Google's PWA (Progressive Web Application) technology is becoming more and more mature and attracting more and more attention from developers and enterprises. At the same time, in China, small program technology has also attracted a large number of developers with its fiery development momentum. This article will compare PWA and applets from the perspective of developers, and analyze their respective advantages. By deeply discussing the technical characteristics, ecosystem support, cross-platform capabilities, performance and user experience of both technologies, we will help developers better understand these two technologies and make informed decisions when choosing a mobile development framework .
Let me talk about why we need to launch PWA technology
First of all, web applications are limited by browsers to a certain extent, and many complex functions are difficult to achieve due to the permissions and performance that can be obtained. This is an easier way to develop native applications. And PWA is an attempt to integrate the two. If the demand is not large, there is no need for new companies to spend money to hire developers of different platforms to do native work, as long as a PWA is enough. In addition, when the web application develops better, the users of the entire mobile platform increase, which is of course very valuable for Google, which is transforming the mobile platform.
I personally think this is a good attempt, and it will also promote the development of the industry, but I am cautiously optimistic about how far it can go (it should be more optimistic now that WeChat has also been added).
Secondly, when the technology you dominate is widely adopted in the market, your voice in the entire industry will increase and you will have more profit opportunities.
For example, I work in the technical support department of the advertising business, and some colleagues will go to some advertising business customers to sell PWA. At the same time, the company also has various PWA trainings and lectures. If the company does not have or the user does not install native applications, PWA has a better experience than traditional web pages, and also has an advantage in calculating the bidding ranking (Landing page experience), PWA will bring more users to the client company, and more More users will bring more revenue, and naturally Google will get more advertising revenue. .
The concept of PWA is developing very fast in the industry. Chromium-based browsers Chrome and Opera already fully support PWA, Firefox and Microsoft Edge are under development, and Safari of the fruit company has just recently expressed that it may support PWA. From a long-term perspective, as long as Google continues to promote the transformation of some websites to PWA, other browsers or competitors will naturally follow suit.
1. Comparison of the characteristics of PWA and applets
Technical characteristics of PWA
Progressive Enhancement: PWAs can run in all modern browsers and gradually provide more advanced features, making the application adaptable to different browsers and devices. Responsive design: PWA can adapt to different screen sizes and device types to provide a consistent user experience.
Offline access: PWAs are able to achieve offline access by using Service Worker technology, allowing the application to continue running when the network connection is unavailable.
Installation and push notifications: PWAs can mimic the native app experience by adding to the home screen and sending push notifications.
Easy to update: Through Service Worker, PWA can be updated automatically, without the need for users to manually update the application.
Technical Features of Mini Programs
Fast loading: The applet uses a lightweight framework and components, and the loading speed is fast, so that users can quickly open the application.
Native integration: Applets can be natively integrated with device hardware functions (such as camera, positioning, gyroscope, etc.) to provide richer functions and user experience.
App Store Distribution: Mini Programs can be distributed through App Stores, and users can easily search, discover, and install Mini Programs.
Unified development environment: The development of small programs uses a unified development tool and language, which reduces the learning cost of developers.
Data sharing: Mini programs can share user data, providing more convenient login and data transmission.
2. Comparison of PWA and Mini Program Ecosystem Support
PWA ecosystem support
Wide support: PWA can run on almost all modern browsers without installation and updates, with wide device and platform support.
Web technology stack: PWA uses Web standard technologies (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript), and developers can make full use of existing Web development knowledge and tools. Developer community: PWA has a huge developer community, providing a wealth of resources, tools and support.
Mini Program Ecosystem Support
Traffic entrance: Mini programs can be used as traffic entrances through mainstream social platforms such as WeChat and Alipay. In addition to the traffic platforms of these giants, mini programs can also be run in the company's own apps. Any company's app only needs to integrate the mini program When running the SDK, you can obtain the ability to run small programs (currently the mainstream small program SDK vendors on the market include FinClip, etc.), so that small programs have more distribution channels.
Openness: Mini Programs provide a wealth of openness, allowing developers to integrate with hardware devices and third-party services.
Data analysis and statistics: The Mini Program ecosystem provides data analysis and statistics tools to help developers understand user behavior, application performance and usage. Developers can use these tools to obtain key indicators and data for data-driven optimization and improvement. These tools provide visual reports and charts to help developers better understand user behavior and application performance.
3. Comparison of cross-platform capabilities between PWA and mini-programs
Cross-platform capability of PWA
Based on web standards: PWA is based on web technology and can run on different platforms and devices, including desktop, mobile and tablet devices. Responsive design: PWA can adapt to the screen size and resolution of the device to provide a consistent user experience. Compatibility: PWA can run on various modern browsers, and does not require additional development and adaptation work for different platforms.
Small program cross-platform/terminal capability
Focus on mobile platforms: mini-programs used to be mainly for mobile platforms (such as WeChat, Alipay), and now mini-programs can also run on various smart terminals (such as: smart car equipment, smart big screen, etc.)
4. Comparison of performance and user experience
PWA performance and user experience
Loading speed: PWA uses Service Worker caching technology to achieve fast loading and offline access. Responsiveness: PWA has a fast response speed and provides an interactive experience similar to native applications. SEO Friendly: PWAs can be indexed and retrieved by search engines, increasing the app’s discoverability.
Mini Program Performance and User Experience
Quick start: The applet uses a lightweight framework and components, and has a faster start speed and page switching. No installation required: The applet can be used without installation, and users can directly access and experience the application. Integration with hardware: Applets can be natively integrated with a device's hardware capabilities to provide a richer user experience.
at last
Both PWA and applets are popular technical solutions in the field of mobile application development, and each has its own unique advantages. From a developer's point of view, PWA has extensive browser support, cross-platform capabilities, and a mature Web development ecosystem.
Small programs are outstanding in terms of traffic entry, application store support, and hardware integration. When developers choose a technical solution that suits their project needs, they should weigh their respective advantages according to the specific situation, and make decisions based on project needs, target users, and the technology stack of the development team.
All in all, both PWA and applets are important choices for modern mobile application development. Developers can choose according to specific needs and advantages to achieve the best user experience and development efficiency.