With lots of things being developed through web technologies, and many things being web-based so that it is cross-platform, will operating systems still be relevant?

We can differ philosophically by using Debian or Arch or Windows or Mac, but if nowadays applications are web-based or developed through something like Electron such that it can run on practically all modern operating systems. what is the relevance of operating systems galore?

Don’t get me wrong I love FOSS and Linux and stuff, but it seems that the paradigm right now is creating web applications, with many things being web-based.

Am I off, or is this something you also think about?

P.S. I’m a total noob when it comes to IT, so the question might be weirdly phrased.

  • @over_clox
    19•1 year ago

    I guess we’ll have to forgive you for not understanding the purpose of the operating system, but that’s basically the fundamental system software and drivers that make it possible for the system to even work in the first place.

    All apps/programs require an operating system to run on and communicate with.

    Go ahead, format your drive and install only your favorite web app. It won’t start. Web apps aren’t designed to start the system, that’s what the operating system does.

    • @mafbarOP
      3•1 year ago

      I think I understand the purpose of an operating system, but I meant for the casual desktop user. I’m sorry, I forgot to put it in the question. Obviously operating systems must exist, otherwise you’ll only have the hardware. I get that, but I mean that for a desktop user, who treats their computers as bootloaders to the browser, so to speak, will different operating systems be relevant for them, i.e. the majority of users?

      • @SMillerNL
        4•1 year ago

        Until my browser does all things as well as an native app does, yes.

        • @mafbarOP
          1•1 year ago

          If I may ask, what native apps that you use that are not available as web-based applications yet?

          • @ozymandias117
            6•1 year ago

            Not OP, but “not available” is pretty different from “works as well as”

            My native PDF viewer, document/text editor, music player, and email client all work significantly better than any web-based option I’ve found, for example

            • @mafbarOP
              2•1 year ago

              If you can do every single thing that you mentioned either online or offline but with the browser (or browser engine based applications), would you?

              • @ozymandias117English
                2•1 year ago

                If the browser engine can be optimized enough, sure. It’s just nowhere near close at the moment

                A (semi-)joke video called “The Birth and Death of JavaScript” envisions a future where JavaScript gets pulled down into the kernel.

                I’m not entirely convinced it’s possible, but if we find a way to make it as efficient while also keeping security and privacy concerns met, I don’t care that much what language I’m using

                https://www.destroyallsoftware.com/talks/the-birth-and-death-of-javascript