"Writing an app is like coding for LaserDisc"

The article’s author agrees with a previous comparison that developing apps is like coding for LaserDisc—a defunct and commercial failure of a technology from the 1980s. Apps, unlike web applications, are typically incompatible with newer models of smartphones, requiring developers to constantly update their software for each new operating system or hardware release. This issue, along with the rise of app stores as digital gatekeepers, contrasts with the web’s openness and longevity: websites from the 1990s are still accessible today. While acknowledging the strengths of native apps, the article ultimately concludes that the web offers a more sustainable and democratic solution for digital development.