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Meta replaces WhatsApp for Windows with web wrapper

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21–30 of 402 posts

Re: Meta replaces WhatsApp for Windows with web wrapper

#21
post #2

People use WhatsApp on the computer? From the Windows Store of all places? Must be a tiny percentage, which is why this version is now a basic web wrapper now. Anyway, I’d remind everyone that “using” RAM doesn’t mean “would not function with less RAM.” Many applications just use a lot if it’s available. RAM is not really something you explicitly ration.

Before reminding everyone of a theory, did you check where that theory applies in this discussion of an app in practice?

Also, even in theory the issue isn't only with "wouldn't function", but "would function slower due to eg disk swaps / cause other apps to function slower".

Re: Meta replaces WhatsApp for Windows with web wrapper

#22
post #2

People use WhatsApp on the computer? From the Windows Store of all places? Must be a tiny percentage, which is why this version is now a basic web wrapper now. Anyway, I’d remind everyone that “using” RAM doesn’t mean “would not function with less RAM.” Many applications just use a lot if it’s available. RAM is not really something you explicitly ration.

"RAM is not really something you explicitly ration."

It most certainly is. My old pc ran on 8MB of ram. Modern ones need 16GB for a comfortable experience. They do not do much more than I needed back then. I think it's reasonable to expect a simple chat app to not take up 128 times as much memory as my entire PC had when I was young.

Re: Meta replaces WhatsApp for Windows with web wrapper

#24
post #16

> WhatsApp is one of those Windows apps that went from being a web wrapper to a native app and then back to the web again after all these years of investment. We often hear stories about the speed of development and the issues of maintaining native apps, and then there are these rewrites every few years. Don't they waste more resources vs. creating / fixing the gaps in the native app? And this isn't somes quick start…

How many chat apps did Google launch and kill? Its all about incentives: how to get that promotion. Maintaining a well working, established app isn’t going to get you anywhere.

Re: Meta replaces WhatsApp for Windows with web wrapper

#27
post #16

> WhatsApp is one of those Windows apps that went from being a web wrapper to a native app and then back to the web again after all these years of investment. We often hear stories about the speed of development and the issues of maintaining native apps, and then there are these rewrites every few years. Don't they waste more resources vs. creating / fixing the gaps in the native app? And this isn't somes quick start…

It’s probably a coup internally and some idiot who sucked up to the right people made a load of bad technical decisions. But at least they got promoted!

Re: Meta replaces WhatsApp for Windows with web wrapper

#28
post #10

It's a piece of shit and they know they can get away with it. Omg why are there no open protocols on Instant messengIng like email. Europe should enforce it.

You mean like Matrix or XMPP? They just aren't as ubiquitous as email unfortunately.

At least you can bridge WhatsApp and then use whatever client you like.

Re: Meta replaces WhatsApp for Windows with web wrapper

#30
post #15

Ms Edge offers webview2 which should share a single browser engine and profile (like your browser has tabs ) I wonder if they avoided that so they could use Electron and target MacOS / Linux too

The macOS app is the iOS app running on macOS thanks to Catalyst, hopefully they won't replace it with that Electron/WebViewOfTheDay crap.
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