[DCH3416]

No? Most modern apps these days _are_ just web apps. Why does it need the overhead architecture of running full standalone applications when a web clip works just as well? Plus there's no need for updating.

The problem at the time was multifaceted. The devices couldn't handle it, the network couldn't handle it, and webkit was still relatively limited. But it did work. https://9to5mac.com/2021/06/03/remembering-apples-sweet-solu...

[Miraste]

I have never, ever used a web app that runs as well as the native app.

[anon7000]

Oh, well I can provide an example. Music League’s PWA on iOS is quite a bit better than the app — partly because you can avoid the ads!

Performance isn’t incredible, but neither is the “native” app (95% sure it’s react native or similar), which frequently dips below 60fps.

[jonas21]

If that's the case, then why does nearly every company have a native app in addition to their website? Surely, they could save a lot of time and money by just not building and maintaining the app.

[DCH3416]

Because it's a pain in the ass to distribute. And there's not much for support integrated into mobile operating systems for seamless browser windows.

MacOS is getting there kind of lately with safari being able to turn web pages into apps. But there isn't really built in mechanisms for that: https://www.macrumors.com/2023/06/14/how-web-apps-work-macos...

[ChocolateGod]

Web apps will always on paper be slower (not including badly made applications on both) than native apps, and also bring in additional security issues (since code is loaded remotely) than native applications.

[johnny22]

apps built using the webview don't necessarily have to be loaded remotely. If you're building with capacitor, then nothing happens remotely until you choose.

The part about being slower is still true though.

[anon7000]

The funny part is that it’s actually not a pain in the ass to distribute. On iOS, saving the current link to the homescreeen installs the PWA (if available). You don’t have to do anything other than tap a button in the share menu. iOS treats it like an app, showing it in the app switcher and search, etc.

People just don’t know it’s an option. And as you say, there are fewer native APIs available to it.

[slothtrop]

Native apps make more money, because of phone data. A lot of effort is now put into facilitating cross-platform builds, a wrapper/container around a glorified web app is among the easiest ways

[chasd00]

There's no adblock for native apps. Also, they can keep running/monitoring-you in the background easier.

[skydhash]

Most modern apps are just services. If you don’t mind you computer being a thin client to someone’s computer on the internet, go ahead. But the rest of us do use native software because the web is just a pale imitation.