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For all those who responded positively on using PWAs in the wild, can you explain why you prefer the PWA over the native app (if available)? I am curious why so

For all those who responded positively on using PWAs in the wild, can you explain why you prefer the PWA over the native app (if available)? I am curious why someone would choose it.

cglong 7y ago
My favorite aspects: more restrictive hardware access (e.g. no tracking through Bluetooth or running in the background), having access via platforms that typically don't have apps (e.g. desktops), ability to modify behavior through extensions, caching can clear asset data if I don't use the app frequently (e.g. ridesharing)
kenmorechalfant 7y ago
The main thing isn't really about it being preferable, feature-wise - it's that it's the future of cross platform apps. If I could have apps like Photoshop or Ableton on Windows, Linux, Mac, ChromeOS, Android, etc - and they all work the same, that's a huge win all around.
- dmitriid 7y ago
  First, you'd have to provide the web with 90% missing features that make such apps possible. And then make them available to PWAs. So no, it's not the future.
  - untog 7y ago
    The vast majority of native apps need next-to-no extra features on top of what the web provides. Facebook, Uber, Seamless, etc. etc... all they really need is an internet connection and location. And the web provides that.
    - dmitriid 7y ago
      The post I was replying to specifically said: > If I could have apps like Photoshop or Ableton... These apps require way way more than just internet connection and location. For example, you might have to implement your own renderers from scratch: https://www.figma.com/blog/building-a-professional-design-tool-on-the-web/ https://www.figma.com/blog/building-a-professional-design-to...
  - abraham 7y ago
    There is extensive work being done to bring more native APIs to the Web https://www.chromium.org/teams/web-capabilities-fugu https://www.chromium.org/teams/web-capabilities-fugu
    - dmitriid 7y ago
      I wouldn't count on any other browser to be anywhere onboard with that. Chrome is known for implementing things in a quick and dirty way with complete disregard for input. Also, Fugu will definitely no bring a signinficant amount of native APIs to the web. Here's the full list [1] For example, the post I'm replying to mentioned Ableton. Well "I don’t know who the Web Audio API is designed for" [2] Oh, and then there's no guarantee Chrome will not break it the way it broke automatic audio previously [3] The web is not the long-term future for any foreseeable future [1] https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium/issues/list?can=2&q=proj-fugu&sort=pri&colspec=ID+Pri+M+Stars+ReleaseBlock+Component+Status+Owner+Summary+OS+Modified&x=m&y=releaseblock&cells=ids https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium/issues/list?can=2&q=pro... [2] https://blog.mecheye.net/2017/09/i-dont-know-who-the-web-audio-api-is-designed-for/ https://blog.mecheye.net/2017/09/i-dont-know-who-the-web-aud... [3] https://twitter.com/mcclure111/status/993627449991688193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E993627449991688193&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcgamer.com%2Fa-google-chrome-update-breaks-the-audio-in-numerous-web-based-games%2F https://twitter.com/mcclure111/status/993627449991688193?ref...
Vinnl 7y ago
One thing I like is that I can use them in my browser with tracking protection. Also nice to know it only has access to browser API's I give it access to - I'm always somewhat weary of what native apps do in the background. And of course, there's the first-use hurdle. I probably wouldn't even have tried Pinafore if it hadn't been a PWA (in fact, I haven't tried any Mastodon apps). I could just go to the website, sign in, and I'm off.

For all those who responded positively on using PWAs in the wild, can you explain why you prefer the PWA over the native app (if available)? I am curious why someone would choose it.

cglong 7y ago

My favorite aspects: more restrictive hardware access (e.g. no tracking through Bluetooth or running in the background), having access via platforms that typically don't have apps (e.g. desktops), ability to modify behavior through extensions, caching can clear asset data if I don't use the app frequently (e.g. ridesharing)

kenmorechalfant 7y ago

The main thing isn't really about it being preferable, feature-wise - it's that it's the future of cross platform apps. If I could have apps like Photoshop or Ableton on Windows, Linux, Mac, ChromeOS, Android, etc - and they all work the same, that's a huge win all around.

dmitriid 7y ago
First, you'd have to provide the web with 90% missing features that make such apps possible. And then make them available to PWAs. So no, it's not the future.
- untog 7y ago
  The vast majority of native apps need next-to-no extra features on top of what the web provides. Facebook, Uber, Seamless, etc. etc... all they really need is an internet connection and location. And the web provides that.
  - dmitriid 7y ago
    The post I was replying to specifically said: > If I could have apps like Photoshop or Ableton... These apps require way way more than just internet connection and location. For example, you might have to implement your own renderers from scratch: https://www.figma.com/blog/building-a-professional-design-tool-on-the-web/ https://www.figma.com/blog/building-a-professional-design-to...
- abraham 7y ago
  There is extensive work being done to bring more native APIs to the Web https://www.chromium.org/teams/web-capabilities-fugu https://www.chromium.org/teams/web-capabilities-fugu
  - dmitriid 7y ago
    I wouldn't count on any other browser to be anywhere onboard with that. Chrome is known for implementing things in a quick and dirty way with complete disregard for input. Also, Fugu will definitely no bring a signinficant amount of native APIs to the web. Here's the full list [1] For example, the post I'm replying to mentioned Ableton. Well "I don’t know who the Web Audio API is designed for" [2] Oh, and then there's no guarantee Chrome will not break it the way it broke automatic audio previously [3] The web is not the long-term future for any foreseeable future [1] https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium/issues/list?can=2&q=proj-fugu&sort=pri&colspec=ID+Pri+M+Stars+ReleaseBlock+Component+Status+Owner+Summary+OS+Modified&x=m&y=releaseblock&cells=ids https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium/issues/list?can=2&q=pro... [2] https://blog.mecheye.net/2017/09/i-dont-know-who-the-web-audio-api-is-designed-for/ https://blog.mecheye.net/2017/09/i-dont-know-who-the-web-aud... [3] https://twitter.com/mcclure111/status/993627449991688193?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E993627449991688193&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pcgamer.com%2Fa-google-chrome-update-breaks-the-audio-in-numerous-web-based-games%2F https://twitter.com/mcclure111/status/993627449991688193?ref...

Vinnl 7y ago

One thing I like is that I can use them in my browser with tracking protection. Also nice to know it only has access to browser API's I give it access to - I'm always somewhat weary of what native apps do in the background. And of course, there's the first-use hurdle. I probably wouldn't even have tried Pinafore if it hadn't been a PWA (in fact, I haven't tried any Mastodon apps). I could just go to the website, sign in, and I'm off.