The Ultimate Guide to Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

How web applications are gaining superpowers

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Progressive Web Apps: The Ultimate Non-Technical Guide
The Ultimate Non-Technical Guide to Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)
The Ultimate and Complete Non-Technical Guide to Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)
  • pwa use cases
  • pwa technology
  • pwa software
  • pwa capabilities
  • pwa compatibility
  • pwa install
  • pwa geolocation
  • pwa gps

keywords: non technical guide to pwa, progressive web app guide, ultimate guide to pwa non technical, complete guide to pwa non technical, complete guide to pwa

=====Intro [about pwa focused for non tech, top advantage, company feature] A lot of businesses have grown since they embraced the use of PWA. One of those is The Best Western River North Hotel that saw 300% increase in Revenue with New Progressive Web App in 2018. [link: https://www.hospitalitynet.org/news/4086888.html] This article will walk you through all the things you need to know about Progressive Web Apps even without advanced knowledge of web technologies. You will learn its advantages and why the app you've been planning to build should be a PWA.

=====Body

What is PWA? %

Progressive Web Applications (PWAs) are an alternative to native apps. Native apps are the traditional smartphone apps that you have in your phone right now that you installed from an app store. A PWA is like a "baby (think of a better word)" version of a native app, but it does more than that.

PWA (alternative, but techy sounding)

Progressive Web Application (PWA) is the name given to a collection of technology advancements that blur the line between what we think of as a traditional browser-based JavaScript application and what's possible in a native mobile app.

How does progressive web app work? %

PWA is cross-platform

pwa for desktop%

PWA vs Native %

  • -What native app means?%
  • -Will PWA replace native apps?%
  • -Is PWA the future?%
  • -Why Native apps are better than web apps?%
  • -pwa vs native app performance%
  • -pwa vs native pros and cons%
  • -

PWA vs Website %

  • -Why do we need PWA?%
  • -pwa vs responsive website%
  • -difference between pwa and responsive website%
  • -pwa html5%
  • -progressive web app framework%

Is PWA a website?

Technically, yes. PWA is a website on steroids.

Can PWA send notifications?% Can PWA access bluetooth?% Let's find out!

pwa capabilities% Now that you have a good understanding about PWA compared to other apps in different platforms, let's learn about the things it can do.

  • 1 "Install" to the mobile home screen without the need for an app store
  • How do I add PWA to my home screen?
  • 2 Create a mobile desktop icon
  • 3 Work seamlessly in offline mode
  • 4 Load fast even on low-speed network like 2G
  • 5 Sync data when a connection is present
  • 6 Upload from phone gallery
  • 7 Use the phone camera
  • 8 Access the phone GPS API
  • 9 Add a splash screen during app startup
  • 10 Send push notifications

Other good things about PWA:

  • Smaller install size
  • Native-like experience
  • Safe - Served via HTTPS to prevent snooping and ensure content hasn’t been tampered with
  • Shareable - Can be easily shared via a URL

--> talk about other famous companies making PWA versions

User Conversion

[ref] It is a myth that the users will happily download the app of every website they visit frequently. According to Comscore Mobile App Report, over 50% of America’s smart phone users download Zero Apps a month.

  • stats on chrome mobile users
  • stats on mobile web reach vs apps
  • some failures of big companies [ref]This is the reason why the decision of Flipkart, Myntra etc. to abandon their website and be ‘app only’ backfired.
  • discoverability
  • big company with increased conversion rate

Who's using PWA

Who is using progressive web apps?%

pwa examples% Here are some businesses that made PWA version of their mobile apps (and made success by doing so)

Development Cost

PWA development costs much less than developing native apps.

How much does it cost to build a PWA? %

  • pwa development cost %
  • native app development cost

Which framework is best for PWA? %

  • React - this is our personal choice
  • Angular
  • VueJs
  • Workbox?

Challenges

  • limited hardware support
  • getting users to install, pwa install it not a usual thing for common users

PWA Guidelines%

  • -pwa checklist%

    scraped from https://developers.google.com/web/progressive-web-apps/checklist

    Baseline
  • -Site is served over HTTPS
  • -Pages are responsive on tablets & mobile devices
  • -All app URLs load while offline
  • -Metadata provided for Add to Home screen
  • -First load fast even on 3G
  • -Site works cross-browser
  • -Page transitions don't feel like they block on the network
  • -Each page has a URL

  • -

    Indexability & social
  • -Site's content is indexed by Google
  • -Schema.org metadata is provided where appropriate
  • -Social metadata is provided where appropriate
  • -Canonical URLs are provided when necessary
  • -Pages use the History API

  • -

    User Experience
  • -Content doesn't jump as the page loads
  • -Pressing back from a detail page retains scroll position on the previous list page
  • -When tapped, inputs aren't obscured by the on screen keyboard
  • -Content is easily shareable from standalone or full screen mode
  • -Site is responsive across phone, tablet and desktop screen sizes
  • -Any app install prompts are not used excessively
  • -The Add to Home Screen prompt is intercepted

  • -

    Performance
  • -First load very fast even on 3G

  • -

    Caching
  • -Site uses cache-first networking
  • -Site appropriately informs the user when they're offline

  • -

    Push notifications
  • -Provide context to the user about how notifications will be used
  • -UI encouraging users to turn on Push Notifications must not be overly aggressive.
  • -Site dims the screen when permission request is showing
  • -Push notifications must be timely, precise and relevant
  • -Provides controls to enable and disable notifications

  • -

    Additional features
  • -User is logged in across devices via Credential Management API
  • -User can pay easily via native UI from Payment Request API.

Conclusion

Is PWA the future? %

Google is pushing hard for PWA adoption and has contributed a huge portion of the code and guidance to get where we are now.

Do you want to build a PWA? Drop us a line hello@gortek.com

keywords

  • pwa checklist

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