Here's what I would do.

1. Make it QR code scanning instead of tapping so it can be a PWA.

2. Make it a PWA. This will make it accessible to many more people. Nobody wants to install an app. Nobody wants to install a PWA either but they will at least use a "web site" (a surprising number will install it if it's good).

3. Save yourself a lot of money by building it on top of the Nostr protocol. Run a relay yourself if you want guaranteed reliability. Run a Blossom server for media. Use email for auth and store people's keys for them if you want a traditional UX. Don't worry about what's on Nostr already, just build your own thing on the protocol.

Let people come and go as they please and don't lock them in. They will love you for it later.

Cool project. Have fun!

▲

weird-eye-issue 5 hours ago | parent | next [-]

If somebody wouldn't even bother to download an app for a social network they probably wouldn't stick around for very long either

▲

derwiki 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Nobody wants to install an app?

▲

threecheese 5 hours ago | parent | next [-]

We’re not normies, so take that with a grain of salt. Here’s mine: apps have access to significantly expanded capabilities which has privacy implications. If I can use the browser for a given app, I do it. Amazon for example.

	▲	ChrisMarshallNY 4 hours ago \| parent [-]
		As a native app writer, this has been my experience. Mentioning it here, though, tends to get pushback from folks that write Web apps. They don’t want to admit that native apps have more capabilities than Web apps; even if that’s a bad thing, because of security risks.

▲

danilocesar 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I always avoid apps if I can.

But yeah, that comment is a bit disconnected to majority of the population.

	▲	derwiki 2 hours ago \| parent \| next [-]
		I’m not saying that I disagree personally, but for most folks, installing an app does not cross any line in the sand
	▲	albedoa 5 hours ago \| parent \| prev \| next [-]
		> I always avoid apps if I can. Okay.
	▲	Invictus0 3 hours ago \| parent \| prev [-]
		i always downvote anti-app luddites whenever i can

▲

ripped_britches 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

lol I was going to say this too! I think the inverse is true: nobody wants to install a PWA

▲

fc417fc802 2 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Personally I'll only install FOSS apps on my phone and I go out of my way to actively discourage (to varying degrees of success) my relatives from installing arbitrary junk that they surely don't need on their phones.

▲

retired 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I have a handful of 3rd party apps on my phone and none on my computer. Prefer to just use browser.

▲

stingraycharles 5 hours ago | parent | prev | next [-]

Yeah that’s a weird comment. I don’t want a PWA. I want a normal app. Users want apps.

▲

paulnpace 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

If it requires Play Store, I will only put it on my work phone.

▲

thepasch 5 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

> 1. Make it QR code scanning instead of tapping so it can be a PWA.

Misses the point completely. The entire idea is that this enforces in-person meetings, which QR codes do not.

▲

stkdump 4 hours ago | parent [-]

You could make the qr code extremely short lived, like 2 seconds or so.

	▲	navigate8310 4 hours ago \| parent [-]
		one could video call and scan