What is Reddit's opinion of AppScope?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

I'm using the beta Edgium browser on Windows 10, & when I visit some websites a + symbol appears in the address bar that allows you to "install" the webpage as an app that appears in the start menu. The "app" opens up in its own sort of Edge browser window. I haven't done it much, since I personally don't fully see the benefit of PWAs on a desktop OS, but the functionality is there. I assume visiting any site that has a PWA that appears on Android would work. Appscope is a good place to look for PWAs.

PWA stand for progressive Web apps . It is nothing but web version of that app from your browser . Currently only chrome supports PWA . it is very easy to install it does not takes space because it's just the shortcut of web version of that website/app but behaves like an actual app. To install go to website of instagram , of it shows add to home click it will create a shortcut on your launcher for it like an app . Or if your use chrome use its add to home screen option to install . (Make sure to have latest version of chrome ) .

Also , there's a PWA/website named Appscope that is a repository of all great PWA apps available find instagram there .

If you're unable to understand it via my words please try to google / search the term and get answers .

>Seems like a worse experience than most app stores to me.

Most app stores have junk apps, user is kinda expected to pick out good stuff, unfortunatelly.

This one is clearly malfunctioning and probably should be removed from the store altogether. If you look at "Features", it gets only 50% audit, does not work offline, and is not installable. I'm surprised it even shows up on the app store.

If you want to try a decent app, try something from top list: https://appsco.pe/toplist

>I still don’t understand how they’re different from regular tabs

That's the thing: they usually don't have a tab strip or other browser UI around them.

PWAs are just regular web apps which have an "installation" and "deletion" workflows and are have extra bits for deep integrated into the OS like a native app. The point is, regular user woun't be able to distinguish a good PWA from a native app. Here is an "app store" which has only PWAs in it.

I rarely see any instant apps out there. The last one I remember seeing was Vimeo. I guess everyone focused on Progressive Web Apps (PWA) in my opinion which made instant apps redundant since it's easier to use and available for everyone through using web browser without any additional settings.

Take a look at Appscope and see what all PWAs are out there.

• PWAs cannot access all native APIs
• Mobile apps are much snappier and feel smoother
• May get different behavior on different browsers

Another thing I've realized (not sure how true it is), but most people either don't want to "add the website to their homescreen" or don't know that the feature exists. I honestly think the wording should change to something on the lines of "Install web app" or just "Install app".

Around a year ago, I built a PWA that worked completely offline. When you added it to your home screen, it looked pretty indistinguishable from a native app (apart from animations) on Android. But my users still asked "Where is the app?" I ended up building the app (with Flutter), and people just liked it better.

About stores, you can upload your PWA as an app (see this video). There are also some PWA app stores such as https://appsco.pe/. A huge advantage PWAs have is that you just have to send people a URL, that's it. But can also be a problem because unless they do add it to their home screen as an app, they may not use it again

Not exactly what you asked but if you cast your device (say, phone) with it running Spotify, then Lyricfy works. Try these links from Chrome...

https://appsco.pe/app/lyricfy https://appsco.pe/category/music

Spotify's better run native to the Chromecast device such that the previous redditors recs are better tho.

P.S. the Spotify on my phone is the PWA version, which I also recommend

There is a option with progressive web application (PWA), which looks pretty good and you are able to put them like native apps on your desktop, without seeing browser input-panel. Some PWAs feel just like native ones. Try LittleAlchemy, for example -- open it with Chrome on Android and there will be an option (on clicking 3 dots) to add it on the main screen.

I am also trying to implement PWA with my web pet project (plusminus.me). It's written with Clojure completely, you can check the source code on github if you want.

Using javascript, you can prompt the user to install your PWA. This works on Chrome Android and Desktop (Windows and MacOS). They should continue adding some missing features. For example, on MacOS, the swipe back gesture doesn't work.

There are a few PWAppstores, here's one: https://appsco.pe/