It is a limitation of a PWA. A native app (wrapper) will likely be coming though, and a custom Capacitor plugin could theoretically interface with the native API to switch out icons. Theoretically. No promises though :)

Quoting this comment by the dev

  • Fluid@aussie.zone
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    1 year ago

    I don’t understand why some users really want a native app? A webapp is better in almost everyway. You don’t need to build and maintain multiple pieces of software, it just works across multiple devices and configurations. You don’t have to install and give permissions to yet another piece of software on your device, creating yet another vulnerability. It’s like asking for betamax when DVDs exist. What’s a benefit of doing so, just that in comes up in the app store when searching?

    • body_by_make@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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      1 year ago

      With a capacitor app it can be both a PWA and a native app from the same code base. This wouldn’t take away, only add possible functionality for those who choose to install it natively.

      There’s a lot of native functionality that a PWA cannot access, like app icon changing, certain gestures that Apollo took advantage of (tapping on the top to scroll to the top, for one), and some other things that have been requested.

    • Dark Arc@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Well… Part of that is just that web apps have much worse efficiency and performance compared to native apps. That’s not to say their performance and efficiency is bad, but a native app will beat a web app everytime. The DOM and JavaScript are just not great models in terms of efficiency and performance.

        • kryllic@programming.dev
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          1 year ago

          In my opinion, it’s been great and feels pretty close to native anyway. Some issues with the screen freezing when trying to scroll after swiping away from a post but other than that, it’s super nice. Plus updates are so quick to install, really like that too.

        • BURN@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          Problematic

          I get lots of random freezes, actions not registering, etc

          Doesn’t make it unuseable, but it’s not a great experience

            • ryo@lemmy.eco.br
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              1 year ago

              The main issue is Safari, bugs in webkit bog everything down. And iOS is stuck with it.

            • BURN@lemmy.world
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              1 year ago

              No browser as far as I know. I installed the PWA and haven’t touched anything else.

              I’m on iOS exclusively with no plans to use a desktop interface

        • Dark Arc@lemmy.world
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          1 year ago

          I think it’s acceptable, though I am working on my own … for now experimental … Lemmy client in C++/Qt/QML … maybe eventually for desktop and mobile devices alike :)

    • Pleonasm@programming.dev
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      The user experience is nicer as a native app, if done right. With a PWA, you have to deal with anything crappy that the browser inflicts on you, and the developer largely can’t do anything about it. For example, Chrome sometimes just crashes or freezes entirely on me, which means Voyager can too.

      See elsewhere in this thread for examples of little things that stem solely from being a PWA .

      Don’t get me wrong, I think Voyager is great for a PWA and it probably gets a lot of value out of being a PWA making it easier for people to contribute. But it’s just not as good as native for me.

    • LazaroFilm@lemmy.world
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      1 year ago

      Most native apps are still JS in an app. Memmy is React for instance. So WefWef would be offered as both.

      • Fluid@aussie.zone
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        1 year ago

        I hadn’t no, but that’s cool! I’m not a developer, but seems like a useful tool.

    • Cloudless ☼@feddit.uk
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      1 year ago

      Many people have not heard of web apps, they do not know how to find or install web apps.

      Most of them are more familiar with the app stores. They are more comfortable using what they are familiar with. They might have been using the app store since the original Angry Bird was released.

      It is good to have choices.

      • fer0n@lemm.eeOP
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        1 year ago

        Yes, I think even if it’s just a wrapper and nothing else changes other than the app being in the App Store, that’s probably worth it because you’d get more users.

  • Frog@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    I like that you can develop for both iOS and Android at the same time. And no need to verify every update towards the store.

  • puppy@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Voyager is perfect as is. Lightning fast to get updates, don’t need to be at the mercy of Apple or Google to get into the official stores. And less work for the developers to publish a new version.

    As users you don’t perceive a difference. A native app in theory could cause your system to be vulnerable if a bug exists.

    Because of the above reasons I’d really like Voyager to remain a PWA.

    • Ilikecheese@lemm.ee
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      Voyager is perfect as is.

      Except for the scrolling issue on iOS. If they don’t figure out a way to resolve that, I don’t care how many features they keep adding, I’m out. I’ve been tolerating it so far, and everybody keeps hand waving it away with “it’s a limitation of safari” and “all you have to do is not touch the screen for a second and it works like normal”. Uhh…no. This needs to be fixed. Once people have multiple other options, that don’t have this hindrance, (and honestly, I think we’re probably well past that point already) I can’t imagine too many people wanting to use this app vs literally any other choice.

        • Ilikecheese@lemm.ee
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          Every minute or so the app just refuses to scroll at all. The screen freezes up and nothing happens. The only solution is to sit and wait for a second without touching the screen until it decides to work properly again.

          It’s borderline unusable, and I can’t fathom how so many people experience it and just tolerate it. I’ve just filed it under “Lemmy as a whole is new and kind of janky and it will eventually improve” but it’s starting to get to the point where it needs to be fixed or people will abandon this app for one that doesn’t have that problem.

          • djc0@lemmy.world
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            1 year ago

            Ug that sucks.

            For the data point, I don’t have that issue. Not sure what the difference is. I’m using an iPhone 12 mini and iOS updated to the latest. Voyager works really well for me. Remarkably well.

            Clearly it’s a problem many are having based on the upvotes. Hope it can be fixed.

          • bufordt@sh.itjust.works
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            1 year ago

            So what you’re saying is Apple sucks at programming, so you want voyager to make an iOS app?

            • Ilikecheese@lemm.ee
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              I’m didn’t say or imply either part of that, but I guess nice try on trying to put words in my mouth for some odd reason.

    • fer0n@lemm.eeOP
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      Nothing is so perfect that it can’t be complained about. Also, voyager definitely has some (admittedly smaller) annoyances that stem from it being a web app.

        • fer0n@lemm.eeOP
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          • scroll-to-top doesn’t work
          • back swipe is unreliable (works 30% of the time)
          • after going back you have to wait a second before you can scroll
          • no app icons packs
          • no haptics
          • text select doesn’t work if you immediately go down since it scrolls the page instead

          Don’t get me wrong, it’s still impressive. But I‘m very aware that it’s a web app and I have to step carefully. These might be small things, but they’re constantly annoying me.

  • gunnm@monero.town
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    Native as just a wrapper with some extra features I guess.

    I see not wrong having both, I think the key of Lemmy’s adoption is how easy is to recommend Lemmy by just pointing to an instance with Voyager locally installed as m.lemmy.world.

    Voyager should still be developed as PWA.

  • Zummy@lemmy.world
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    1 year ago

    Personally, I would like to see a Native App. I get that this PWA makes it easier to develop for both Android and iOS, but there’s something about Native apps that just seem like a better experience to me.

    • fer0n@lemm.eeOP
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      1 year ago

      I think it’s mostly the interactions that feel a lot snappier in native apps

  • fluffy@lemm.ee
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    1 year ago

    Sounds pedantic, but I still wouldn’t call that a “native” app. It’s just a wrapper.

    • fer0n@lemm.eeOP
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      I agree, that’s what the “sort of” stands for. Depending on how the implementation would look like, it might still make some of the small annoyances that I currently have go away (scroll-to-top, back swipe, scrolling hiccup, multiple app icons, haptics, …).