I fought hard against that for years. I still only use 'app' for phone programs, but I stopped correcting people every time they used the term for anything else. It isn't technically wrong, but it grates on my nerves for some reason.

[–] pmk@lemmy.sdf.org 27 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

If someone told me to use the fdisk app I'd be confused.

[–] jaybone@lemmy.zip 14 points 2 weeks ago (2 children)

Use the ls app.

Then use the cd app.

[–] ulterno@programming.dev 9 points 2 weeks ago

Then use the cd app.

❯ which cd
cd: shell built-in command

Not even technically correct, unless...

When I press 'Reply', I am using the Reply app

[–] Piatro@programming.dev 4 points 2 weeks ago

Ugh I don't know why but this was the one that got me. Just no.

[–] GamingChairModel@lemmy.world 5 points 2 weeks ago (3 children)

Windows is the first thing I can think of that used the word "application" in that way, I think even back before Windows could be considered an OS (and had a dependency on MS-DOS). Back then, the Windows API referred to the Application Programming Interface.

Here's a Windows 3.1 programming guide from 1992 that freely refers to programs as applications:

Common dialog boxes make it easier for you to develop applications for the Microsoft Windows operating system. A common dialog box is a dialog box that an application displays by calling a single function rather than by creating a dialog box procedure and a resource file containing a dialog box template.

[–] SculptusPoe@lemmy.world 3 points 2 weeks ago

I don't have a single problem with the word "application"

[–] 0x0@lemmy.zip 2 points 2 weeks ago

to develop applications for the Microsoft Windows operating system.

Could they have meat "uses for the MS..."?

[–] Gismonda@lemmy.world 1 points 2 weeks ago

Goddamn …. That is a thing of horrific beauty. I saved it immediately.

(I’m a technical writer so it should be fun to go through this ancient tome)