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Comment by amelius | Hacker News Reader

I'm feeling that React Native is just another artificial constraint we developers have to deal with. I would have preferred it if Facebook (and/or Apple, Google) would have pushed WebApps more instead. A web browser, with the right amount of love, would be more than capable of doing the stuff that React Native can do.

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Google still is! Progressive web apps now have the ability to be installed "natively" on Android devices [0], meaning they show up in the app drawer like any other app rather than being limited to a home screen icon.

I think these are the future. Once they catch on with mainstream consumers, native apps won't stand a chance against the convenience of simply visiting a website to install/use. Plus, on the developer end, we finally have a true "write once, run anywhere" situation that doesn't involve any complex toolchains or hacky wrappers.

[0] http://www.androidpolice.com/2017/02/02/progressive-web-apps...

That sounds absolutely fabulous!

But do you think that Apple would embrace this technology, given that e.g. their app-store is generating lots of revenue?

Not at first. But if the tide turns enough, Apple with have to jump on board to avoid losing market share.

Asking the right question. And that's not sarcasm.

They won't, but they eventually won't have a choice. If the experience is simply better on other devices, consumers will move.

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