Progressive Web Apps, or PWAs, are likely the biggest trend in mobile development at the moment. They revolutionized how both customers and businesses think of a mobile app and significantly streamlined mobile app development.
But what exactly is a PWA, why is it used by the biggest IT players, and how to have one developed? We cover all this and more in our guide below. After reading it, you will know exactly how to hire PWA developers and understand why hiring them should be your number one priority.
Why should you invest in PWA development?
In short, PWAs are web apps that feel like native mobile apps, even though they are accessed via a mobile browser. This brings several advantages, such as…
- No more downloads. PWAs are not downloaded from the App Store or Google Play — and it’s a great thing. Already back in 2014, there were reports that users don’t want to download mobile apps — and this is true also today. PWAs makes it, therefore, easier to reach customers with your product.
- As PWAs are not published in official app stores, you don’t need to go through their approval process or pay a license fee.
- Despite being browser-based, progressive web apps can still be added to the user’s home screen and utilize most functionalities that a native app offers, such as push notifications. They can even work offline!
- PWAs don’t have to be built with a platform-native technology (like Swift for iOS) but more common web languages. This makes them often a cheaper solution.
- Talented PWA developers can turn virtually any web app into a progressive web app.
- PWAs are lightweight — meaning they run fast.
- PWAs are responsive — they will fit every device and screen.
- PWAs are easily searchable in Google, making your product more visible to customers.
Progressive web apps are now the first choice not only for companies with new digital products but also for those who already have established a significant mobile presence. Twitter is the best example — although they do have a native mobile app, they saw a significant spike of interest after their PWA has launched (65% increase in pages per session, 75% increase in Tweets sent, 20% decrease in bounce rate). The company has become one of the digital innovators leading the world towards PWAs, alongside other IT giants like Facebook and Alibaba.
Who are PWA developers? What technical skills should they have?
When you want to hire PWA developers, you must remember that progressive web apps haven’t been a thing just a few years back. This means that many of your candidates might have extensive experience in web development and only a year or two with PWAs. That shouldn’t worry you too much though — as building PWAs should be a considered a specialty within web development and not a completely separate discipline (unlike native mobile app development).
What technical skillset should you then look for when you want to hire PWA developers?
- Knowledge of relevant languages
One of the biggest advantages of PWAs is the fact that their development doesn’t require the use of native mobile technologies forced by Apple and Google. Instead of Swift (iOS) or Kotlin (Android), PWA developers can utilize more popular web technologies. When it comes to the front-end, this will most likely be the combination of HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. On the back-end, there are more possibilities, including Java, Python, PHP, Ruby, and others.
If you already have a web app and are now just expanding it into a progressive web app, remember to hire PWA developers experienced in the languages that you’re already using.
- Proficiency with relevant frameworks
Just like with languages, virtually any popular framework can be used for PWA development. And once again, remember to consider the frameworks you are currently using if there are any. Popular choices of front-end frameworks include React, Angular, and Vue, while the back-end is most often built using technologies like Node.js (with Express or another framework), Laravel, or Django.
- Experience with PWA-focused tools
Although PWA developers utilize mostly standard web development technologies and techniques, there are also multiple tools built specifically with PWAs in mind. Some of the more popular ones are Microsoft’s PWABuilder and Google’s Bubblewrap. They make PWA development easier and even more efficient.
- Understanding of design best practices
Even if your website’s design is prepared by a separate web or mobile designer, its implementation is done by a PWA developer. As PWAs must be mobile-responsive and fit every possible phone and tablet screen, a PWA developer must understand the exact guidelines that both them and designers should follow when preparing a design tailored to your PWA.
The role of soft skills in PWA development
The above set of technical skills is a prerequisite that you should never forget about when hiring PWA developers. But you should also never undermine the value of soft skills. While these might be sometimes more difficult to assess, they can truly boost up your development process by affecting all people involved in it.
When you hire PWA developers, look for candidates who are especially strong in…
- Time management
To find spots on the calendar for all the tasks that a PWA developer must handle daily — from modifying the front-end to optimizing the back-end to continuous troubleshooting.
- Researching
To always be on top of the most recent solutions that can make PWA development even more efficient —as progressive web app development is still a relatively new niche, there is still a lot to improve and discover.
- Understanding the customer
To be able to look at the app from a perspective of a non-techie rather than a tech-savvy developer — small problems might be otherwise hard to detect, negatively impacting the user-friendliness of the app.
How to hire a PWA developer who truly fits your business?
When you want to hire a PWA developer, never forget about considering the company fit. The more you and your new hire match, the better results you will get — and in a shorter time, too.
Focus on the following three main areas of the company fit:
- Project fit
While every experienced PWA developer can in the end build the app you want, the more tailored your choice, the smoother the process will go. Hire PWA developers who are specialized in your product niche — for example, hire an e-commerce specialist when you are building an online store or marketplace.
- Industry fit
Understanding the target customer is a crucial step to building a successful app. Hire PWA developers with previous experience with companies in your industry to have on board a professional who knows what are the struggles on your market and how to overcome them.
- Company culture fit
Guarantee smooth cooperation between your teams. Whoever you are hiring, review how well they fit your business culture. Think of the values that drive your company, such as a focus on diverse teams, style of management, or the type of work environment you have established (startup vs corporation).
Who else you may need to make your PWA popular?
Talented PWA developers can guarantee that your web app will run smoothly on any possible device and you won’t need a native mobile app developed to satisfy your customers’ needs. But there is more than just the technical side that makes PWA accessible and popular. Consider hiring other experts, like web designers and/or mobile designers, UI/UX designers, and even data scientists or IT project managers. They all can help you reach new heights and leverage the potential of progressive web apps.
How to hire PWA developers and other IT experts fast? Make use of the unique network of talents we’ve established at Ideamotive. After you get in touch with us, we’ll connect you with the IT specialists you are looking for, making sure they fit your exact requirements.
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