HTML5 versus Native Apps: The truth you need to know

Josh Martin

Before delving in to the bulk of this article I should explicitly state that I think HTML5 is an important industry initiative and, if implemented correctly, it can have a wide ranging impact on the apps ecosystem. I would temper this with the fact that I have seen so many failed and flailing industry initiatives--I'm looking at you HD-DVD and WAC--that I remain skeptical. That being said, HTML5 has long been and continues to be a hot topic for app developers. Nary a week passes without a client asking about the future of the native app and if/when it will be supplanted by HTML5. The question highlights a fundamental error in understanding HTML5, which is the thought that HTML5 is both a programming language and a distribution mechanism. The mistake is understandable because today when you code in a language there is an app store waiting to distribute your completed app. But only by de-coupling these two issues can we begin to truly understand the opportunity and challenge laying ahead for HTML5. Industry Voices