> just another tightly closed platform

No it’s not. You can download and install anything you want from the web. Just like Windows.

The Mac App Store isn’t required. Largely NO ONE uses it.

I imagine nearly everyone who runs macOS uses the App Store. Some apps are only available on it, and even some that are also available elsewhere are more convenient to install and keep up-to-date via the store.

You have to. Apple software is on it.

But compared to the iOS store it’s kind of a ghost town. Tons of popular software isn’t in it. It’s quite normal to just download software instead of even looking to see if it’s in there.

And if it is, App Store software must be fully and tightly sandboxed. Which prevents a lot of useful software from ever appearing in it.

Yep, I know. I was responding to:

> Largely NO ONE uses it.

Furthermore,

> App Store software must be fully and tightly sandboxed

I get that many things will not be able to function due to these restrictions, but for most software they are a good thing.

Sorry. I think I misread the tone of your comment.

For a lot of things I’m happy for sandboxing. Why should random games or todo apps need more access? But the fact you can’t get good backup software like Backblaze is a problem. They need more options for levels of sandboxing, including possibly none (with heavy review).

> Just like Windows.

And just like with Windows Valve is trying to build on an open platform instead.