Progressive Web Apps and 4.4 GA

[KT Walrus]

Will Progressive Web Apps be supported in 4.4 GA? If yes, can I build and submit an app to the Apple Store and Google Play Store? Is this process documented? I really need to have an app for my site on IOS and Android for my users to download to their mobile devices. I realize it won't be as good an experience as a native app (especially on Apple devices since Apple is pretty hostile to fully embrace PWA apps on an Apple device), but it will be better than telling the users to save a link to their home screen. Mobile users are trained to download apps from the app store.

Here is the blog that inspired me to ask this question (free music PWA app if you like religious tunes):

https://medium.freecodecamp.org/i-built-a-pwa-and-published-it-in-3-app-stores-heres-what-i-learned-7cb3f56daf9b

 

[bfarber]

This is a bit of a loaded question if I'm being honest.

As of 4.4, we will automatically generate an application manifest and allow you to control the details within the manifest (as well as the special browserconfig.xml for Microsoft). This lays the foundation for a "PWA", however we do not register a service worker at this time, and there are capabilities within PWAs that we are not yet taking advantage of (for instance, push notifications for Android).

You will need to do your own research as to how you can make use of these improvements with regards to building a true installable "app" out of the PWA we make available.

[KT Walrus]

3 hours ago, bfarber said:

You will need to do your own research as to how you can make use of these improvements with regards to building a true installable "app" out of the PWA we make available.

Thanks for the reply. It is regrettable that IPS hasn't fully "implemented" PWA support to make 4.4 address this major issue of not having installable "apps" for communities (if that is the right way to go about it).

Any chance IPS would consider running a "Go Fund Me" project to raise funds to implement better mobile support? I would be willing to contribute $500 to a project that would give me a site-branded mobile app on IOS and Android devices that I can be proud to recommend to my users. I just can't afford to pay a company to develop a custom app and if I did, the app would probably be embarrassing due to insufficient budget for the app's development. I realize that IPS created an IOS app many years ago that could be branded, but it wasn't very high quality (as far as the UX was concerned) and I would never point my users at such an app.

BTW, notifications could be implemented with SMS or use Twilio for this purpose.