Ferdy Christant
Aug 25, 2017 · 1 min read

Looks like it isn’t, just a web “shortcut” as the Google guy said. In which case, why bother at all?

The whole point of a PWA was to come as close to native as possible. There is an arbitrary list of criteria to meet in becoming an installable PWA, which is subject to change.

Developers work hard to cross of that list, optimize their apps to reach that all or nothing goal (being installable).

Now we learn that installing is clumsy or may not even work. And even if a tiny minority of users manage to do it, it’s just a “shortcut”, completely destroying any credibility and trust in PWAs being a worthy rival of native.

Meanwhile, native apps get new advantages to make the gap even wider.

Ah well, just another body at the Google graveyard.

)
    Ferdy Christant

    Written by

    Web developer, wildlife photographer, founder of www.jungledragon.com