Bring back PWA (progressive web apps)

[brochard]

Progressive Web apps are an important feature of a browser that Firefox is the only one missing.
For some, it can be the reason to switch to another browser.
In other cases like for the Steamdeck, it's what imposed the choice to only include Chrome in the SteamOS interface.
Other problem even for avid Firefox users, since I wanted Social apps on my pc I had to get them on the Microsoft Store which is an Edge PWA that opens every link in an Edge window, making me use this... other browser.

[Jon]

(Note: similar ideas have been merged into this thread)

[MAK01]

I would like to see PWA support return to Firefox, as a PWA user and developer who uses Firefox as a daily driver.

[Waytoogo]

I am still using Edge, because Firefox does not have PWA support. I wish I could use Firefox but Mozilla refuses to listen to their users. All the things people want put into Firefox, have been in review for almost 2 years. I give up, Firefox is dead.

[gregzme]

I have to use Chrome at work because of the lack of PWAs, and the work around options are not acceptable.

[rogue-agent]

PWAs were the reason I moved to Firefox among other things. There exists a PWA extension that requires you to install some things likewise with having Firefox being able to connect to TOR. But both of these are ridiculously hard to install on Linux.

I use PWAs at work all the time. I can separate email and communications into their own windows so if I accidentally close the browser I can still have these open. I have a 1171 tabs and I don't always want to open all of them just because I need to open up a forum. Mozilla forces me to use another browser alongside, and that is Edge.

[Nomis]

Firefox needs robust Progressive Web App (PWA) support to:

• Enhance user experience with seamless, app-like web interactions
• Maintain technological competitiveness with other modern browsers
• Support developers' growing preference for cross-platform web applications
• Uphold Mozilla's mission of an open, accessible web

PWAs offer offline functionality, faster performance, and reduced installation friction. By implementing comprehensive PWA support, Firefox can:

1. Attract more developers
2. Improve user engagement
3. Demonstrate commitment to cutting-edge web technologies

The web is evolving. Firefox should lead, not follow.

[Mneimeyer]

This has been open forever. Please Firefox devs make it possible. I'm so tired of needing to install Electron based apps that are just Chromium+WebPage and suck up resources.

It's not just "bookmarks with extra steps". So much stuff is moving online either actually or, like electron, virtually. Let ME control what browser I use to run these apps in.

[esat-karakaya]

I cannot fully switch to firefox because of this. What's more is that links on chromium pwa's direct back to the chromium browser and I can't just copy and paste the link back to firefox every single time

[ZenoArrow]

Although I have advocated for PWA in Firefox in the past, I would like to suggest we ease up on the pressure on the Firefox team. In case you didn't know, there's a genuine risk that Mozilla will be losing their main source of funding next year, and so the Firefox developers may be more focused on what to do if they lost their jobs. I'd like to see PWA make it into Firefox, but I also understand that it's harder to focus on big projects when your job security is uncertain.

[rogue-agent]

No, you seem to forget that this has been a request since they removed it. They've had enough to make it happen. Their failure is their making. What else would they be doing if not ideas from the list? Not like there is a massive CVE every day.

Now in the future we get wasm applications that would benefit a lot from PWAs as Edge and Chrome run laps around FF.

[ZenoArrow]

@rogue-agentDo you think complaining about it without understanding the wider context will make it happen any faster? It doesn't give me any pleasure to see that the future of Firefox is uncertain.

[pk24]

This is the only thing stopping me from abandoning Edge and Chrome.

[Hyourinmaru]

@MattBCoolAre there any updates regarding Progressive Web Apps in Firefox Desktop/Mobile? Or has Mozilla dropped this completely and will never come back? The status is still "in review" and nothing has changed so far.

[garettmwest]

@HyourinmaruIndeed, even if there's anywhere we can contribute to bringing this back. Donations, Promotions, whatever it takes to let the word be known. Even if its one of the few ways Mozilla can release this sooner, I'm all in on it. It must be embarrassed again!

[MattBCool]

Hi @Hyourinmaru, a couple ways we can support but I'll advocate to deeper discussion and case studies. I'm fully in favor of PWA support and do not work on Firefox directly. Before I joined Mozilla, building a PWA was the only way I could build a solution for thousands of people and to me, PWA's represent freedom from the app stores. I see PWA support (or possibly some feature subset of PWAs) as closely aligned with Mozilla's values of internet freedom in this way. I wrote more on this topic on my personal blog: https://mattcool.tech/posts/escaping-the-app-store-with-progressive-web-apps

Full PWA support is one of the top voted ideas here: https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/ideas/idb-p/ideas/tab/most-kudoed
You can view shipped ideas here: https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/ideas/idb-p/ideas/status-key/delivered/tab/most-kudoed

I think @garettmwest's question of how they can contribute to this end is a good one I'd like to forward along to the Firefox team instead of demanding timelines. Making compelling cases for full PWA support in Firefox and sharing them is a good step for us to take. While these changes can take time, we can proactively make our cases in a constructive manner with good faith. Keep in mind how complex this request is, the difficulty in balancing competing priorities, and manage your expectations.

The beauty of open source is we get to do this together. People will disagree and it takes time/energy but this is a part of living our shared values in creating an internet that catalyzes collaboration among diverse communities working together for the common good.

Encourage others to share more specifics and share their individual case with more details like I did here.