Am I the only one who thinks, at this point, DU needs an App???

[SKKY]

I've been gone for a few years, and I am surprise there isn't an App for this.

[NeverTrumpDemocrat]

1. Why?

There's a thing called the internet with websites, of which DU is one, and "bookmarks" even.

Why do we need yet another app to lard up our phones? They're always trying to force themselves on us, and there's more than enough on my phone that come pre-loaded and almost impossible to get rid of.

So sue me. I'm not that young anymore. And I've never worked in IT.

[UniteFightBack]

3. The app makes it more functional and user friendly on the phone. nt

[NeverTrumpDemocrat]

4. Are people really sitting around typing worthwhile DU OPs with their thumbs?

How old do you think DU is?

[JI7]

5. use the mobile version . Apps are buggy

[Brother Buzz]

7. The mobile version is a star member feature only

[JI7]

9. so pay 5 dollars and you can be a star member for a year

[Brother Buzz]

10. What's that, like two cents a day?

Now, if I had a calculator app, I could figure it exactly.

[Control-Z]

11. You do.

It came with your phone. Take a peek in your apps drawer.

I know you're just playing. I posted for anyone who is being too damn serious tonight (or just got their first smartphone. Hehe.).

[JI7]

15. you might have to pay for the app also if they ever get one

[Proud Liberal Dem]

33. It is?

I'm not a star member and read DU all of the time on my mobile Chrome browser.

[Brother Buzz]

38. I don't have a smartphone so I guess I'm misinterpreting this

Dear Brother Buzz,

Your Star Membership is due to expire on September 4, 2018. If you would like to renew your Star Membership, please visit this link:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/star

Purchasing a Star Membership is easy, and you can pay what you want. Star Members receive the following benefits:

* Remove all advertising
* Get a member star on all of your posts
* Upload a custom avatar image
* Post polls
* Use Advanced Search
* Change your preferred format to "Classic" or "Mobile"
* Opt to serve as a forum Host
* Opt to serve on the MIR Team
* 40% bonus to Jury chance
* 10 bonus Jury Blacklist slots
* Feel good about the fact that you're providing much-needed financial support to Democratic Underground

[JHB]

51. It's an option in "My Account". You can select the format you prefer...

...when viewing by regular browser and by mobile device.

The "Mobile" option removes the sidebars and simplifies columns to make better use of screen space for small screens such as on phones.

[WeekiWater]

34. I'm not a star member and use the mobile version. It's pretty nice. N/T

[SKKY]

20. Poorly written Apps are buggy...

...well written Apps are fine.

[muriel_volestrangler]

14. "The app" doesn't exist. How can you make a claim about what it does?

What functions? What's your design that will be more user friendly? What's your budget for this, and where does the money come from?

[PoliticAverse]

53. Modern properly responsive designed websites don't need apps,

Apps use up your battery, take up valuable space, frequently need updating and are usually used to
interrupt what you are doing with popup announcements.

[bearsfootball516]

23. Literally nobody would be forcing you to use it.

If you didn't want to use it, you wouldn't have to. OP isn't talking about going to app-only, just creating an app for those who want to use it.

[applegrove]

2. Apps let organization get at data on your phone. I have as few apps as

possible.

[SKKY]

21. The don't if you don't allow them to...

[dalton99a]

6. What permissions would you want this app to have?

[SKKY]

22. Well, I've actually thought about that...

...and knowing DU, I would only want it to have access to camera and pics (Mostly for The Lounge folks). No in-App purchases. No access to my social media. No access to my contacts. Etc. Etc. Etc.

[lunatica]

41. I'd love to post pics straight from my devices

[SKKY]

43. As would I.

[Polybius]

8. I agree

We definitely need one.

[Control-Z]

12. Unless there is truly a purpose

apps suck. And eventually they force you to use their app rather than use a webpage. Fuck that crap. That's when I stop visiting a site.

[BlueTsunami2018]

13. Yes and being able to drop pictures from your phone would be nice.

It’s time to modernize.

[Freddie]

18. Agree!

Too lazy/tech stupid to use a photo file sharing app. Would love to just copy photos from my phone.

[lunatica]

42. Especially if you just snapped a great shot of something DUers

would love to see.

[WeekiWater]

35. This would be great. And has nothing do to with an app. N/T

[Raine]

16. I don't like aps

I avoid using them.

[brooklynite]

17. Let us know when you have one written?

Or is that someone else's job?

[SKKY]

19. If DU wants to pay me to write one, sure. I was just making an observation that I think an App...

...would be useful.

[33taw]

31. DU runs on a shoestring budget and very few staff.

Given the problems around the election, I would be very careful when vetting a potential vendor to write an application.

[WeekiWater]

36. "DU runs on a shoestring budget and very few staff."

Where did you find their financials? This appears to be one of the least financially transparent discussion boards on the net.

[33taw]

44. I don't have a link to their financials. But, my understanding from them is that they have

3 staff members and a limited budget.

[WeekiWater]

45. Every organization has a limited budget.

There are many small staff companies that run with large budgets. At least large in my eyes.

There is simply know way to know. That is why I found the promotion a little strange.

[33taw]

46. I found this info: https://www.manta.com/c/mm3y26z/democratic-underground-llc

They run on a $140,000 budget with three staff members. They are based out of DC. Not sure there are many software engineers willing to donate time and efforts - but I would want them seriously better before bringing their software onto DU’s network.

[33taw]

48. For reference - Experienced Software Engineers have an average annual salary of

$119,000 - $132,000 in DC. Add in infrastructure costs for hardware and associated staff (network, systems and security) and you are pretty much over budget. You might find someone who is a “jack of all trades”, but you get what you pay for and DU has already been compromised.

[meow2u3]

24. I think DU can use an app

It would be great if I could keep up on DU when I'm not home.

[ecstatic]

25. I'm fine with the mobile version. On it now, actually.

I hate when sites pester me about how I should use their app over the mobile browser version. I have way too many apps as it is and I'm trying to limit the amount of crap running in the background.

[Lunabell]

26. Absolutely!

I'd use it all the time.

[OhZone]

27. It needs primo security and a backup -

In case we get hacked again.

[Aristus]

28. I would love to have a DU app.

I wish I could upload pics to DU directly from my phone.

[hunter]

39. Hosting member photos on DU would be expensive and open a big can of worms for administration.

So would affiliating DU with some photo sharing site.

It's very reasonable for a small site to do neither.

MIRT has enough work to do.

[33taw]

29. While I think the look and feel of DU is outdated, I would rather see them

Focus on system security. The general election was a disaster for DU. DU is run by a very small staff, so it may not be able to do anything significant in terms of creating mobile apps.

[MineralMan]

30. A DU app would probably lead to more content-free posts, I think.

We have enough of those already. You know, posts with just a link and no commentary. DU is for discussion, and that means using words. It's not just a dumping ground for links and memes.

[WeekiWater]

37. The mobile version works great for me. Not sure how an app would top it. N/T

[lunatica]

40. I agree with you.

I’ve looked around for an app but thought maybe I was just not looking hard enough.

[Sugarcoated]

47. An app would be a godsend

if DU gets hacked and goes down on an election night again.

[SKKY]

49. Well, depending on the App...

...it might actually do just that. But, some Apps are written just as optimized front ends for websites, so in that case, it wouldn't make a bit of difference.

[Sugarcoated]

50. I'm talking about one that *would* be a back up.

Not just a front end type. The Russian hack of DU really showed us all how harmful taking away our ability to communicate and commiserate is. Fascists really know their shit.

[Cattledog]

52. All for an App.

More ways to get the word out esp. among younger Dems.

It is the 21st century.