If you are running a business, then you must offer apps to your customers to access your services. Instead of investing on mobile apps, PWAs or Progressive Web Apps are a better option. They are cheaper to create and can work on a website just like an app. Their many advantages have led them to be very popular. If you are thinking of building a PWA, then this guide will help you.

Step-By-Step guide to build a PWA

To get started, there are some prerequisites:

  1. You will need a tool like Visual Studio Code to help you work with the PWA’s source code.
  2. You will, of course, need a web browser.
  3. Js and Node package manager are tools that you need.

Here is a step-by-step guide telling you what to do:

  • Build the PWA by creating an app. You can use an appropriate web development framework to make your work easy.
  • The app should have a proper starting screen and a user-friendly interface. You will need to have a working knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, etc.
  • Once the app is ready, you must create a JSON file. The file provides metadata about your app and is known as the manifest file. Creating this file ensures your app can be installed on the device belonging to the user, so they can launch it easily.
  • You then need a service worker. It is a JavaScript file that works in the background of the device. The service workers allow your PWA to run offline and manage push notifications. Various tools are available like Workbox that you can use to create the service worker.
  • Now that your PWA is ready, you need to test it. Use a browser to test the app. You can use tools like Lighthouse that tells you how well your PWA has been designed and assigns it a score. The benefit of using such a tool is that it allows you to create a PWA as per industry best practices. You can find out areas for improvement, so your users will be satisfied with your PWA.
  • You can test and perfect your RWA. You are then ready to deploy it. A web server is needed for this. Use a hosting service like Firebase or Github for free hosting.
  • Once your app is hosted, share its links with users and get going.

Building a PWA is not difficult. Follow this guide to do it and engage better with your users. Thank you for your interest in Bahaa Al Zubaidi blogs. For more information, please visit www.bahaaalzubaidi.com