Ask HN: Why do you think the new WhatsApp Mac app turned out this way?

2 points by icemelt8 2y ago ↗ HN

So Meta released their new desktop app for the whatsapp client on macos. And it turns out its universally disliked https://www.reddit.com/r/whatsapp/comments/17pt00z/mac_user_whatsapp_for_desktop_a_huge_step_back_as/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3 due to how bad the app is and how many bugs there are.

I want to understand how does that happen? is it due to Apple's SDKs being hard to use? maybe they developed and tested on other systems? Meta laid off all their QAs? over reliance on automations and test suites? no dogfooding?

I am genuinely curious.

5 comments

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sys_64738 2y ago ↗

Facebook is a garbage company. That probably explains it.

coderedart 2y ago ↗

Try to avoid making such pointless accusations against employees across the entire company. It is unproductive and adds nothing to the discussion.

Maybe try focusing on what you expected from WhatsApp and what they did that matched or went against your expectations.

vpshastry 2y ago ↗

I'm curious here as well. While they claim for performance improvements, it is a downgrade on many levels. The UI feels like we moved back to 1990. Some of the things that I observed 1. To close the status window you could click on anywhere outside the frame. But now you have to go to that specific 'Done' button. This is like 1990 era design. 2. To go to a specific chat window I could press 'Command + F' and click on 'Command + <number>' to choose the chat window from the search results. It was removed now and you've to use mouse. etc. 3. The message box looks like the 2k's Skype; small, narrow box rounded edge.

mooktakim 2y ago ↗

Its actually crazy that they released this app. Did they even try and use it?

mooktakim 2y ago ↗

I'm using the web version now, installing PWA version.