Introduction
In layman's terms, Progressive Web Application (PWA) is a type of application software that is easily installable directly via the web browser, that offers a native-like app experience to end users regardless of device variants.
PWA promises many key capabilities as compared to regular web applications, such as:
- Works in any network conditions, including offline
- Responsive web design
- Compatible with any device and screen dimension
- Background Sync
- Smooth app interactions
- Native-like app UI/UX
- Web push notifications
- and so much more...
Read here for full details about PWA and its benefits: https://developers.google.com/web/updates/2015/12/getting-started-pwa
Since Joget DX 7, Joget applications have supported PWA capabilities by default.
Installing an app
Joget allows users to easily install apps into mobile devices through compatible browsers.
Compatibility
| Feature / Device | Chrome Browser on Android | Chrome Browser on iOS | Safari Browser on iOS | Joget Mobile App on Android | Joget Mobile App on iOS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PWA Offline Storage and Sync | Yes (15 May 2020, Android 9) | No (15 May 2020, iOS 13.1.2 iPhone X) | Yes (15 May 2020, iOS 13.1.2 iPhone X) | Yes | Not Supported |
| PWA Push Notification | Yes (15 May 2020, Android 9) | No (15 May 2020, iOS 13.1.2 iPhone X) | No (15 May 2020, iOS 13.1.2 iPhone X) | Not Applicable | Not Applicable |
| Native App Push Notification | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Not Applicable | Yes | Yes |
Send Notifications
If you require sending notifications to Joget PWA users, you can use these plugins to do so:
- Push Notification Tool Plugin as a Process Tool in the Joget Marketplace.
- User Notification Audit Trail Plugin in Plugin Default Properties in app properties.
- User Notification (Customizable) Audit Trail Plugin as Plugin Default Properties in the Joget Marketplace. (This plugin allows per-activity customization)
PWA Properties
Most UI menus support offline caching.
To configure them, you can directly edit the UI menu, or via the Builder Advanced Tools in the UI builder.
1. Select Advanced Tools in the UI builder.
2. Edit the UI menu you wish to configure PWA settings for.
3. Scroll down the Properties to select "Performance & Offline" tab, and you can configure PWA offline settings here.
Edit PWA Offline Settings
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Enable cache for offline support | This option allows users to cache for offline support for UI elements. Scope: Available in all UI Menu |
| Cache list actions (Non POST action) | This option allows users to cache list actions but it does not include any POST actions. Scope: Only available in UI Menu that makes use of List such as CRUD, List, List Inbox Example of what will be cached: 1. New Button in CRUD Example of what will NOT be cached: 1. Delete Button in CRUD 2. JDBC List Action in List / CRUD |
| Cache all list links in first page | This option allows users to cache all links found on the first page of the List links when they are offline. (i.e. Hyperlink List Action) Scope: Only available in UI Menu that makes use of List such as CRUD, List, List Inbox Example of what will be cached: 1. Hyperlink List Action in List / CRUD |
Progressive Web App (PWA) Settings
Users can access this setting by going through the "Properties" tab in the UI builder.
1. Click on Properties and then click on Theme.
2. Click on Progressive Web Application (PWA) Settings.
Progressive Web App (PWA) Settings
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
Disable Progressive Web App (PWA) Support | If checked, this will disable PWA support for the current app. |
| Disable Web Push Notifications | If checked, this will disable Web Push Notifications. |
| Additional URLs to Cache | This option allows users to cache additional URL(s) that is relative to the Context Root. |