Exploring the Desktop Potential of Progressive Web Apps

Progressive Web Apps (PWA) have become a buzzword in the tech industry and a driving force in web development. They have paved the way for user-friendly platforms that are not only functional but also get the work done even without downloading them to your devices.

While the inception of this advancement has been adapted to mobile device usage, PWAs caused a resurgence of desktop computing. In this blog, we’ll navigate the advantages of Progressive Web Apps that are intricately optimized for desktop usage.

Desktop as a Platform

An often-overlooked device since the birth of cellular communication, desktop computers have been the foundation of consumer-level business processes. In fact, desktops are still widely used across the globe. This is why web application developers will never underestimate the platform’s influence.

Cross-Platform Ability of PWAs

Nothing feels better when you can easily transition from using a web app on your phone to a desktop computer. You can’t deny that there are still tasks accommodated by web apps that are better done on larger screens. This is why the Apple ecosystem is thriving.

A cohesive platform optimized for mobile devices and desktop computers will always bring convenience to users. This also welcomes diverse people who are not dependent on a particular device. Thanks to desktop computers, developers still put effort into ensuring that web apps are optimized for small and large computers.

Freedom from the Difficulties of Installations

If you’re a millennial or older, you may have lived through years of seeing computer program installations using a bunch of floppy disks. Program files were then reduced into more compact drives like CD-ROM and flash drives. Now, you can just download software online or from an app store.

However, this has introduced a range of problems for most desktop users, from the lack of storage to complicated installation processes. Web apps’ ability to perform tasks that were once something that you can only do locally on your computer is a big step for productivity. This user-friendly approach has brought huge convenience to many desktop users when all they had to do was access a program through a URL.

Not only that but unlike locally run programs, web apps on desktops are resource-efficient and lightweight. Extensive backend monitoring is all it takes to maintain a functional, fast, and smooth-flowing web app.

Offline Functionality

Some may argue that locally installed programs are better since you can run them offline. Technology has changed this over time. Web apps with comprehensive caching mechanisms brought a whole level of convenience.

Now, you won’t worry about power interruptions or internet connectivity issues since web apps can save your progress locally. This has been a game-changer, especially for people who rely solely on the locally installed programs on their desktops.

Utilization of Bigger Devices and Their Accessories

Since many web apps were intended for productivity usage, keyboards and mice are essential. No matter how much they sell it to the masses, working with spreadsheets and documents on your mobile phones will always be challenging.

Integration of keyboard shortcuts and cursor-friendly elements on web apps has become essential to app development over the years. These functions make web apps more intuitive and tangible in a sense.

Working with productivity software has a lot of moving parts. You can’t match the whole experience of being able to manipulate a bunch of data using your keyboard and mouse. Working with files is more convenient and efficient if you can see them on a bigger screen while you use your keyboard and mouse to navigate.

Marketing

Web apps, after all, still run online. Home pages or landing pages will always welcome you when you visit a web app’s main website. Writing content for web apps is still a strategic process that involves search engine optimization. This means that while web apps are mainly used for productivity purposes, they are still an excellent way to promote a product to the market.

Laptops and desktops still make up a massive part of devices people prefer when accessing the internet. Undoubtedly, software development will always consider building web apps optimized for desktop viewing.

We’ve seen many technical advancements over the years. Chips have become smaller but more powerful. However, desktops are here to stay for their ease of use in productivity tasks. Because of that, web apps will continuously be optimized for these larger devices like desktops and laptops. Web apps and desktop partnerships are unmatched when it comes to efficiency and ease of use.