Designing a PWA with Bootstrap in 2025
What design principles should you follow for your PWA with Bootstrap? How can you add PWA features to your Bootstrap app without writing code? These are some of the questions I'll try to answer in this quickstart guide.
Getting started with Bootstrap & Progressier
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1Sign up for Progressier
Create a new PWA in Progressier, then choose JavaScript in the menu. Follow the instructions provided, which will walk you through the process of adding an app manifest andservice worker to your app (no code to write!).
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2Install your PWA
Progressier makes your Bootstrap app installable, automatically creates an installation page for your app, and gives you access to PWA promotion widgets.
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3Send push notifications
You'll also get access to a complete push notification solution, which lets you define when and how to prompt users to allow notifications, and then notify them manually (from our dashboard) or programmatically (from our API).
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4Design your Bootstrap PWA
Check out our PWA design guidelines for Bootstrap below to make your app look and feel more native.
Which PWA features does Bootstrap support?
Android Installation
Get your PWA installed on any Android smartphone or tablet, just like a native app.
iOS Installation
Progressier walks users through the process of installing your app on their iPad or iPhone.
Windows Installation
Your Bootstrap PWA is installable from Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge and can be added to a Desktop or Taskbar.
macOS Installation
Get your app installed on macOS from Chrome — Progressier walks users through installing your PWA to their Docks.
Chrome OS Installation
Let users add your PWA to their Chrome OS laptop.
Installation Page
A unique page that helps users install your Bootstrap PWA on their devices with custom instructions for each compatible platform.
Original Domain Installation
Your app is directly installable right from your own domain.
Web App Manifest
Progressier builds a PWA manifest with your preferences set in the dashboard, with toggles and inputs instead of lines of code
Service Worker
A service worker is JS file that runs separately from the main browser thread. It can intercept network requests (allowing to put resources in the cache or retrieve them from there) and deliver push notifications to someone even when they're not actively using your app. With Progressier, you can define these rules without having to write any code at all.
Push Campaigns
Notify all your users of news in your app with our dashboard and/or API. Progressier manages all user push subscriptions for you.
Personalized Notifications
Send notifications to any particular user manually or programmatically. All your need is their email, their user ID or any other information that identifies them in your system.
Connect User Data
Connect your own user data (emails, account type, etc). So when a user authorizes push notifications in your Bootstrap PWA, their data is also saved along with it.
In-App PWA Promotion
Promote installation of your PWA with a floating action button in the body of your app.
Offline Alerts
Show a custom alert when a user loses network connectivity.
Request Notifications After Installation
Progressier asks users to allow notifications right after they've installed your app, which generally results in a higher subscription rate
Install & Push Analytics
Progressier tracks installs of your Bootstrap PWA over time. Also tracks push subscriptions.
Programmatic PWA Creation
Create Bootstrap PWAs programmatically with our API.
Google Play & App Store Upload
With our PWABuilder integration, you can list your Bootstrap PWA on Google Play or the App Store.
Why choose Bootstrap and Progressier for your PWA?
Progressier eases the integration of essential PWA features like installation and push notifications. In just a few minutes, you can augment your existing app with these capabilities, no coding required. Meanwhile, Bootstrap streamlines the creation of responsive, mobile-first designs, ensuring your app offers a native feel.
Mobile-first or Desktop-first: What's the approach?
The decision between mobile-first and desktop-first isn't always straightforward. The ideal approach hinges on your app's primary user base and its use-case scenarios. PWAs, also referred to as Universal Apps (a term I prefer), should offer a seamless experience across both mobile and desktop platforms.
It's essential to recognize that mobile-first and desktop-first aren't solely about resizing UI elements. Mobile interfaces often display singular interactive components due to limited screen space, whereas desktops present multiple interactive elements concurrently. A few comparative examples include:
From a desktop dropdown menu to a mobile bottom drawer.
Desktop accordion sections transitioning to full-screen mobile components.
The evolution of a desktop side panel into a mobile search bar.
Bootstrap or Tailwind: Which for my PWA?
Both Bootstrap and Tailwind are commendable choices for PWA development. Tailwind, being lighter, ensures quicker load times, although it's younger and might not match Bootstrap's robustness. While Tailwind excels in creating adaptable UI components, Bootstrap emphasizes uniform, app-wide components. In essence, Tailwind suits app development, and Bootstrap is more aligned with website creation.
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