quoted context omitted.

For anything-QT that is commercial you need pay and it's not cheap for small teams.

Is QtQuick commercial? No GPL version?

IANAL but if you're making commercial products you need pay for QT. You can use GPL etc if you're doing open source I assume.
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