develop A brand

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

develop A brand

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

develop A brand

Progressive Web Apps (PWAs)

Setting up a Progressive Web Application (PWA) primarily involves creating two key files: a Web App Manifest and a Service Worker. These files allow your website to be "installable" on a user's device and work offline.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to convert a basic website into a PWA.

The Core Components

A PWA has two essential building blocks:

  1. Web App Manifest (manifest.json): A JSON file that tells the browser about your application—its name, icon, start URL, and theme colors. This is what enables the "Add to Home Screen" or "Install" prompt.

  2. Service Worker (sw.js): A JavaScript file that runs in the background, separate from your web page. It acts as a proxy between the browser and the network, enabling features like offline access by intercepting requests and serving cached assets.


Prerequisite: Your site must be served over HTTPS. Service workers have the power to intercept and modify network requests, so a secure connection is mandatory for security. (For local development, localhost is considered a secure origin).

Step 1: Create the Web App Manifest

First, create a file named manifest.json in the root directory of your project. This file will define how your app appears and behaves when installed.

manifest.json

{
  "name": "My Awesome PWA",
  "short_name": "AwesomePWA",
  "description": "A simple Progressive Web App example.",
  "start_url": "/",
  "display": "standalone",
  "background_color": "#ffffff",
  "theme_color": "#007bff",
  "icons": [
    {
      "src": "/icons/icon-192x192.png",
      "sizes": "192x192",
      "type": "image/png"
    },
    {
      "src": "/icons/icon-512x512.png",
      "sizes": "512x512",
      "type": "image/png"
    }
  ]
}
{
  "name": "My Awesome PWA",
  "short_name": "AwesomePWA",
  "description": "A simple Progressive Web App example.",
  "start_url": "/",
  "display": "standalone",
  "background_color": "#ffffff",
  "theme_color": "#007bff",
  "icons": [
    {
      "src": "/icons/icon-192x192.png",
      "sizes": "192x192",
      "type": "image/png"
    },
    {
      "src": "/icons/icon-512x512.png",
      "sizes": "512x512",
      "type": "image/png"
    }
  ]
}

Direct Distribution:

  • PWAs can be installed directly from any website through the browser

  • Users visit your website and get a prompt to "Add to Home Screen" or "Install"

  • No app store approval process or fees required

App Store Options: However, you can also distribute PWAs through app stores if you want:

  • Google Play Store: Supports PWAs through Trusted Web Activity (TWA) wrapper

  • Microsoft Store: Has good PWA support

  • Apple App Store: More restrictive - requires additional native wrapper and may need extra functionality

Benefits of Direct Distribution:

  • Instant updates (no app store review delays)

  • No platform fees (typically 15-30%)

  • Cross-platform compatibility

  • Easier A/B testing and feature rollouts

  • Direct relationship with users

Hybrid Approach: Many companies do both - distribute directly via web while also publishing to app stores for discoverability. This gives you the flexibility of web distribution plus the marketing benefits of app store presence.