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0 pointspetecox10y ago0 comments

'typical web app' is NOT the default deployment model for Firefox OS.

Apps on the Marketplace are deployed to a device and run locally, offline - complete with an intricate permissions model. The only 'web' aspect is being written in HTML/JS/CSS and the extent to which they integrate with the cloud. No less open than the github hosted, Android app scenario you mention. Maybe Firefox OS does need an f-droid equivalent for a free app catalogue though, if and when Mozilla pull the Marketplace servers down.

So be aware of the distinction between mobile web 'apps' and mobile web sites.

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orangecat10y ago

Apps on the Marketplace are deployed to a device and run locally, offline - complete with an intricate permissions model.

So like Android, except using HTML/JS/CSS which I'd consider either an irrelevant implementation detail or a negative.

No less open than the github hosted, Android app scenario you mention.

Sure, no less and no more. The real issues are whether the user is allowed to run the app without explicit permission from the OS vendor, and whether they're required to hand control of their data to a third party. Once we have the answers to those questions, whether the app is written in JS or Java or Swift or C++ doesn't really matter in terms of openness.

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