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Ladybird, a truly independent web browser. (ladybird.org)

submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by [email protected] to c/linux

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Video announcement by Chris Wanstrath (GitHub co-founder) of the 501(c) non-profit and $1,000,000 donation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k9edTqPMX_k

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[–] rekabis 26 points 4 months ago (5 children)

We don't have anyone actively working on Windows support, […] We would like to do Windows eventually, but it's not a priority at the moment.

As much as I applaud this focus on just one broad OS architecture, as it will greatly speed development, leaving out Windows is likely to cut off 85-90% of all early adopters. I just hope that the benefit of a simplified target will outweigh ignoring the vast majority of the market.

And honestly, methinks they should focus on Haiku OS before Windows, as it is closer to a Unix heritage than Windows is. And Haiku OS desperately needs a native modern web browser with all the bells and whistles.

[–] BatmanAoD 4 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Why do you think most early adopters use Windows exclusively?

[–] Lmaydev 8 points 4 months ago (1 children)

Well Linux desktop is at 4% so it's cutting out 96% of the market.

[–] BatmanAoD 4 points 4 months ago

...did you just completely forget about Macs? That's about 18% of the desktop market.

But they also are prioritizing mobile development (though they don't have anything working there yet) prior to Windows development. That's a much, much larger market share.

Additionally:

Early adopters are likely to be devs, and devs use Linux and Mac much more than typical end-users.
Even early adopters who do use Windows often use WSL, which now has first-class support for GUI apps.

[–] UndercoverUlrikHD 3 points 4 months ago

I'd hazard as guess that Linux users are at least a magnitude more likely to be an early adopter of this project than Windows users, at 4% market share it shouldn't be that big of problem at the start.

[–] LeFantome 3 points 4 months ago

They do not need early adopters yet. They know it is too early. It makes sense to focus on progress. Outreach can happen later when they are more technically ready.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 4 months ago

The average Windows user would easily be put off by the project if they tried it this early. I feel it'd actually be better if they don't release on Windows until they are ready. That way they can get better press when it finally releases on Windows.

[–] msage 0 points 4 months ago (1 children)

If you are tech-savvy and looking for alternatives, you won't use Windows.

[–] rekabis 0 points 1 month ago

There are plenty of programs out there which can end up being required for your workflow - as in, that exact program; no exceptions - and yet, have no Linux or even non-Windows version.

Not everything is a platformm-agnostic subscription-based SAAS yet, nor should that ever be the case.