Apple may integrate Service Workers into WebKit, support next-gen web apps in Safari

Apple this week began work toward integrating Service Workers, an API that lets browsers run background scripts, into WebKit, suggesting the company might one day support a form of next-generation web app in iOS.

Apple quietly revealed work on the technology in an update to its WebKit Feature Status webpage this week, which now shows Service Workers as "In Development," reports The Register.

As noted by Fortune, which also reported on the change, Service Workers comprise part of a larger Google-backed web technology initiative that allows developers to build specialized software known as Progressive Web Apps.

Unlike traditional iOS apps, web applications powered by Service Workers and other related APIs do not require downloads. In theory, PWAs allow browser-based apps to effectively compete with native software. Users need only direct their browser to a supported website to use said apps, links to which can be added to mobile OS home screens for easy access. The browser-based apps also support push notifications.

Service Workers allow PWAs to operate without a network connection by fetching cached content. The API also improves discoverability in search engines.

As an internet advertising company, Google is championing the effort for obvious reasons, but others have hopped on board as well. Internet browser developers Mozilla and Opera are also working on the solution, while Microsoft pledged support in May.

If they gain momentum, PWAs could mark a significant rethinking in how consumers interact with apps. Users would no longer be required to download or update software from dedicated repositories like the iOS App Store, while developers would only need to build a single app version, rather than one for each operating system.

PWAs shift power from the OS to the browser.

Whether Apple plans to incorporate PWA technology into a future version of Safari remains unclear, but the company is clearly investigating potential integrations. Aside from the recent announcement, Apple has remained expectedly quiet about its plans for Service Workers.

9 Comments

vannygee 7 Years · 61 comments

About 7 years ago

PWAs are the future of the web and Apple is already ahead of the game in comparison to Google, without explicitly working on it, with features as simple as uploading files. If Apple really brings out the true potential of PWAs then we should see a decline in native app usage where Apple gets that nifty 30%

tjwolf 12 Years · 423 comments

“...while developers would only need to build a single app version...” - sounds a lot like the signed Java applets of yore. And just as with that technology, this one will bring with it massive opportunities for security issues.

Apple has done a pretty good job keeping the app store curated and free of malware. I don’t see how curation is possible in this brave new world. Obviously Android users don’t have much to lose - they’re already used to the wild west - but for iPhone owners, this seems like a step back.

slprescott 10 Years · 759 comments

Isn't this just a resurgence of thin-client -- I.e., browser based apps that were gaining popularity until Apple introduced the App Store in ~ 2008 and got everyone to fall back in love with thick-client apps?

mattinoz 9 Years · 2488 comments

vannygee said:

PWAs are the future of the web and Apple is already ahead of the game in comparison to Google, without explicitly working on it, with features as simple as uploading files. If Apple really brings out the true potential of PWAs then we should see a decline in native app usage where Apple gets that nifty 30%

Wouldn’t this mostly effect free apps with little utility beyond the website anyway?
which in turn let’s them better distinguish the value of native apps that really need to be native and push the price of those up?

at the same time they say introduced the iCloud store that brought these apps together in one spot and synced them across the customers devices that could have all the stickiness of the current platform at lower cost and better revenue.

macplusplus 9 Years · 2116 comments

Curb your enthusiasm, AI... That's not what you think. They're just trying to give the Web a more civilized aspect, that's all. That has nothing to do with shifting the power "from the OS to the browser". Within that jungle of trackers, ads, ad blockers and adware called "Web technologies", such efforts may be needed from time to time to clean-up things.