Omarchy author DHH criticizes Chinese software as too rough: calls out WeChat, Alipay, and HarmonyOS

Beating AI News Flash: Renowned developer DHH introduced his self-developed Linux desktop system Omarchy at the GOSIM conference in Shenzhen on October 17, and subsequently attended a developer gathering with over 500 registrants.

The next day, just after praising the Huawei MateBook Fold foldable computer as very futuristic, he criticized Chinese software as too rough that evening, naming WeChat, Alipay, and HarmonyOS. He stated that he greatly admires China's AI models and hardware, but software design still confuses him.

DHH later explained that the issues centered on interface aesthetics, operational flows, and detail polishing. For example, insufficient white space, inconsistent margins, abrupt page transitions, rough animations, and chaotic information organization. He believes that large Silicon Valley apps still clearly lead in these aspects.

Some netizens countered that WeChat and Alipay integrate a large number of life services such as payments and transportation, reducing the hassle of users switching between different apps, and interface complexity is unavoidable. DHH disagreed, believing that rich functionality and refined design can absolutely be balanced, and there is no reason for super apps to be so rough.

Others in the comments pointed out that the complexity of domestic apps is related to commercialization. Shake-to-open splash ads, loan entrances, and short video recommendations are constantly encroaching on the original functional interfaces. One developer analogized that this is equivalent to adding loan features to X and then stuffing a TikTok into Stripe.