Native App Killer? Why Progressive Web Apps Should Be Your Next Move
Tags: webdev, javascript, pwa, react
Published: 2024-03-14 08:07:06

Remember when web apps felt clunky and limited compared to native apps? Those days are gone! Web technologies are rapidly evolving, giving web apps the power to rival (and even surpass) native apps in some areas.

Progressive web apps (PWA) are web applications that use modern web technologies and best practices to provide a native-like experience to users. PWAs can be installed on devices, work offline, send push notifications, and access device features such as camera and geolocation. PWAs also offer many benefits for web developers, such as improved performance, lower development and maintenance costs, and increased user engagement and retention.

In this blog post, I will share with you some of the key features and advantages of PWAs, as well as some tips and resources on how to build and optimize your own PWAs. Whether you are new to PWAs or already have some experience with them, I hope you will find this post useful and informative.

## Characteristics of PWAs

- **Progressive**: Every user, regardless of browser choice, can use them, and modern features enhance them as browsers evolve.
- **Responsive**: They fit any screen size and orientation, providing a consistent and intuitive user interface.
- **Offline Support**: They can work offline or on low-quality networks, utilizing service workers and caches to handle network requests.
- **App-like**: They provide an app-like experience, featuring app-style interactions and navigation, with minimal browser chrome.
- **Updates**: They are always up-to-date, thanks to the service worker update process.
- **Safe**: They serve over HTTPS, ensuring data integrity and preventing snooping or tampering.
- **Discoverable**: They are identifiable as applications and discoverable by search engines and other platforms, thanks to web app manifests and service worker registration.
- **Push Notifications**: They can send push notifications to users, re-engaging them with relevant and timely content.
- **Installable**: They can be added to the home screen and launched in a standalone mode without the need for an app store.
- **Linkable**: They are easily shareable via URLs and do not require complex installation or registration.

## Why should you use PWAs?

PWAs offer many benefits for web developers and users alike, such as:

### Performance
Employing techniques like code splitting, lazy loading, pre-fetching, and caching makes PWAs fast and responsive. Additionally, PWAs can perform complex computations in the background using web workers and web assembly, avoiding the blocking of the main thread.

### Reliability
Service workers and caches enable PWAs to work offline or on unreliable networks, allowing users to access the app even in no or poor connectivity situations. This is especially crucial in emerging markets or rural areas. 

### Engagement
Features like push notifications, home screen icons, splash screens, and full-screen mode contribute to PWAs providing an engaging and immersive experience. Additionally, web APIs grant PWAs access to device features such as the camera, geolocation, accelerometer, gyroscope, and more, facilitating the creation of rich and interactive applications.

## How to build and optimize your PWAs?

Building and optimizing PWAs requires adhering to some best practices and utilizing tools and frameworks. Here are some of the main steps and resources you can employ to create your own PWAs:

### Create a web app manifest
Generate a web app manifest, a JSON file providing metadata about your app, including name, icons, theme color, display mode, and more. A web app manifest allows browsers and platforms to recognize your app as a PWA, enabling features such as home screen installation and splash screens. Utilize tools like [Web App Manifest Generator](https://tomitm.github.io/appmanifest/) or [PWA Builder](https://www.pwabuilder.com/) to create and validate your web app manifest.

### Register a service worker
Register a service worker, a JavaScript file operating in the background, separate from your web page, and serving as a proxy between your app and the network. A service worker enables you to intercept and handle network requests, utilizing caches to store and serve resources. It facilitates features such as offline mode, push notifications, and background sync. Use tools such as [Workbox](https://developer.chrome.com/docs/workbox) to create and manage your service worker.

### Optimize your app for performance
Focus on optimizing your app for speed and efficiency, as performance is a critical factor for PWAs. Implement techniques like code splitting, lazy loading, pre-fetching, and caching to reduce the size and loading time of your app. Leverage web workers and web assembly to perform complex computations in the background, without blocking the main thread. Use tools like [Lighthouse](https://developer.chrome.com/docs/lighthouse) or [WebPageTest](https://www.webpagetest.org/) to measure and enhance your app’s performance.

### Test and debug your app
Ensure your app works as expected and provides a good user experience by thoroughly testing and debugging. Utilize tools like Chrome DevTools or Firefox Developer Tools to inspect and modify your app’s code, network, and storage. Employ tools like [ngrok](https://ngrok.com/) or [localtunnel](https://github.com/localtunnel/localtunnel) to expose your local development server to the internet, enabling testing on various devices and browsers.

