#Development #Releases
A better way to update web apps · Updates are more predictable in Chrome 144 https://ilo.im/16a0sf
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#WebApps #PWAs #Manifest #Icons #Chrome #Browser #WebDev #Frontend
#PWAs
While I'll admit this is somewhat self serving, I do believe that web apps rather than "native" apps remain the best path forward for most things, also on mobile.
The web remains the only platform that is not (entirely) controlled by #BigTech. There's no approval process. Web apps cannot (easily) be pulled. Whoever builds them is in full control of their distribution. There's no tax on "in app" purchases. Yes, the browser landscape is not as diverse as it ought to be and hopefully that will improve, but if you compare it to Apple and Google-controlled ecosystems like iOS and Android, it's still miles ahead. Also, they're way cheaper to build.
In 2026 I'm aiming to be more deliberate in filling up my dock and home screen (yes, I will likely stay on Apple operating systems for pragmatic reasons) with more and more web apps, replacing native apps. I think this doable now. OS support for PWAs has improved a lot (even on iOS). They can be icons on your home screen/dock, they can be fast, they can be offline capable, they can send notifications.
On my home screen right now some daily driver #PWAs: @silverbulletmd (notes), @phanpy (fediverse), #Miniflux (RSS reading), Voyager (Lenny and PieSocial client), @linkwarden (link collection), @homeassistant (still the native app, but 99% web tech), #Ghost (blogging), @plausible (analytics). #Feishin (@navidrome_releases streaming), @fastmail (email).
Tìm thấy ZemWallet - ứng dụng theo dõi ngân sách ưu tiên quyền riêng tư! Dữ liệu của bạn được lưu trữ an toàn trên điện thoại, có thể xuất dưới dạng JSON và tích hợp công cụ tính toán khoản vay. Chỉ cần cài đặt PWA là bạn có thể sử dụng miễn phí, riêng tư trọn đời.
#ZemWallet #BudgetTracker #Privacy #Finance #App #PWAs
#ỨngDụng #TheoDõiNgânSách #QuyềnRiêngTư #TàiChính
jFS3 released, a tiny (~10 kB minimized) browser filesystem with content-addressed blocks, copy-on-write, dedup, snapshots (“universes”), events and optional async sync, fully powered by IndexedDB.
📢 #w3cTPAC demo!
Navigation capturing in Progressive Web Apps (#PWAs) boots performance by eliminating the delay associated with opening a new browser tab and loading a page. This results in a faster and smoother user experience, like in Google Chat, which cut latency by keeping navigation within the app for a more native, seamless feel.
🎬 Watch another @w3c #WebApps #WorkingGroup demo by Dibyajyoti Pal: https://youtu.be/dU9vJUKQvs4
📢 #w3cTPAC demo!
Predictable app updating gives developers consistent control over progressive Web apps (#PWAs) updates, reducing interruptions and redundant downloads. Non-sensitive changes update silently, while users are notified of security-sensitive ones. This makes PWAs updates more deterministic and user-friendly—closer to native apps.
🎬 Watch Dibyajyoti Pal of the @w3c #WebApps #WorkingGroup demonstrate the predictable app updating feature on Chrome running v143: https://youtu.be/vNptzLmHFhc
I have designed several #PWAs over the years. I have several on my phone (I'd always choose the web over native.)
Never enabled push notifications personally. Never found a valid user need professionally.
Unless it's a time-critical application, like travel, I don't see the point.
#Development #Launches
PWAscore · Compare Progressive Web App features across browsers https://ilo.im/167if0
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#Comparisons #CanIuse #WebApps #PWAs #Browsers #Chrome #Firefox #Safari #WebDev #Frontend
It's about time! Firefox starts testing support for progressive web apps | PCWorld https://www.pcworld.com/article/2887964/its-about-time-firefox-starts-testing-support-for-progressive-web-apps.html
The lack of these is why I don't use Firefox on a daily basis.
Optimizing PWAs For Different Display Modes. #PWAs
Posted into Responsive Design, UX, UI, and more @responsive-design-ux-ui-and-more-mobileatom
I use iOS.
I use very few native apps. Only one or two that are not bundled with the OS.
I don’t use Facebook, or any other Meta platform.
They still attempt to track me on the web, to sell that data on to advertising exchanges.
There is little or nothing that you can’t do on the web which is possible in native apps.
Big tech hates the web, because it prioritises users.
Look for #PWAs over native apps.
New post in our blog! 🛠️
Join us as we continue our PWA series and explore how to reduce the service worker boilerplate in your Rails app!
Link to the full post in the first comment 👇
Before anyone takes this as a discussion point pro #iOS...
A few counterarguments on #LocalMess (#Facebook #Instagram #Yandex #LocalhostTracking), why this would make #Android worse than #iOS:
This vulnerability seems to only have existed on Android, but not everyone would need to be affected by it.
I see #GrapheneOS as a perfected form of the Android idea (stripping the #Advertising and Tracking from it, and adding needed extensions to the permission system).
1. #AdBlock and #Tracking Blocking on Android is easy.
