[xd1936]

You can think of it like a web app that's been coded to have extra features when "added to the homescreen".

When added, the app can work offline, doesn't have an address bar/back button/etc, gets the ability to access device sensors, can send push notifications, etc. A well-made PWA usually looks and feels just like a native app.

[BadHumans]

What if I only want an app that works offline? Is there a reason to use a PWA? For example, I want to make a simple notes app that has no reason to need connectivity.

[usrusr]

If you don't have a complete Apple development environment, PWA is the best shot you have getting that little offline note taking to run on an iPhone.

[BadHumans]

That's not what I'm asking about. Whether it's Apple, Android, or desktop, if I just want to make an offline app why would I use a PWA?

[willsmith72]

the argument isn't why use a PWA, it's why use a native app?

in most cases, a team wants their product to be easily installable, live on the home screen, and have access to all native APIs. right now, the best way to do that is a native app

the cost to that is going through the app store, meaning paying apple for the dev license, paying apple a percentage of sales, adhering to the app store rules, allowing extra time before release to get apple approval, difficulty updating because you need apple's approval and the user to update it, needing apple hardware, separate codebase/dev skills for android/ios, etc.

if you don't need those pros above, you could maybe get away with a PWA, and avoid all of that hassle. in most cases, you can't, but avoiding all of that stuff is the value prop for a pwa

[BadHumans]

I don't care whether something is a native app or a PWA. If I can create something that works completely offline without a ton of hassle then that is the option I will go with. If it is easier to do that with a PWA then great! And the question is definitely "why use a PWA?" Native apps are the established norm and if you want to change that then the case needs to be made as to why.

[xd1936]

If you want an app that works offline without a ton of hassle, then PWAs are the easiest way to write something that's multiplatform. As a bonus, updates to your app are totally under your control and distributed as quickly as you want them to be.

[usrusr]

If you only want to target one platform, and if you are already completely set up for native development for that platform, then yes, there's nothing to gain from going PWA instead of native.

Other than the learning experience of course, which you might consider valuable unless know for sure that all your future projects will remain on that one single platform.