Check the Power of Hybrid Software

I’m not sure if this term has been coined or not; but this is the first I’ve heard it. The concept refers to software that uses both desktop and web based capabilities. There really isn’t much in this space as of yet. It’s funny; I’ve been involved in software projects where I’ve argued both sides being the way. At Xoop, we touted the desktop app being the future. At Leads360, it’s all about the on-demand solutions in a web-based environment. But lately, I’m thinking it’s a combination of both. More than just updating a desktop app over the internet; it’s more than that. I think it’s a fully integrated desktop app that has a big web based component. Data is stored locally, remotely, or both.

Using my software TabLists has been a microcosmic experiment with hybrid software. TabLists is a web based to-do list management software, which, by the way, if you haven’t seen it, check it out. I created a simple desktop app that encapsulates it, and this gives the tool much more power.

I think we’ll see Leads360 moving this way soon. We’re working on several concepts that utilize desktop computing and would give us much more integration and control.

Comments

[Ben]

Jeff, what you are describing is simply a client-server model and that has been around for 20 years. Hybrid software? LOL!

[Jeff Solomon]

Thanks for the comments Ben. I'm quite familiar with both styles of software; web based and traditional client-server. I'm talking more about using a combination of methods; while you may say this is common practice, it really isn't. Most apps are either desktop or web based. There are those that have the browser control embedded or that communicate with a server, but not so many use the web browser as they could. We'll see what the future holds.