I fought hard against that for years. I still only use 'app' for phone programs, but I stopped correcting people every time they used the term for anything else. It isn't technically wrong, but it grates on my nerves for some reason.

[–] [email protected] 29 points 3 days ago (1 children)

If someone told me to use the fdisk app I'd be confused.

[–] [email protected] 14 points 2 days ago (2 children)

Use the ls app.

Then use the cd app.

[–] ulterno 8 points 2 days ago

Then use the cd app.

❯ which cd
cd: shell built-in command

Not even technically correct, unless...

When I press 'Reply', I am using the Reply app

[–] Piatro 4 points 2 days ago

Ugh I don't know why but this was the one that got me. Just no.

[–] [email protected] 4 points 2 days ago (3 children)

Windows is the first thing I can think of that used the word "application" in that way, I think even back before Windows could be considered an OS (and had a dependency on MS-DOS). Back then, the Windows API referred to the Application Programming Interface.

Here's a Windows 3.1 programming guide from 1992 that freely refers to programs as applications:

Common dialog boxes make it easier for you to develop applications for the Microsoft Windows operating system. A common dialog box is a dialog box that an application displays by calling a single function rather than by creating a dialog box procedure and a resource file containing a dialog box template.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 day ago

Goddamn …. That is a thing of horrific beauty. I saved it immediately.

(I’m a technical writer so it should be fun to go through this ancient tome)

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

I don't have a single problem with the word "application"

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago

to develop applications for the Microsoft Windows operating system.

Could they have meat "uses for the MS..."?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago (4 children)

Language evolves. Why is a computer program not an “app(lication)” exactly?

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 days ago

Oh, it is. It is... Sigh.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 days ago (1 children)

It isn’t technically wrong

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

Yeah, I thought I made that clear. I just don't like it.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 2 days ago

A lot of times, the literal definition varies from what people think of when they hear a thing. We call a lot of similar things words that don't fully make sense but since other people will know what it means, it's useful. When everything is an app, piles of specifics are glossed over. That probably doesn't matter when talking to a non-developer, but sometimes it might. Those of us in software like the specificity because it tells us many things we might otherwise have to ask several questions to learn about. So yeah, sometimes it matters, other times it won't.

[–] [email protected] 2 points 2 days ago (1 children)

Everyone that goes " thats fire yo!" I spritz with a spraybottle.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 days ago

As is your right and duty.