## Benefits of PWA over Native Apps
Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) present a compelling alternative to native apps, particularly in scenarios where a full-blown native app might be excessive. Let's delve into the key advantages of PWAs:

### Reduce Development Cost and Time
PWAs capitalize on existing web technologies such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript – technologies you're likely already proficient in. This results in expedited development cycles and diminished costs compared to constructing separate native apps for iOS and Android. 

### Expand Reach, Avoid App Store Challenges
PWAs completely sidestep the app store approval process. They are accessible through any web browser, reaching a broader audience across various devices and platforms without necessitating separate installations. This proves especially advantageous when targeting a global audience.

### Enhance Discoverability and SEO
In contrast to native apps buried in app stores, PWAs can be indexed by search engines. This heightened visibility through organic search has the potential to attract more users to your app.

### Minimize Footprint, Delight Users
PWAs boast a significantly smaller size compared to native apps. For example, Starbucks' PWA is a remarkable **99.84% smaller** than its native app. This results in quicker load times and a smoother user experience, particularly beneficial for users on limited data plans or older devices.

### Enable Offline Functionality
PWAs can utilize service workers to cache content and functionality for offline use. This ensures a seamless user experience even when connectivity is unreliable.

### Here's a table summarizing the key differences

|Feature|PWA|Native App|
|---|---|---|
|Development Cost|Lower|Higher|
|Development Time|Faster|Slower|
|Reach|Wider (across platforms and devices)|Limited to specific platforms|
|Discoverability|Better SEO|Reliant on app store discovery|
|App Store Approval|Not required|Required|
|Installation|Not required (accessed via browser)|Required (downloaded from app store)|
|Size|Smaller|Larger|
|Offline Functionality|Possible with service workers|Limited|



## Case Studies and Success Stories
Numerous companies and organizations have embraced Progressive Web Applications (PWAs), experiencing tangible benefits in user engagement, conversion rates, and overall business performance.

### Twitter Lite
Twitter's PWA serves as a swift and lightweight alternative to its native app, especially beneficial in regions with limited connectivity. Nicolas Gallagher, Engineering Lead for Twitter Lite, emphasized its effectiveness:

> "Twitter Lite is now the fastest, least expensive, and most reliable way to use Twitter. The web app rivals the performance of our native apps but requires less than 3% of the device storage space compared to Twitter for Android."

Notable improvements include a 65% increase in pages per session, a 75% increase in Tweets sent, and a 20% decrease in the bounce rate.

### Flipkart
India's premier e-commerce platform witnessed a substantial surge in user engagement and conversions post the launch of its PWA. Faster load times and smoother checkout experiences contributed to higher conversion rates. Key insights include:
Users spent an average of 3.5 minutes on the site with Flipkart Lite, compared to the previous mobile experience of just 70 seconds.

- A remarkable **3x more time** was spent on the site.
- A **40% higher re-engagement rate** was observed.
- A **70% greater conversion rate** among users arriving via Add to Homescreen.
- A significant **3x lower data usage**.

### Starbucks 
Starbucks' PWA allows customers to effortlessly browse menu items, customize orders, and locate nearby stores even in offline mode, enhancing convenience and fostering customer loyalty. Impressively, the PWA size was 233KB, a remarkable 99.84% smaller than the 148MB size of the original iOS mobile app. This transformation resulted in a doubling of daily active users, with desktop orders nearly matching those from mobile browsers. 

For more such stats and success metrics visit pwastats.com, a community-driven list of stats and news related to Progressive Web Apps.

## Conclusion
It's important to remember that PWAs aren't a silver bullet. They might not be the ideal solution for complex applications requiring deep device integration or constant background functionality. However, for many use cases, particularly those focused on content delivery or e-commerce, PWAs offer a compelling value proposition. They provide a robust, user-friendly experience with a significantly lighter footprint and broader reach. Understanding the strengths of PWAs can help you make informed decisions when choosing the right development path for your next project.

In summary, while both PWAs and native apps have their advantages, PWAs can offer cost-efficiency, cross-platform compatibility, and improved accessibility, making them a compelling choice for many businesses and developers. The decision between PWA and native app development depends on specific project requirements and goals.

I hope this article has given you some insights and inspiration on how to leverage PWAs for your web development projects. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to leave a comment below. Thank you for reading! 😊