What planet are you on? I've been using great native apps since forever. I don't know what it is but there is a certain segment of the computer user population who don't seem to notice that awesome native apps exists for all sorts of stuff.
"actual dev time per feature (easily 10x the cost)"
Yeah seriously what PLANET ARE YOU ON!!! I can make native app functionality in a fraction of the time it takes to do it in a horrible mess of a language that is JavaScript. Poor type system, shitty REPL, shitty module support, shitty debugger. Shitty GUI design tools. Shitty performance measurement tools.
"And as for Qt, Qt has existed for over two decades"
It is C++, and we got great alternatives on Windows and OS X. still if you have to stick to C++, then Qt is probably the most widely used GUI toolkit.
"People are excited about the Desktop again"
I don't know what bubble you live in. This is just a bunch of hipsters who are excited because they can suddenly use their only programming skills to hack on desktop apps.
Lets get real, this is all about the numbers and not the technology. Due to the the need for lots of custom made web apps, there is a huge population of JavaScript developers. These can now be utilized for desktop app development. It isn't like it wasn't possible before, it is just that these guys could not be bothered to learn anything else.
And it isn't all that important. Hardly any of the applications I use daily are Electron. I occasionally use Atom. Other than that great apps like OmniGraffle, Pages, Pixen, TextMate, Ulysses, Marked 2, Charles, Dash, Kaleidoscope, Tower, Keynote, GitUp, 1Password, Magnet, iBooks, ScreenFlow, Terminal etc none of them are electron based.
He's right, and you're right. Web technologies have a low barrier to entry, so it's easy to go from inexperienced to productive.
Advanced native tools with a powerful language in the hands of a master programmer will be much more productive for the reasons he cites. The type system in particular, with a well-worn toolbox of primitives can make you extremely effective.
So, web technologies are more effective in aggregate across the entire industry, but native technologies can be more effective in the hands of an experienced single individual.
"actual dev time per feature (easily 10x the cost)" Yeah seriously what PLANET ARE YOU ON!!! I can make native app functionality in a fraction of the time it takes to do it in a horrible mess of a language that is JavaScript. Poor type system, shitty REPL, shitty module support, shitty debugger. Shitty GUI design tools. Shitty performance measurement tools.
"And as for Qt, Qt has existed for over two decades" It is C++, and we got great alternatives on Windows and OS X. still if you have to stick to C++, then Qt is probably the most widely used GUI toolkit.
"People are excited about the Desktop again" I don't know what bubble you live in. This is just a bunch of hipsters who are excited because they can suddenly use their only programming skills to hack on desktop apps.
Lets get real, this is all about the numbers and not the technology. Due to the the need for lots of custom made web apps, there is a huge population of JavaScript developers. These can now be utilized for desktop app development. It isn't like it wasn't possible before, it is just that these guys could not be bothered to learn anything else.
And it isn't all that important. Hardly any of the applications I use daily are Electron. I occasionally use Atom. Other than that great apps like OmniGraffle, Pages, Pixen, TextMate, Ulysses, Marked 2, Charles, Dash, Kaleidoscope, Tower, Keynote, GitUp, 1Password, Magnet, iBooks, ScreenFlow, Terminal etc none of them are electron based.