Harrison 
Two new and exciting techniques have become popular in web development in recent years: JAMStack and Progressive Web Apps (PWA).
Both of these methodologies offer unique advantages in building modern web applications and are particularly influential in the field of custom e-commerce web development.
However, there are emerging trends in the e-commerce space that suggest JAMStack could be a powerful alternative to PWAs.
In this article, we dive into the characteristics of both approaches, explore the strengths of JAMStack, and learn why JAMStack is becoming a valuable alternative to PWAs for e-commerce platforms.
What is a progressive web app?
Progressive web apps (PWA) represent a web development approach that combines the best of two worlds: regular websites and native mobile applications.
PWAs provide users with a smooth, fast, and engaging experience no matter what device they’re using or the quality of their internet connection.
The main characteristics and components that define a progressive web app are:
- responsive design: PWAs use responsive design principles. This means it will adjust and look great on a variety of devices, including desktops, tablets, and smartphones.
- App-like experience: PWAs provide an app-like experience to users. This includes features such as smooth animations, gestures, and user interactions that resemble native mobile applications.
- offline access: One of the most amazing features of PWAs is their ability to work offline or in low network conditions. This is accomplished through service workers that run in the background and can cache resources such as HTML, CSS, and JavaScript.
- Installation and home screen access: PWAs can be installed on users’ devices just like regular apps. If the user visits her PWA frequently, she will be prompted to add the PWA to her home screen without downloading and installing the app from the app store.
- fast loading times: PWAs load quickly, reducing user latency. This is possible through the use of techniques such as caching, resource optimization, and content preloading.
- Push Notification: Similar to native apps, PWAs can send push notifications to users’ devices, allowing businesses to interact with users even when they’re not using the app.
- safety: PWAs are served over HTTPS by default, providing a secure connection and protecting user data.
- ability to find: PWAs are easily found on search engines and can be accessed through web searches. This improves visibility and accessibility for users.
- App Store independent: Unlike regular mobile apps, PWAs bypass the app store submission process. This process is often time-consuming and may require approval.
- Cross-browser compatibility: PWAs are built to work with a variety of web browsers, allowing users to access your app regardless of their preferred browser.
What is JAMStack?
JAMstack stands for JavaScript, API, and Markup and represents a modern web development architecture.
It’s a way to separate the front end and back end of a web app for speed, safety, and developer experience.
Here is a list of the main components and principles of JAMStack:
- JavaScript: JavaScript serves as the primary programming language for building dynamic interactions on the client side. Responsible for handling user interactions, real-time updates, and creating responsive user interfaces.
- API (Application Programming Interface): API provides backend functionality. Instead of generating content on the server and sending it to the client, use APIs to retrieve data from a database or external service. This separation provides greater flexibility and scalability.
- markup: Markup refers to HTML files that are pre-built during the build process. These files contain the content and structure of your website. Because they are pre-rendered, they can be served directly from a content delivery network (CDN), reducing load times.
The main principles of the JAMStack architecture include:
- pre-rendering: JAMStack focuses on creating static files (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) before users request them. These files are served to the user, which avoids a lot of work on the server and speeds up processing.
- CDN (Content Delivery Network): JAMStack sites use CDNs to place content on servers around the world. This allows users to retrieve content from nearby servers without delay, resulting in faster processing.
- microservices: JAMStack facilitates the use of microservices, where different parts of an application are divided into smaller manageable services. This allows web developers to use specialized tools for each task and easily replace or upgrade components without disrupting the entire application.
- Scalability: JAMStack allows you to easily extend different parts of your website by separating front-end and back-end components. This is especially beneficial for websites with varying levels of traffic and demand.
- safety: JAMStack improves security by reducing server-side processing and focusing on pre-rendered content, minimizing attack surface and reducing exposure to common server-side issues. improve.
- Developer experience: The JAMStack architecture simplifies development and collaboration by allowing front-end and back-end developers to work independently. This separation of concerns also simplifies version control, testing, and debugging.
Difference between JAMStack and PWA
JAMStack and PWA both aim to improve the user experience, but they approach this goal from different angles. Let’s take a look at the main differences between these two approaches.
Architecture and execution
PWAs focus on creating an app-like experience within a web browser. Relies on service workers to cache resources and facilitate offline access.
The JAMStack architecture, on the other hand, separates front-end and back-end functionality and is centered around separation of concerns. This separation improves scalability, reduces load times, and improves security.
offline access
PWAs are great at providing offline access through service workers. Users can continue to interact with the app even without an active internet connection.
In contrast, JAMStack websites can also provide limited offline functionality by pre-rendering content, but dynamic functionality may be limited when offline.
development complexity
PWAs often require more complex development to handle different device types, network conditions, and caching strategies.
JAMStack development is facilitated with APIs for static site generation and dynamic functionality. This results in a cleaner codebase, easier maintenance, and faster development cycles.
dynamic and static
PWAs include dynamic elements that are processed client-side using JavaScript.
JAMStack, on the other hand, focuses on creating static content whenever possible, minimizing the need for client-side processing and improving performance.
data security
The JAMStack architecture provides better security by reducing the attack surface and minimizing the need for traditional server-side vulnerabilities.
PWAs rely on a combination of client-side and server-side code, which can increase the attack surface.
Advantages of JAMStack in e-commerce
The JAMStack approach has several advantages that make it an attractive option, especially for e-commerce platforms.
speed and performance
JAMStack sites are famous for their incredible speed and performance. Pre-rendered static content and optimized APIs significantly reduce load times.
This speed is critical for e-commerce platforms where users expect quick access to products and a smooth checkout process.
Scalability
The decoupled nature of the JAMStack architecture improves scalability. As traffic to your e-commerce site increases, it becomes more manageable to scale up the front end and back end separately. This is essential during peak shopping seasons or sudden spikes in traffic.
safety
Security is an essential concern as e-commerce platforms handle sensitive customer data and financial transactions.
JAMStack’s separation of concerns and reduced reliance on server-side processing reduces many common security risks associated with traditional web development approaches.
Simplified maintenance
Separating front-end and back-end components simplifies maintenance. You can also update the frontend without impacting the backend, and vice versa. This separation makes it easier to find, fix, and test problems.
Cost-effectiveness
JAMStack websites can often be hosted using a content delivery network (CDN), reducing the need for expensive server infrastructure. This can save a lot of money on your budget, especially for small e-commerce businesses.
conclusion
Progressive web apps (PWAs) have long been praised for their ability to provide app-like interactions on the web, but JAMStack presents a compelling alternative.
Its focus on performance, security, scalability, customization, and ease of maintenance positions it as a strong option for e-commerce platforms looking to provide a smooth and engaging online shopping experience.
As technology continues to evolve, you can leverage the potential of JAMStack to revolutionize e-commerce and drive greater results.
Interested in transforming your e-commerce platform with JAMStack? Contact SCAND today to harness the potential of this innovative technology for your business. contact us today.