Use a Browser like #Ironfox with #UBlockOrigin in advanced mode, and block known tracking Javascript that way.
Solved, no #Metapixel, #GoogleAnalytics, #YandexMetrica, #CloudflareInsights and whatever else exists out there. It is blocked from loading or executing, so it can't listen on your localhost either.
2. Disabling apps
Android has 3 ways to isolate and disable apps. Note that due to this working on localhost, and all user profiles sharing the same localhost, the isolation is worthless here. Only the ability to disable apps is of value.
A: User profiles. Only nice to use on GrapheneOS, but they need barely any storage space and offer the strongest isolation. All data is separately encrypted too so using the same Pin is fine (if your threat is not people seeing your pin)
B: The #PrivateSpace. A new Android feature which allows having a separate nested profile within the main one. You can enable it in the settings, enable auto-lock when turning off the screen, add other restrictions. You can toggle it on and off in the app drawer.
C: The #WorkProfile. This is a pretty old feature, intended to grant your employer control over a nested user profile, but giving you the control to turn it on or off.
When using it alone you need a companion app like #Shelter or #Island, and due to the design this app has full potential control over that profile (so it should be really trusted!).
Work profiles take up a lot of space, but integrate the best into the system (easily accessible, icons can be placed on the home screen).
D: Disabling apps. Android only supports this for system apps. GrapheneOS also allows this for any app but the UI is not great (Androids fault), as apps disappear from the home screen and app drawer. They can be enabled again in the settings.
#CalyxOS has a nice toggle that is very easy to use. Apps do not disappear from the homescreen but appear disabled. This is the easiest way to stop apps from running.
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GrapheneOS also has support for "private spaces" within separate user profiles, which makes the switching faster and easier.
All these nested or separate profiles use the same localhost (local network), but by turning them off you can fully disable the apps that would serve the cookies used for this method.
3. (Progressive) #Webapps.
While iOS has blocked this feature for years, locking developers to their pricey and walled #AppStore, on Android every Website in your browser can be used like a native app.
#Meta ironically blocks this aggressively, locking Video Playback and more to "their App™". Other apps like #GoogleMaps, #TikTok or #Shitter annoy you with popups, and offer often reduced versions, but they work.
Normal websites like #Discourse forums work just fine.
Webapps are WAY more isolated, cannot and execute random code, everything goes through your browser and the blocklists and restrictions you control.
Using only one of these isolation methods will break any future exploit with this method.
They allow Android users to restrict, disable or confine untrusted apps.
GrapheneOS stays secure and private.
Hopefully the "app disabling" from Calyx will be included soon.
#KDE #Plasma #icons question.
I use #Vivaldi #PWAs extensively. When I "Install as App" Plasma uses the favicon from the website as the icon for the PWA app.
I recently changed my icon pack, and all the PWA icons reverted to Vivaldi icons. Changed it back; no difference. Uninstalled a PWA and reinstalled it, and it still uses the Vivaldi icon.
This is super-annoying to me because I rely on those app-specific icons for my workflow. How do I learn more about how icon packs work in KDE Plasma, and importantly, how do I get my PWA favicons back?
Please #boost!
We're proud to announce that our Software Engineer Edy Silva will be speaking at RailsConf 2025!
In his talk, “The Future of PWAs on Rails”, Edy will explore how Progressive Web App patterns can be applied the Rails way, unlocking better experiences without leaving behind the principles that make Rails so powerful.
📍 Philadelphia, PA
📅 July 8–10, 2025
Can’t wait to connect with the Rails community again and share knowledge about what’s next!
Multi-Tab – Rethinking GIS with MapComponents!
Our Multi-Tab demo shows how MapComponents visualizes geospatial data in a table and on a map across synced browser tabs.
🔹 Real-time sync – Selection in one view updates the other
🔹 Powered by PWAs – Uses the Broadcast Channel API for seamless communication
🔹 Perfect for multi-monitor setups – A desktop GIS experience in the browser
👉 Try it now: https://catalogue.mapcomponents.org/de/component-detail/MultiTab
As a #WebDev, I've been a fan of replacing Native Apps with #ProgressiveWebApps. I have been installing and using them whenever available since they were first announced.
Honestly, I'm beginning to wonder if #PWAs are even a good idea; I often find myself reaching for the browser toolbar which is unavailable in PWAs.
The only thing they do is provide a nice shortcut from the startmenu, or app launcher, but since most of the PWAs I use are social Media I don't even really *want* that!
I made a thing: Bored of those boring #OpenToWork avatar overlays on LinkedIn that make you look boring?
Want to make it a little more fun?
Why not try hot-from-the-source-codes:
> For 7 years, #Google has failed to keep its commitment to share the ability to install #WebApps with third-party #browsers on #Android, despite public requests from #Samsung, #Microsoft, #Brave & #Kiwi #browser.
https://open-web-advocacy.org/blog/google-must-share-the-ability-to-install-web-apps-in-android/
#webDev #webAPKs #web #apps #paw #pwas #progressiveWebApps #openWeb #chrome #googleChrome #javaScript #programming #technology
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