PWA Overview

The TechMaju platform's responsiveness ensures your sites will look great even on mobile devices. In addition to accessing your sites through the browser, our platform offers Progress Web App as a built-in feature. This allows users to add an app icon on their mobile home screen to have a native mobile app experience.

What is a PWA?

A Progressive Web App (PWA) is a web application that uses modern web capabilities to deliver an app-like experience to users. PWAs are built using standard web technologies including HTML, CSS, and JavaScript but have the ability to offer features similar to native mobile apps, such as offline access, push notifications, and the ability to be installed on a user's device from the browser.

Key Features of PWAs

• Offline Access: PWAs can work offline or with low-quality networks using service workers.

• Push Notifications: They can send push notifications just like a native app.

• Installation: PWAs can be installed on the home screen of a device without going through an app store.

• Responsive Design: PWAs are responsive and work across various screen sizes.

• Security: PWAs are served over HTTPS to ensure a secure connection.

Pros & Cons of PWAs vs. Native Mobile Apps

Pros of PWAs

• Cross-Platform Compatibility: A single codebase for multiple platforms (web, mobile, desktop).

• Ease of Updates: PWAs update directly from the web, ensuring that users always access the latest version.

• Cost-Efficient Development: Developing a PWA is often cheaper than developing separate native apps for iOS and Android.

• No App Store Dependencies: PWAs can be distributed without relying on app stores, avoiding submission and approval processes.

• Improved SEO: Since PWAs are web-based, they can be indexed by search engines, improving discoverability.

Cons of PWAs

• Limited Native Functionality: PWAs may not have access to all device features like Bluetooth, NFC, and advanced camera controls, which are accessible in native apps.

• Browser Compatibility: Not all features are supported across all browsers. Some older browsers or specific platforms may not support certain PWA capabilities.

• Performance: PWAs may not perform as efficiently as native apps, especially for graphics-intensive tasks or games.

• No Direct Access to App Stores: PWAs don’t get visibility in the app stores (though they can still be added to home screens directly from the browser).

• User Perception: Users might perceive PWAs as inferior to native apps, particularly in markets where app stores are the primary means of discovering and downloading applications.

Constraints of PWAs

While PWAs offer many advantages, they also come with certain limitations:

1. Hardware Access: PWAs have limited access to certain device hardware like sensors, contacts, and other system-level features, which are easily accessible by native apps.

2. Offline Capabilities: Although PWAs offer offline capabilities, these are not as robust as native apps. They rely on cached data and service workers, which may not provide the full offline experience users expect.

3. Push Notification Limitations: Push notifications may not be supported across all browsers or platforms, reducing their effectiveness compared to native apps.

4. User Interface Differences: PWAs may not fully replicate the look and feel of native apps, which can impact user experience and adoption.