There was a time when computers could be run only in terminal mode. Even now, there are some specific applications that warrant a GUI unnecessary (for example, real-time controllers) but earlier a GUI just didn’t exist. It was in the 1970s that the first “proper” GUI came into being at the Xerox PARC.

But since then we’ve come a long way. From having GUI-enabled operating systems go commercial in the ’90s to having web browsers to having 64-bit processors in mobile phones, it’s quite remarkable how things have moved - and one of those that often goes unnoticed in all of this amazing development is the concept of web apps. We’re so used to having applications run on our local systems that we may easily take for granted how difficult it is to get an application running smoothly. In addition to this, having the same concept run on a server and providing a good user experience solely through a web browser is quite a feat!

I’ve been using Overleaf heavily for creating my project reports, documents, my thesis, and even my CV. Though I get frustrated at times when the server is down or when my document “goes out of sync”, I can’t be more thankful for its existence! That it works almost perfectly and provides so many students such ease of working deserves due appreciation.

But that’s just one example of the iceberg in this area. Recently I made use of Sketch.io for making a quick drawing, and was quite amazed by how smooth the experience of digital drawing through a browser was! There’s draw.io for creating diagrams and flowcharts online, and even Audiomass, an online audio editor a la Audacity!

Who’d have known browsers would become so capable and that someone would actually make use of the internet infrastructure to bring this idea to fruition!

There are just so, so many of these apps out there on the internet. Their developers deserve a lot of credit for making them happen!