Evernote is announcing that it "removes" version 6 of the application installed on the machine. Evernote used to operate in occassionally disconnected mode (pretty much as popular version control systems), however new version resembles more traditional web app approach.
This makes me realise that we have been centralising systems by implementing web apps, however we should try harder to design systems towards decentralised, occassionally connected set of applications. Microsoft used to call such systems as consisting of "Smart clients" before they went pase. Even though Microsoft has formally deprecated the very "smart client" as a distinct technology, the ideas behind the "smart client" seem reincarnated in many newer approaches to software architecture.
Smart client applications are designed to combine the traditional benefits of rich client applications, such as a powerful user interface and local resource utilization, with the manageability and deployment advantages of thin client applications. These applications support a broad range of client devices, including desktop PCs, tablets, and mobile devices, providing users with access to information and services in an intuitive and flexible environment. Smart client applications assumed that both your application and the data it processes remain yours and usable to some extent, even without access to the remote service(s).
Smart client applications are characterized by their ability to run offline while still taking advantage of local computing resources, offering a richer user interface compared to traditional web applications, and being easily updated from a central location. They are designed to work in a connected environment, leveraging web services for data exchange and functionality, yet capable of functioning independently of a constant internet connection. The architecture of such applications includes various components like smart parts or views, workspaces for arranging these views, and services for common functionalities such as security, deployment, and theming.
According to Microsoft's definition, a smart client is part of a robust framework designed to build complex and loosely coupled client applications that provide a rich and interactive user interface. These applications, known as smart clients, leverage local resources and can operate both online and offline while ensuring high responsiveness and a dynamic user experience. The concept encompasses a wide array of features, including security, deployment, themes, and more, which are facilitated through client-side services common to smart client parts.
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Patryk Nowak
Backend developer
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