I just managed to get a absolute baseline working app in avaloniaUI using this library that someone cooked up. No idea if the library is actively maintained, but uh, we'll figure that out when we get to it.
Compared to using the site, possible advantages of a desktop are:
- Being able to save posts offline
- Client side filtering
- performance
- less data usage
- Not having to use your browser
Other things too, I'm sure. Just trying to gauge interest here. Also I barely know avalonia or C# so just don't expect a polished app out by next monday.
Generally speaking I prefer OS native apps to cross-platform. Being a macOS user cross-platforms apps tend not to respect OS conventions like Command + Click on document title to show the directory it’s in, being able to move files that are open, etc.
Not to say that this app would need any of that. I guess my point is that oftentimes cross-platform stuff looks janky (no matter the host OS).
Real footage of me as a windows user finding a good native app (I had forgotten they existed)
Jokes aside, I get what you mean. Ultimately though, I thought it would be more valuable for me and users for it to be cross platform. If I was a mac user I might have made it native. You guys still have some good apps left.