Creating a fully-featured PWA with React

Getting started with React & Progressier

1. 

   1Sign up to Progressier

   Create a Progressier account, and when asked for how your app was built, select React, then continue to see the tasks required to add Progressier to your existing React app. It usually takes 5 minutes or less.

2. 

   2Add the script tag to your HTML

   Add our manifest/script tag to your HTML template (anywhere in the head). Just place the code snippet provided in the Progressier dashboard right below your Google Analytics script, Google Font links, or other third-party meta tags and stylesheets.

3. 

   3Import our service worker file

   Progressier also provides you with a JavaScript file to use as service worker. If you're using webpack, you likely already have a service worker. You can use importScripts to add our service worker file into your existing SW file.

4. 

   4Install your PWA

   Progressier create an install page for your React PWA (e.g. install.page/covid). This link gives users an easy way to install your app across devices and browsers. Alternatively, your PWA can be made installable directly within the body of your app with our in-app promotion elements.

5. 

   5Send a push notification

   Progressier comes with a complete solution for push notifications. Customize how/when to prompt users to allow notifications, and then notify users right from our dashboard (or with our API). Optionally, you can even connect your own user data to send granular push notifications.

Which PWA features does React support?

Why choose React and Progressier for your PWA?

The framework created by Facebook is the most popular client-side JavaScript framework at the moment. With its reusable components and virtual DOM, React is a great tool for creating complex apps that scale well. It's probably also the best framework for creating PWAs.

By adding Progressier to your existing React app, you get a customizable app manifest that can be modified from a dashboard rather in code, a service worker with more advanced options not available in Workbox, a complete solution for push notifications, best-in-class PWA promotion widgets, always-up-to-date iOS splash screens, and even PWA analytics.

Why not just use the standard React PWA service worker implementation?

The Create React App website provides documentation for making a progressive web app, which includes guidelines for auto-precaching URLs in your production build. However, the default service worker is missing a few things:

• No out-of-the-box logic for push notifications
• It uses Workbox under the hood, which is more complex and has fewer caching options than Progressier.
• No easy way to retry POST requests while offline

Are there any gotchas when creating a PWA with React?

You'll have to make sure to deactivate the caching/offline-first behavior from React to avoid duplication with the functionality provided by Progressier. Also ensure you're not accidentally unregistering the service worker with serviceWorkerRegistration.unregister();.

If you're using Webpack, Gulp, Babel or other JavaScript compilers as part of your deployment process, and if you're using importScripts to import the Progressier service worker into your existing service worker, you may experience an error telling you importScripts is not defined. This usually solves the issue.

Are there differences between React, Angular and Vue with regards to PWAs?

The short answer is: not really. As long as you have control over the root of your domain, you'll be able to create a PWA, regardless of the framework your app is using under the hood.

Can I upload a React PWA to Google Play and the App Store?

Yes! With Progressier and PWABuilder, you can create a fully-featured PWA and list it on Google Play and the App Store.

What are the requirements for creating a PWA with React?

Your React app must be secured by a SSL, include a web app manifest as well as a service worker with a listener attached to the fetch event.

Can I send push notifications with a React PWA?

Yes! With Progressier, your React PWA automatically has access to a complete solution for composing, scheduling and sending push notifications.

Can a PWA built with React be functional offline?

Yes! You can define caching strategies with Progressier or Workbox to make your React app functional entirely offline.