Yes, PWA Will Kill UWP. It’s OK (Premium)

Microsoft can't say this, of course. But it is clear that the introduction of PWA to Windows 10 and the Microsoft Store in Redstone 4 will effectively kill off the firm's native UWP efforts.

But don't take my word for it. Even Microsoft is subtly nudging developers---who, by the way, have universally ignored UWP---to PWA instead.

"For developers who are building a fully-tailored UWP experience, building from the ground up with native technologies may make the most sense," a new post to the Microsoft Edge Developer blog notes.

Again, no one is doing this. No, not literally. But effectively no one.

"For developers who want to tailor an existing web codebase to Windows 10, or provide a first-class cross-platform experience with native capabilities and enhancements, PWA provides an on-ramp to the Universal Windows Platform that doesn’t require demoting or forking existing web resources."

In other words, PWA is the right choice. For most developers, it is the only choice that makes any sense. And that's because no serious developer would ever create a Windows 10-only app today. What they would create---what they want to create---is an app that can run anywhere, including more popular platforms like Android, iOS, and the web---and still have native features on all platforms. It's a no-brainer.

Yes, there will always be exceptions, like games. And Microsoft is right that choosing PWA or UWP should be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. But isn't it fascinating---and telling---that PWA, which isn't even available in Windows 10 yet, is already considered a completely viable alternative to a native apps platform that Microsoft first started promoting 7 years ago ahead of the release of Windows 8? Think about.

I've said it before. And I've said it again. PWA is the future. And it is happening soon on Windows 10.

On that note, if you haven't done so or need a quick refresher, be sure to check out Microsoft’s Bold Plan to Bring PWAs to Windows 10. This is a big deal.

 

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