NitrovenomApr 20, 2024
Sylvia

I really don't understand Lite apps.

Your app is slow and way too big because you never cared about usability on slower devices or saving storage. Clearly you do not have a methodology to develop thoughtfully.

So, instead of starting to clean up your app and ensure more care in the future you... write a second app? Now you have 2 codebases to maintain, effectively doubling the maintenance costs. And if you still have no methodology the Lite app will eventually meet the same fate too.

Why?

Apr 20, 2024 at 8:37amWeb
Show threadTomApr 20, 2024
@SylvieLorxu Same core but with removed unnecessary functionalities, that are build like plug-in, it's mainly the same codebase with just a different build configuration.
Show threadSylviaApr 20, 2024

@tdelmas Android build flavours would indeed be a somewhat logical way to make a Lite version (although often the "Lite" version is a PWA instead).

Still I would argue in most cases releasing a second version of your app that "removes unnecessary functionality" makes little sense (if almost nobody needs the feature, it shouldn't be there by default).

It also just confuses your users, how will most people know if they want regular or Lite? Or even that Lite exists if the app is slow?

Show threadTomApr 20, 2024
@SylvieLorxu Lite apps do help people with low end devices
Show threadTomApr 20, 2024
@SylvieLorxu The normal app is fast on high end device, but may be too slow on low ones
Show threadAndy Warburton ❌❌❌Apr 20, 2024
@SylvieLorxu every lite app I’ve ever seen has been abandoned after about a year anyway due to low engagement (likely resulting from the crappy user experience)
Show threadSylviaApr 20, 2024

@andy_warb It's the logical result, yeah.

1.You create 2 versions of your app
2. You market only one properly (most users will never know about the Lite version), causing the app to have less users
3. The Lite version has less users and thus gets less development priority
4. The Lite version suffers from more issues because there is less development
5. Users stop using the app because of the issues
6. Repeat step 3 -> 5 until app death

Show threadCyastisApr 20, 2024
@SylvieLorxu It's hard because full rewrites are even more costly and may never come to fruition either... I would personally prefer developers solely focusing on feature limited lite apps (with web versions/pages as necessary)
Show threaddacmot has movedApr 20, 2024
@SylvieLorxu That is a curious practice. I've only encountered it twice though: Fdroid basic, and Facebook Messenger lite (abandoned). I would be interested in learning about more FOSS and proprietary examples.