Show HN: An app store just for installable web apps

Re:Show HN: An app store just for installable web apps by iansinnott on Friday October 06, 2023 @12:51AM (#37787203)

There is still no way to trigger an "install on homepage" dialogue from javascript, right?

This seems to be the biggest limiting factor to me—The need for PWAs to include _instructions on how_ to install the app rather than a button to make it so.

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Re:Show HN: An app store just for installable web apps by presson on Friday October 06, 2023 @02:23AM (#37787672)

Not on iOS, but you can trigger native install prompts on android and chromium browsers (Chrome and Edge).

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Re:Show HN: An app store just for installable web apps by presson on Friday October 06, 2023 @02:23AM (#37787678)

Edit: Not on iOS...yet.

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Re:Show HN: An app store just for installable web apps by iansinnott on Friday October 06, 2023 @03:07AM (#37787940)

Oh, didn't know that about Android. That's a definite improvement.

> yet

Is there supposed planned support for this on iOS? Seems like it would be counter to Apple's incentives, but I'd love to see it happen.

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Re:Show HN: An app store just for installable web apps by Velc on Friday October 06, 2023 @06:42AM (#37789018)

You can check the browser user agent is running safari + !standaloneMode and show a popup modal. This is how I handle it in react.

Surprisingly it actually converts to "Installs" incredibly well. Better than some native apps I own. I think user friction is actually quite low - no 'web app > app store > mobile app' flow - just two buttons and its on the home screen, no need to login w/ apple id etc.

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