We all hate Electron based apps… but when you think about it, Apple documentation is SO very bad… what choice do you have? Do you work on something that has great documentation and an established developer community, or do you try and learn everything in the blind?

@vincent I don't hate Electron apps. In general I prefer real native apps, but I have electron apps that are way better than some of the native apps I have.

@hjertnes @vincent Probably a noob question, but due to its Chrome/JavaScript base, would Electron apps not always be a huge security risk — in light of the fact there were already vulnerabilities discovered — going forward, and depending on speed and availability of updates may not be patched?

@pimoore chrome have so many users and black / grey / white hat hackers trying to exploit it. Plus being open source that it is unlikely that its less secure. Javascript isn't insecure in itself. There might be some security issues with electron but it's used so much that I doubt there being a lot

My experience is that most of the security problems will be in the app code or third party dependencies

@hjertnes Thanks for that clarification, I appreciate it!

@vincent I don't hate all electron apps. I just don't like bad apps. The overlap just happens to be pretty high. I think the problem is electron is an afterthought for most rather than a priority.

@Burk Another aspect is also that if the Electron app does not use the native ideoms of hte platform that it just feels wrong. And for me that is a very important point of using an app.

@hjertnes yeah, I also prefer a “real” app… and you also nail it with the garbage. Rather have a compromise instead of a terrible Catalyst app 😂

@pimoore hmmm, I’m not a security expert so I can’t possibly make an educated guess on that. All systems may have vulnerability… the “modern” web basically runs on JavaScript on different browsers with different JS engines. Chrome being probably one of the most used consumer apps out there (I’m terms of browsers). Any project has the pitfalls of falling behind on updates and patching security holes, if not at an OS level (for example a dependency the developer has used). I’m not saying Electron is awesome and such… more saying “you know, I think I know why so many are doing it”.

@vincent Yeah, that makes total sense. I will say that all other Electron apps should follow VSCode and Obsidian’s lead when it comes to an app done right. Especially certain messaging apps that rhyme with “black”.

@vincent oh I’m ready to rage quit that app every time I open it up. 😂

@pimoore what's the problem with slack?

@vincent VSCode has 1500+ developers working on it. 👍 and is ace

@hjertnes It’s just been buggy on my work computer at least (5K iMac) and personally I think the UI sucks, though that last part isn’t Electron’s fault.

@pimoore Slack isn't perfect, but I think it works better than any other work chat tool I've used.

@pimoore You’d go running back to Slack’s tender embrace if you had to rely on MS Teams.

@hjertnes Honestly, in Slack’s defence, I hate all these messaging apps except for Apple Messages, so it was already behind the 8-ball with me. 😂

@gregmoore So I keep hearing, and I guess it’s essentially a layer on top of Skype now from my understanding?

@pimoore It is great for actual video and audio calling but it’s a bloated hot mess for everything else. The rest of the UI/UX is atrociously slow and was obviously designed more for product photos than actual use.

@gregmoore Perhaps not ironically, that sounds just like Windows. 😂