Ask HN: Anyone else longing for fast, keyboard-first internal tools?

I use GPT, Claude, and Discord extensively for work. My company handles bookkeeping and invoicing through online services. My banking is also done via a web app.

My main editor has Vim-like semantics, and I heavily rely on keyboard-driven workflows.

I understand that the web has eaten most business software because of its superior distribution model.

However, I’m curious to know what the broader tech community thinks about this situation.

Are there better models possible? Is anyone working on solutions that combine the reach of the web with the speed, efficiency, and local-first nature of traditional desktop software?

3 points | by shivekkhurana 17 hours ago

2 comments

  • solardev 14 hours ago
    Isn't that what the package managers are for?

    Back in the day, Microsoft tried this with ClickOnce. Nobody cared. They still have an app store today. Still nobody cares.

  • bell-cot 17 hours ago
    If you're a savvy old hand, and the job has quite a few repetitive elements, then keyboard- / macro- / script-driven workflows are the obvious way to get far more stuff done. Generally with much lower error rates.

    But other that occasional API access (or hacking), I'm not aware of any push toward other models. Web sites & GUI apps are too damn good at both dog & pony shows for managers, and onboarding noobs. );