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.

  • @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