In the past, back in the old days of computing, pretty much all of the different jobs your computer was able to do would have been handled by separate programs. Necessitating larger hard drives, faster internet speeds, and more effort from the user, this sort of system simply couldn’t last forever. Nowadays, even though a lot of people don’t realize it, most of your computing needs can be handled from one application; a web browser. But, how exactly can this simple software handle so much? It’s time to find out.
The Power Of A Browser
Thanks to the way that web browsers and the Internet are built, they have an inherent edge over browsers. There are several different benefits a browser has which you simply won’t get from an application which is installed. Below, you can find some of the key examples of these traits, but there are plenty more to be found if you’re willing to do the research.
APIs/Libraries: Over the last couple of decades, loads of people have worked very hard to create the wide range of APIs and class libraries available to developers today. Giving you the chance to avoid writing new code for applications which already exist, this sort of tool is extremely powerful, especially when used in conjunction with building systems like WordPress.
Accessible Anywhere: A web browser is merely a portal to the World Wide Web; a network of servers which host websites. This means that all of the tools found on the web browser on your laptop can be found on your work computer, phone, and even devices like smartwatches. This gives you a huge amount of power when you’re working on the go, or simply have to use a machine which you’re not used to.
Cross-Compatibility: With both of the benefits of above, you gain something much bigger; cross-compatibility. For decades, software would always have to be built differently for each of the devices it would be running on, making it hard for a software development company to get the same options across the board. Nowadays, though, when something is built to be used in a browser, you never have to worry about the device itself.
What Can The Browser Run?
Most people assume that having software run in a browser will greatly limit the scope of their work. In reality, though, it will be hard to find anything missing from the options available around the web. Of course, they may be different to what you’re used to, but they will still offer what you know and love. Below, you can find some examples of the common software people will use on a regular basis.
Basic Tools: Word processing, creating spreadsheets, and performing other simple jobs can all be handled with one tool, nowadays. Products like Office 365 give you access to loads of different tools and features, and they can all be accessed from the same place.
3D Rendering: Making 3D models is becoming more and more popular amongst computer users. With tools like 123D offering the chance to create beautiful virtual items straight through the browser, it can be hard to see why anyone would need to install software like this. Of course, though, you might be a little bit limited when using an option like this.
Video Editing: With smartphones becoming ubiquitous in the modern world, everyone has access to a video camera during their normal life. This makes it possible to catch all of life’s little moments but leaves you with a mess of video to sort out at the end of it. Online video editing tools have become a lot more powerful over the last few years. Nowadays, this sort of tool can take you very far.
Accounting: Balancing money and keeping yourself in the black are things which a lot of people struggle with. Accounting software can help you with this, but won’t be very useful unless you’re able to take it everywhere you go. Online options like Wave and Freshbooks give you this power. Of course, though, along with this, it could also be worth using your bank’s online systems.
Graphics: Editing photos and creating graphics have long been very popular uses for computers. This software was always very cumbersome, though, and required a powerful machine to use with ease. Nowadays, this has changed, and a lot more options for people using browsers have come about.
Learning Some For Yourself
One of the biggest benefits of online software is the power it gives developers to change and edit the tools they use. As this field becomes more popular, the resources you have available are growing by a huge margin. Of course, though, it never hurts to start early, and you can find all of the learning resources you’ll need below.
HTML/CSS: These are the basic building blocks of a website, controlling page structure and the way that everything looks. Websites like W3Schools have loads of resources to start you off in this field, and most people will find it nice and easy to get started. You might need a web host if you want to test things properly, though.
Javascript: As you learn some of the basic stuff, your ambitions will start to sore, and it will be easy to slip into learning some Javascript. This client-side language enables developers to take much greater control over a site. Give you the power to interactive elements, this sort of learning will always come in handy.
PHP: Finally, as the last language worth learning, PHP is a server-side powerhouse designed to enable developers to make their website communicate with their web server. This is the tool which is most widely used for APIs. This makes it very easy to learn, as there are resources all over the web which are dedicated to it.
Hopefully, this post will inspire you to start looking into the browser-based options you have when you’re on your next hunt for software. Not a lot of people realize quite how much their browser can do for them. With the right research, though, you should be able to find loads of options which work for you.
