Ask HN: Who has had a successful PWA product?

#1

Post by codazoda » Wed, Jun 19, 2024, 4:20 AM UTC

They say to find someone who’s done what you want to do. We’ll, I want to re-launch a successful progressive web app (PWA). I had some success ($500 MRR) with shareware, 20 years ago, but those methods probably don’t work anymore. What does work?

If you’ve had success, maybe you would be willing to exchange some email?

Re: Ask HN: Who has had a successful PWA product?

#2

Post by brylie » Wed, Jun 19, 2024, 5:45 AM UTC

Start with the customer needs rather than the technology. Do you have some specific product ideas? Those ideas would help steer technology decisions, particularly during the initial prototyping phase.

Re: Ask HN: Who has had a successful PWA product?

#3

Post by throwaway9143 » Wed, Jun 19, 2024, 5:49 AM UTC

I'll give you a hard-earned tip: expect to fight Apple every step of the way. They will randomly erase all local data (cookies, localstorage, push subscription tokens, etc) in your PWA without warning. They say they don't do this, but I have the receipts. They want PWAs to suffer, and you will go insane trying to make workarounds on iPhone.

Re: Ask HN: Who has had a successful PWA product?

#4

Post by twooclock » Wed, Jun 19, 2024, 5:53 AM UTC

For my users having a PWA is completely irrelevant. Once they add it to home screen it's an app for them (I don't even bother to explain anymore). It might be a discoverability issue since they can't find you in app stores though.

Re: Ask HN: Who has had a successful PWA product?

#5

Post by 1oooqooq » Wed, Jun 19, 2024, 6:05 AM UTC

twooclock wrote: post #4

For my users having a PWA is completely irrelevant. Once they add it to home screen it's an app for them (I don't even bother to explain anymore). It might be a discoverability issue since they can't find you in app stores though.

why would you not put a wrapped pwa in the app store?

isn't it a small racketeering/marketing price for the promissed discoverability?

Re: Ask HN: Who has had a successful PWA product?

#6

Post by goosejuice » Wed, Jun 19, 2024, 6:08 AM UTC

What's the alternative? Certainly multi platform native only makes sense at a certain scale.

Your question might be too light on details to provide much advice.

Re: Ask HN: Who has had a successful PWA product?

#7

Post by thepra » Wed, Jun 19, 2024, 6:10 AM UTC

throwaway9143 wrote: post #3

I'll give you a hard-earned tip: expect to fight Apple every step of the way. They will randomly erase all local data (cookies, localstorage, push subscription tokens, etc) in your PWA without warning. They say they don't do this, but I have the receipts. They want PWAs to suffer, and you will go insane trying to make workarounds on iPhone.

Even IndexedDb? Having a PWA based on webassembly(Blazor) that I test on an updated iPhone 6 I have to say that I didn't ever run in such issues, the experience is good even though the device is old.

Re: Ask HN: Who has had a successful PWA product?

#8

Post by goosejuice » Wed, Jun 19, 2024, 6:10 AM UTC

1oooqooq wrote: post #5

twooclock wrote: post #4

For my users having a PWA is completely irrelevant. Once they add it to home screen it's an app for them (I don't even bother to explain anymore). It might be a discoverability issue since they can't find you in app stores though.

why would you not put a wrapped pwa in the app store? isn't it a small racketeering/marketing price for the promissed discoverability?

Easier with Android. Apple requires many hurdles, at least for US. You'll also then have to revenue share.

Depends on your audience on whether this will actually be worth the investment. Being on the app store doesn't necessarily make you visible anyhow. It's just easier to install for apple users.

Re: Ask HN: Who has had a successful PWA product?

#9

Post by JoshTriplett » Wed, Jun 19, 2024, 6:13 AM UTC

What do you want to do with a PWA that you can't do with a webpage? If at all possible, try to use a webpage instead, to avoid the myriad problems and quirks that arise with PWAs. Only resort to a PWA if you need capabilities that you can't get as a webpage.

Re: Ask HN: Who has had a successful PWA product?

#10

Post by carlonicora » Wed, Jun 19, 2024, 6:14 AM UTC

1oooqooq wrote: post #5

twooclock wrote: post #4

For my users having a PWA is completely irrelevant. Once they add it to home screen it's an app for them (I don't even bother to explain anymore). It might be a discoverability issue since they can't find you in app stores though.

why would you not put a wrapped pwa in the app store? isn't it a small racketeering/marketing price for the promissed discoverability?

If you publish the app in the App Store you will have to give Apple a chunk of you revenue as well, not just the yearly fee