Re:Ask HN: Who has had a successful PWA product?
by jb1991 on Wednesday June 19, 2024 @04:54AM
(#40726279)
That’s interesting, thanks. I just did it successfully, I don’t think I’ve ever installed an app like this before. So I guess when I click it it’s just opening a browser window with no actual browser controls and then loading the site?
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Re:Ask HN: Who has had a successful PWA product?
by palsecam on Wednesday June 19, 2024 @05:06AM
(#40726364)
Exactly.
“it’s just opening a browser window with no actual browser controls”: yes, due to the `display` setting in the app manifest: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Manifest/displa...
It’s similar to a `WebView` component: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WebView
Re:Ask HN: Who has had a successful PWA product?
by jb1991 on Wednesday June 19, 2024 @07:13AM
(#40727118)
Why do they use the words progressive web app, seems like a fancy term for just saving a link to your home screen. Is there some additional benefit you get besides this shortcut? Does it do things a webpage does not once it’s been added to your home screen?
Re:Ask HN: Who has had a successful PWA product?
by palsecam on Wednesday June 19, 2024 @07:40AM
(#40727288)
It basically is nothing more than a glorified shortcut. The installed app gets a custom load screen. It gets listed on the device installed apps list, and can be removed from there.
But there is nothing a PWA can do that a website can’t do. It’s all about Web APIs. Take push notifications (https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Progressive_web...): they make more sense for an (PW)app, but a simple website can do them too (if given permission).
See MDN intro on PWA: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Progressive_web..., or https://web.dev/learn/pwa/ for more info.