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Hey Indie Hackers :)…

by Dave Jeffery
https://www.todesktop.com/

Hey Indie Hackers :),

ToDesktop an online tool that will convert your web app into a desktop app for Windows, Mac and Linux. It’s super-straightforward and, hopefully, it just works. Code signing and auto-update work out-of-the-box.

https://www.todesktop.com/

Just launched last week. I have 5 users in 14-day trial (with credit card), hoping that they convert to paying users!

Looking for landing page feedback. If anybody wants to actually use the product and create a desktop app then let me know and I'll sort you out with a discount code. :)

#landing-page-feedback

Dave Jeffery's avatarDave Jeffery
submitted this linkon April 1, 2019
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  1. 1

    This looks amazing. I'm working on my first Electron app (in Visual Studio Code) at the moment but now I'm wondering whether your app would make more sense. I know web design coding but the whole installer creation and auto-updates process seems difficult to me. Then there's integrating payments, licensing and so on.

    I have a few questions for you:

    1. Will content in the app load instantly like a native desktop app, or will clicking on buttons, links etc. work just like loading a web page?
    2. Will the app work offline for the user?
    3. How would being offline work for an app that you need to be logged into to use? Would the user get the standard error message like "you are not connected to the internet"?
    4. Would ToDesktop work if I built my web app in Wordpress and used a membership plugin to control access, signups etc?

    Landing page looks fantastic. Would be interested to see someone using a web app made in ToDesktop, logging in and out, clicking on buttons etc.

    Tobe's avatar Tobe
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    7 years ago
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    1. 2

      Oh wow! ToDesktop seems like a great fit for your use-case. You get to focus on the tools you know inside and out and let ToDesktop do the Electron stuff.

      1. (& 2 & 3) Exact same as using Chrome. Look into service workers you can get a great offline experience that works in both the browser and desktop app.
      2. Yes, it would work perfectly for that use-case.

      Give it a try, your credit card won't be charged for 14 days and you can cancel at any time within that window and you will never be charged. :)

      Dave Jeffery's avatar Dave Jeffery
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      7 years ago
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  2. 1

    Congrats on launch! This is super useful.

    1. When you say this is a desktop app, do you provide a file to submit to the Mac store for approval?

    2. How does this compare to free alternatives like Web2Desk?

    3. How does the auto update feature work? Is there a pop up in app saying that there’s a new version? I push changes to my website quite often. Is there a new update every time I re compile or can I control the frequency?

    4. How does this affect my analytics? Can I configure Google Analytics or other providers to detect when it is a desktop app?

    Overall the landing page looks great and clear! The example with Interplay adds social proof.

    juliazxu's avatar juliazxu
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    7 years ago
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    1. 2
      1. We don't support submitting to the Mac store at the moment. The reason is that the application will appear under the ToDesktop organization (because we sign the code) and it will be linked with all other apps that are built with ToDesktop. We are actively looking at this though.
      2. We provide an installer. We do code signing (this is really important otherwise users will get a security warning). We do auto-updates (so you're not stuck supporting an old browser). We offer more app customisation (not just icon and app name).
      3. Skip to 2:15 on the video on the landing page to see how it works. Auto-update is an update for the browser engine, not your website. ToDesktop works just like a web browser so you're website will always be up-to-date.
      4. Yes, you can configure a custom user agent before you build your app. You can then use that to ID desktop app users.

      Thank you for your feedback and positive comments :-)

      Dave Jeffery's avatar Dave Jeffery
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      7 years ago
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  3. 1

    Hey Dave,

    Congrats on the launch. I only want to convert a single web app into a desktop app. What payment plan would work for me? Do I have to pay recurrently to keep the desktop app working?

    asosa16's avatar asosa16
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    7 years ago
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    1. 1

      Hey Alvaro, what's your usecase exactly?

      Dave Jeffery's avatar Dave Jeffery
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      7 years ago
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