Progressive Web Apps

Progressive Web Apps are those Web Apps which combines the best features of Web and Native Apps.

Frances Berriman (Designer) and Alex Russell (Engineer at Google) came up with the concept called Progressive Web Apps.

One recent survey shows that there is a dip in a number of app users. People are turning away from Android/iOS apps because not all apps are good at user experiences. Some people simply don’t want any apps in their mobile and there are many who hesitate to download any.

If you take a look at the apps installed on your mobile right now there might be at least a dozen apps that you do not use frequently. Sometimes apps only work in good internet connection or else they are just memory acquirer.

The irony is that most of the apps have a fully responsive website performing the same functions. So why waste your precious memory space and your internet data on your smartphone by installing the native app?

The average size of apps that we install from play store/app stores would range from 30–200 MB. Moreover, these app needs to be updated every week! However, Progressive Web Apps are within some KB and are automatically updated.

In short, Progressive Web apps combines everything that is good about a native mobile application with everything that is great about a mobile website.

If we describe it in simple words then it would be like: The best of the web, plus the best of native apps!

Features of PWAs:

• Progressive — The word progressive means it works for every user, regardless of browser choice because they’re built with progressive enhancement as a core tenet.
• Responsive — Automatically adjustable to any form: desktop, mobile, tablet etc.
• Load Time — Progressive Web Apps are instantly available with a very low load time.
• App-like — Feels like a mobile app with app-style interactions since it’s built on the app shell model.
• Fresh — Always up-to-date so you don’t need to update it again and again like any other Android/iOS apps.
• Safe — Served via HTTPS to ensure content is securely delivered
• Engaging — Features like push notifications, etc. makes it very engaging.
• Install-able — Allows users to install the website as an app on their home screen without the taking user to an app store.
• Linkable — Easily shared via a URL and do not require complex installation.

Benefits of making a Progressive Web App rather than building a fully functional Android App?

• Cost Effective — For an app publisher, the biggest advantage is the cost saving in terms of app development and maintenance. Because it is assumed that making a website is a lot easier than making an Android App.
• Cross-Platform — Unlike any other apps, Progressive Web Apps are not restricted to any specific platform. That means you do not need to develop separate versions of the app for different platforms.

Native Vs PWA

There are a set of principles about how a user should feel when using a Progressive web app. Their experience should be: DISCOVERABLE, SAFE, FAST, SMOOTH, RELIABLE, MEANINGFUL

Any website can be converted to a progressive web app. The three baseline criteria for a PWA site must fulfil in order to qualify as a PWA echo across the web. They are:

1. A website needs to be running under HTTPS.
2. Must have a Web App Manifest.
3. Must have a Service Worker.