Progressive web application (PWA) in Mendix

Mendix World, the biggest low-code event in the world, took place online on 1 September. There Mendix announced an innovation that is going to make it easier for many companies to develop an app.

We are talking about the Progressive Web Application. Before long it will be possible to develop a PWA with Mendix. In the meantime we are glad to explain what that involves and what it can mean for your company.

What is a PWA?

We could explain all the technical components of a Progressive Web Application, but it is easier to see for yourself, on your own smartphone or computer:

1. Go to https://appsco.pe/
2. There you see PWAs that are currently on the market. Pick one and click 'Launch app'. The application now opens in the web browser (so simply a website).
3. If you view the site on a smartphone, an 'install' button may appear. If it does not, on an iPhone for instance, you have to choose 'Add to home screen'. On the desktop version a plus sign appears on the right of the address bar with the option to install. How you install a PWA differs per browser, so you may have to look around a little in your particular browser.

The app is now installed on your device, just like a normal app. That means you always have access to the app, even when you are offline.

How does a PWA work?

If you want to develop a mobile app, your options have so far been a web application, a native app or a hybrid app.

• Web applications are simply the mobile version of a website. So you cannot download them and use them offline.
• Native apps are developed for one platform (such as Android or iOS), in the corresponding programming language. So if you want the app to work on both operating systems, two separate apps have to be built.
• Hybrid apps are no more than a shell around a web page. This is an outdated technique and is no longer recommended.

The Progressive Web Application is a relatively new development, and works as a sort of web application and native app in one. Where you would normally need two different apps for the web and the device, the PWA works on both at once.

Advantages

That has many advantages, including an enormous saving in time and development costs. There is no need to build separate applications for each use; you can develop for all devices in one go. Smartphone, desktop or tablet, the app works on all of them and therefore reaches a much larger audience.

On top of that, with a PWA you no longer have to deal with an App Store, because the app can be downloaded from your own website. That means you no longer suffer the drawbacks of the App Store, including the strict review of the app, the long lead time to release, the cut it may take out of your revenue, and so on. With a PWA you keep far more control over your own app.

Although the app cannot be found in the App Store, then, it does support SEO. Because the PWA is web-based, search engines can read it properly. That means the app can be found easily in Google and other search engines.

In short, a PWA is faster, easier and cheaper to develop.

Which app for your company?

Below you will find an overview of the biggest differences between PWA and native applications.

Choose PWA if:

• The app has to work on mobile, tablet and desktop (offline)
• The app has to be downloadable from your own website
• The app has to be findable in the search engines (SEO)
• You want to be able to develop quickly and cheaply
• The app is intended for B2B or for internal use
• The native functions you want to use are available (contacts, Bluetooth or NFC are not possible yet)

Choose native if:

• The app is intended for mobile and tablet only
• The app has to be downloadable from the App Store
• The app has to be findable in the App Store
• The highest achievable performance matters
• Everyone has to be able to download the app
• You want to be able to use all the native functionality