PWA to the People: The Unfulfilled Promise of Progressive Web Apps

In recent years, there has been significant buzz surrounding Progressive Web Apps (or PWAs as they are most commonly known) and their potential to revolutionize the digital landscape. PWAs are web applications that combine the best features of websites and native mobile applications, offering users a seamless and immersive experience. Despite their promise, however, PWAs have yet to fulfill their potential and transform the world as many envisioned.

But why? What are the reasons PWAs have struggled to gain widespread adoption and what are the challenges it faces to becoming the game-changer it was once predicted to be?

PWAs come with several advantages that make them an attractive proposition for businesses and users alike. First and foremost, PWAs are platform-agnostic (a buzzword in itself), meaning they can run on any device with a modern web browser. This cross-platform compatibility eliminates the need to develop separate applications for different operating systems, reducing development costs and streamlining the deployment process.

The same claims are used by other competing techniques but is especially true here. Web technology can be found integrated into everything from the obvious like computers and phones to the more niche like fridges and cars.

Additionally, PWAs offer offline functionality, enabling users to access content and perform actions even in the absence of an internet connection. This offline capability is made possible by caching resources, allowing PWAs to load quickly and provide a smooth user experience. Moreover, PWAs can be installed directly on users’ home screens, giving them a native-like presence and eliminating the need to download and install traditional mobile apps.

So, offline webpages with the look and feel of native application and without the need of passing through an app store. What’s not to like?

Despite these enticing benefits, PWAs have faced several challenges that have hindered their widespread adoption. One significant hurdle is the limited support and inconsistent implementation of PWA technologies across different browsers and platforms. While major browsers have made progress in supporting PWAs, there are still variations in features and functionalities, creating fragmentation and compatibility issues. This lack of uniformity makes it difficult for businesses to confidently invest in PWAs as a primary solution.

Furthermore, discoverability remains a challenge for PWAs. Unlike native mobile apps that can be easily found and downloaded from app stores, PWAs rely on search engines and organic discovery. However, with millions of websites competing for attention, it can be challenging for PWAs to stand out and gain traction among users. This lack of visibility has contributed to the slower adoption rate of PWAs compared to traditional mobile applications.

Another factor that has hindered the success of PWAs is the perceived performance gap between PWAs and native apps. While PWAs have made significant strides in terms of performance and responsiveness, they still face limitations compared to their native counterparts. Native apps have access to deeper integrations with device hardware and operating systems, allowing them to deliver a level of performance and functionality that is often perceived as superior to PWAs.

On some level the lack of performance is also to be blamed on the developers. Native apps are compiled giving them an extra edge and they are often very opinionated forcing the developers to follow strict rulesets. JavaScript and web development is much more ‘easy going’ and as such many (if not most) developers just don’t take performance into account. Understanding how the browser operates and what the implications of several scenarios is key and if done correctly you can get close to native performance, depending on the application.

So, how do we overcome these challenges?

To propel PWAs forward and unlock their full potential, several steps need to be taken. First and foremost, there needs to be a concerted effort to improve cross-browser compatibility and standardization of PWA technologies. This will ensure a consistent experience across different platforms and browsers, making it easier for businesses to adopt PWAs confidently.

Additionally, efforts should be made to increase awareness and promote the benefits of PWAs among both businesses and users.

Educating developers about PWA best practices and providing resources and tools can help bridge the knowledge gap and encourage wider adoption. Similarly, users need to be made aware of the advantages of PWAs, such as offline functionality, quick loading times, and seamless updates.

Furthermore, collaboration between industry stakeholders, including browser vendors, developers, and standards organizations, is crucial to drive the advancement of PWAs. By working together to address technical challenges, establish best practices, and advocate for PWA support, the industry can create an environment that fosters the growth and success of PWAs.

There is a growing movement against smartphone clutter and in a way PWAs could fill that gap. Users don’t want to have ‘an app for that’ for every single touchpoint they have with a service or company. They want the simplicity of the interface but not the hassle of downloading and updating, and cluttering their phones home screens with yet another largely unnecessary garbage app.

As many as 80% of surveyed users said that they preferred to use the web instead of yet another single purpose app. PWA’s are just special webpages in a sense be used as both traditional web and dedicated mobile apps. And their nature makes them ideal for clustering and integrating in bundles making them a strong contender to be parts of loosely coupled ‘super app’.

Progressive Web Apps hold tremendous promise in revolutionizing the digital landscape by offering a seamless and cross-platform experience to users. However, their widespread adoption and impact have fallen short of expectations due to challenges such as limited browser support, discoverability issues, and perceived performance gaps.

To unlock the full potential of PWAs, there must be a collective effort to address these challenges through standardization, education, and collaboration. With the right approach and continued investment, PWAs can still become the game-changer they were envisioned to be, delivering a more accessible and user-friendly web experience for all.