Twitter launches faster Lite version

Offering a much lighter experience for users on slow mobile networks or with data plan or storage concerns, Twitter has launched a new mobile site. Dubbed Twitter Lite, the new site provides streamlined access that potentially could save up to 70 percent on data use. Its focus is on emerging markets with limited internet access or capabilities, but with its improved load times, it poses a great option for those wanting a speedier Twitter.

The launch follows on the heels of similar recent releases from other networks including Facebook Lite and YouTube Go . Different from those, Twitter Lite is a Progressive Web App. There's no need to install anything, it simply runs through your browser. But it feels like an installed app, with push notifications, one-tap home screen access and auto-updates. It's also designed for offline use so you won't be interrupted if internet access drops.

For developers, Twitter's also posted some info about the app's development. It's built around open-source software starting with Node.js on the server side and React on the client site. Code is written in modern JavaScript and compiled with Babel . API response data is processed by Normalizr then sent to various Redux.js modules. There are more details offered but these are just some of the resources that can help budding developers looking to create something similar.

More about the development here: https://blog.twitter.com/2017/how-we-built-twitter-lite

Official news here: https://blog.twitter.com/2017/introducing-twitter-lite

For more info about Progressive Web Apps: https://developers.google.com/web/progressive-web-apps/