This article discusses the importance of web-based software and desktop-based software. In this article, we also analysed the scalability, security, and ease of use of both types of software. Here we will discuss what both types mean, when a user prefers a web or browser-based application, and when they prefer a desktop app. Software companies develop both desktop-based applications and browser-based web apps, and both have their advantages and downsides. What sort of applications can be made web-based, and what type of software can be made computer desktop-based?
What Is Desktop Software?
Desktop-based software is an app that is downloaded to a computer and installed so that the user can use it. Mostly, desktop software is packaged as .exe and .msi extensions for Windows-based systems. A Desktop application may or may not have UI screens. UI screens help the user perform operations on the software, such as data input, output, etc. For example, Marg ERP, which is one of the most popular billing & accounting software, comes in a setup file, which is installed on a computer system for use. So when such software is installed on a computer, it takes up disk space in the system, and all the user data & information related to the business is stored on the local system. Also, when that particular app is run, it takes up RAM space. There are background processes too that occupy RAM when the user is not actually using the software.
Advantages of Desktop Software
- It does not depend on an internet connection for its functionalities, mostly because the
database resides on the system itself - The user does not have to open a browser to access the application
- The processing is fast because the application uses the system resources
- Travel-friendly: perfect for remote areas
Limitations of Desktop Software
- Since the data is only on the local system, if the system corrupts, data will be lost
- Sometimes while working on the software, the application might freeze or crash because of limited RAM space.
- Since it is a desktop-based app, it cannot be accessed or operated from other systems via a browser
What Is Web-Based Software?
Web-based software is a web app that is accessed via a web browser, which itself is a desktop software. Earlier web apps used to be built as a standalone monolithic application, in which the frontend UI and backend program used to be in a single project. Modern web apps, built by the top custom software development companies in the world, are built using microservice architecture. So this way, the frontend and the backend services are all separated. They are different projects, basically. Modern frontends are built with Frameworks like Angular(backed by Google), Vue.js, and libraries like React.js(backed by Meta). Backends are built with frameworks like Java Springboot, Python Django, ASP.NET, Node.js, etc. Popular, widely used SaaS platforms, CRMs (like Salesforce, HubSpot, etc), and Collaboration & Communication apps (like Teams, Slack) are web apps.
Advantages of Web-Based Software
- Since it is a cloud-based app, it can be accessed anywhere via a browser, on a PC, on a smartphone, or on a tablet
- The database is on a remote server, so even if a particular system becomes corrupt, the data won’t be lost
- It does not need any sort of installation, only registration and subscription, and you are ready to go
Limitations of Web-Based Software
- It cannot be accessed without an active internet connection; no internet, no software accessibility
- Speed lag: if the internet speed is low, operations might take a lot of time
- Local offline use: only basic, small tasks are allowed by local caching, so major operations cannot be done
- High traffic loads might slow down web app performance
Desktop Software vs Web-Based Software: A Detailed Comparison
Desktop software is made with platform-dependent programming languages, like Assembly, C, C++, C#.NET, and platform-independent languages like Python, Java, etc. For example, if I am developing software for Windows-based systems, it would be very convenient for me to build that app in C#.NET, and for Mac-based systems, I might use Objective-C or Swift.
Otherwise, if I choose platform-independent languages like Python or Java for creating the application, I will have to write the code once, and it will run anywhere, on Windows and Mac-based systems. However, the performance might still differ because platform-dependent languages are generally faster than platform-independent languages.
When I am building a web-based application, I will choose frameworks like Java Spring Boot, Asp.NET, and Node.js, and UI development frameworks and libraries like Angular, Vue, and React. IT Consulting companies have separate teams for frontend development, backend development, quality assurance, security pentesting, and DevOps specialists. All these teams work separately and in parallel in a well-synchronized manner to complete the project efficiently, before the client deadline. Algorithms also play a very important role in software development, whether it is for desktops or the cloud.
Now the question arises: which type of development should be done while a company is developing software, web-based or desktop-based? Software that necessarily needs computer resources like Storage disks, RAM, etc, to function, like antiviruses, is mostly built as a desktop application, because this kind of application needs to check the entire system to find bugs, malware, and Trojans. Since the browser itself is a desktop application that lets users access the internet, it needs to be built as a desktop application. Browser-based applications usually don’t need the computer resources
The rest of the types of applications can either be built for a desktop or the cloud, or both, maybe, like accounting, billing, and GST software, sales CRM, Graphic editing applications, and mail software.
Installation and Deployment
Browser-based applications do not need to be installed, since they are accessed via a browser. It is built by software companies and tested and deployed on the cloud itself. You just open the browser, visit the URL, and you are good to go. A desktop-based app is delivered via a website of the company building and maintaining the software. It is delivered as an .exe, .msi, or a .dmg(for Mac users) file, installed on the system and used on the system.
Performance
The performance of a browser-based app depends on the server resources, the frameworks used to build it, and the algorithms, whereas the performance of desktop-based software largely depends on the system hardware, the programming languages, and sometimes on the internet connection.
Security
Web apps face attacks like cross-site scripting, MySQL injections, DDoS, etc. Security of web apps is ensured with the help of cloud-based firewalls, CAPTCHAs, etc. Desktop-based applications, on the other hand, face reverse engineering and malware patch risks, which can leak important information or corrupt it, so desktop antiviruses or native defense programs like Windows Defender ensure the security of these kinds of software.
Maintenance and Updates
The web app and desktop app updates are done by the company developing and maintaining them. Both need an internet connection
Conclusion
If you don’t have a regular internet connection or you have good system hardware, it would be better to use desktop-based software. If you have no internet or hardware problems, you can use either of the two. Also, as we discussed, some software can only be used as desktop software