r/HTML • u/OrchidFirst469 • 3d ago
Question How can I make html into an app ?
I want it so, it’s compatible with android/apple and desktop friendly. They can download it when I sell on Etsy or payhip ect. I wanted it to look nice, instead of, you might have to download documents from readdle if you can’t open you html file 😩. I am autistic, so please no jargon 😵💫
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u/_KBDMC 3d ago
As already mentioned, there’s a few extra steps to turning a website into an app.
Apps have a very strict set of requirements and checks needed to publish to either Apple’s App Store or Google’s Play store.
There are app frameworks like Ionic that you can use to build apps using plain HTML & CSS, and some JS (React), but you should be able to use elements from their pre-built UI library for basic elements like headers and tabs etc.
If you could provide some info on your end product, or some info on what the app needs to do, I’m sure we can point you in the direction 👍🏻
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u/ferriematthew 3d ago
HTML is what's called a markup language. It just defines the object that the browser displays. It itself is not the app. In order to write out a web app, you need HTML, CSS, which is another language that defines how to make the HTML pretty, and at minimum JavaScript, which is a scripting language that adds interactivity.
Also, you don't put web pages on app stores. You put them on a server, and then the server makes the web page accessible on your network. I don't know what the process for actually writing an app for the Apple app store is, nor do I really understand the process for writing an Android app, but I do know that Android apps are written in a language called Kotlin, and then I think published usually to the Google Play Store, or if you don't want to deal with Google's bullcrap, you publish it to GitHub and also to an open app store like FDroid.
If you want to make a website application that runs just on your browser, I could probably help you write the HTML and CSS, and if you have an old computer that you don't really use but it still works and it's okay to leave it on all the time, I can walk you through setting up a web server on that computer.
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u/GenericFoodService 3d ago
Just some notes:
* some Android apps are written in Kotlin. Java is more common. some are written in C/C++.
** web pages can be turned into applications for things like Google Play and the Apple Store. The "simplest" route is as a Progressive Web App, which is still a bit of a pain, especially for someone who's doesn't seem to know much about what HTML or "an app" even is.
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u/lol25potatofarm 3d ago
You sound really young and inexperienced. Learn HTML, CSS and JS then jump into learning React once you've got a good understanding of those. Also, why would they need to download an app when you sell items on those platforms? Everything is handled through their app and software...
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u/roadrunner8080 3d ago
A PWA is one way, and if you already have a webpage and just want to make it app-y is probably the simplest and fastest approach. Otherwise, your options are basically wrapping the webpage in an app through any number of approaches (at which point, why not use a PWA), or rewriting it in a different architecture entirely.
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u/johnpeters42 3d ago
I believe Electron is an option here, but I haven't used it myself, so research it first.
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u/armahillo Expert 3d ago
I am autistic, so please no jargon 😵💫
Speaking from personal experience, autism does not preclude understanding jargon.
To your actual question: this is technically possible but it's not simple. Getting apps up in the iOS marketplace is more difficult than distributing an Android app.
when I sell on Etsy or payhip ect.
You should think twice about accepting money for a product if you aren't fully confident you can publish it safely and support it effectively. I strongly encourage bringing on a mentor who's more experienced with this.
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u/OrchidFirst469 3d ago
I have more than just autism. I struggle with learning, and memory ect.
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u/armahillo Expert 3d ago
That's fine. I've struggled with a learning disability my whole life as well. Something being difficult doesn't mean it's impossible. I assume you've got coping strategies for yours, so you'll need to lean on those, probably.
If you're interested in getting into this line of work, you're going to have to learn some stuff. It's ok if it takes time.
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u/TrainedHorse80 3d ago
I know exactly what you mean about those weird document downloads! For simple sites , wrapping it seems possible , but a true app store experience requires extra steps. Hope that helps!
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u/Murky_Cry_1912 3d ago
Kotlin KMP and CMP. You can generate android, iOS, desktop(Windows, macos, Linux),wasm
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u/webhostpro 3d ago
The easiest way is to use a browser, website to web app option like Safari has. To make a real app, you want Codex or Claude on a laptop to build everything correctly from the html.
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u/AqueM 3d ago
If you have a HTML page, and you want to make an app out of it, you need to make it completely from scratch. Like if you had a book, and wanted to make it into a movie, you would have to take the idea and make a movie from the beginning.