Apps / Progressive Web Apps (PWA)
Hyprid Apps
Native Apps

Apps are on everyone's lips. Depending on your requirements or budget, one of the listed types of apps is right for you.

Progressive Web App

Progressive Web Apps are advanced web applications. Features like offline functionality and Push Notification can be implemented for a website, web portal or shop system. An existing website can serve as a basis, which is technically equipped with a service worker.

This app runs in a normal Browser, which the user does not necessarily have to recognize. Since the basis is a web application or website, the content can also be found via search engines.

Hyprid App

A Hyprid app can be installed on both Android and iOS, with the advantage of no double development costs. This is also reflected in the further development and maintenance. The programming can be done in different frameworks such as React Native, but almost everything can be implemented.

Hypride apps are the best choice when certain features cannot be dispensed with compared to a PWA.

Native Apps

Development takes place in the language of the platform to be developed. Thus, a native app makes optimal use of the performance and functions of the respective operating system.

Compute-intensive applications are best served by a Native App. Native apps are characterized by a maximum range of functions with the latest trends such as augmented reality.

What app? - PWA (Progressive Web App) - Hybrid App or a Native App

Definition of the core function and goal of the app

Apps can pursue different goals, serve a specific marketing purpose or increase customer satisfaction. It would also be conceivable to create an app for your own company to increase productivity.

In addition to the target definition of the app, the desirable features, core functions and monetization for the app play a corresponding role, what type of app is implemented and what technology should ultimately be used.

Progressive Web App

A detailed explanation ofProgressive Web App (PWA) is already explained in this article. Technically speaking, a Progressive Web App is a website where the ServiceWorker acts as a proxy and controls all requests (queries) between server and browser.

This control enables functions such as offline functionality and background sync. With the Web API (HTML5 API) you can already implement a variety of possibilities, including push messages, payments and Web Share. The following article shows possibilities to give the user a Native App feeling a Progressive Web App:

"15 tips for optimizing a Progressive Web App (PWA)"

These and other features give the user the feeling of working with a native app. Mandatory working features should be based on browser support and operating system be checked. A very good overview of all possibilities of the HTML5 API are available at whatwebcando.today findable.

Large companies such as Google, Ueber, AirBnb, Tinder and Trivago are increasingly turning to Progressive Web Apps because they do not need to be installed and can be found via search engines. PWAs can also be submitted to the App Store and Google Play Store, although many companies are still developing both types of apps, Native App or Hypride Apps on the one hand and Progressive Web Apps on the other hand, in order to better reach all target groups and take advantage of all features.

At my presentation at the Digital Breakfast in Stuttgart I already discussed the question "Progressive Web App - an alternative to the native app?

Hybrid App - when the Progressive Web App is not enough

Even though Progressive Web Apps have come a long way towards becoming an app, unfortunately they cannot (yet) map everything. Web Push is not yet supported in iOs. Here the use of a hybrid app is advantageous to implement an app with the Push Messages function. For hybrid app development there are different frameworks like Flutter, NativeScript and React Native to roll out an app for all platforms. The advantage of these frameworks is that the program code is compiled into a native app.

Depending on the framework, native components can be added to access special functions that are not supported by the framework. Ultimately, a hybrid app can do a lot, all features worth thinking about can be implemented and they are also performant. As an additional feature, depending on the framework, it is possible to create a PWA from the hybrid app.

Native App - for performance and trends

A Native App is programmed in the respective language of the operating system. For iOs it can be Swift, for Android it can be Kotlin. Since you are developing separately for both platforms, you have double development costs if you want to support multiple platforms.

This effort also has an impact on the result in order to meet high requirements, achieve best performance and ensure support of the latest features. Performance-hungry games and the use of the latest techniques such as augmented reality are good examples of native app development.

App development in Stuttgart
PWA, Hyprid App oder Native App

As a professional web developer from the Stuttgart area, I am happy to advise you on the functionalities and possibilities of app development.

Progressive Web App (PWA)

With a Progressive Web App you can offer your visitors significant added value with little effort compared to a native app. Nevertheless, native apps have their place. Why progressive web apps are now essential? Read more...

Progressive Web App in Joomla for a community

Realization of the Progressive Web App with push messages in Joomla for a community.Read more...

PWA Joomladay

My presentation at the JoomlaDay in Vienna "Show me your Offline Page (PWA)" Vienna I will show the creation of a Progressive Web App using an example. Read more...

Scope of the PWA

The scope of the Progressive Web App can be defined when the service worker is registered. Read more...