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Building Progressive Web Apps: A Step-by-Step Guide

How We Collaborate to Bring Speed, Functionality, and Flexibility to the Web

At Bloom, we’re often asked what makes a web app truly feel progressive. It’s not fancy gimmicks—it’s about building something fast, reliable, and user‑focused. Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) combine the best of web and mobile, and we’re here to walk you through the process—transparent, craft‑driven, and collaborative every step of the way.

What Are Progressive Web Apps?

PWAs are websites that feel and act like native apps—they load fast, work offline, and can be installed directly to your device’s home screen without app stores. As Google’s Chrome team puts it in their official “Getting started with Progressive Web Apps” guide:

“Progressive Web Apps use modern web capabilities to deliver an app‑like user experience … maintaining the web’s low friction at every moment.”

Starbucks, Twitter Lite, Pinterest, and many other brands have leveraged PWAs to dramatically improve engagement and performance .

Why Choose a PWA?

When we work together, we start by asking: what do your users actually need? PWAs are often the answer when you want:

  • Offline access
  • Near-instant load times
  • Lower maintenance without platform lock-in
  • Broad compatibility, even in low-connectivity regions

That’s inclusion and utility—two principles at the core of thoughtful design.

Our 6-Step PWA Process

Here’s the journey we take with our partners to launch a successful PWA:

Step 1: Define the Core User Experience

We start with listening. Who are your users? What do they do first? What matters most? We don’t build features—we craft solutions grounded in real behavior.

“We understand this process can feel overwhelming. We’re here to guide you.”

Step 2: Build a Responsive Foundation

Next, we lay the groundwork: a mobile-first responsive web app with a solid framework like React or Vue. Accessibility and performance are baked in from day one—no corners cut.

“We obsess over the details so you don’t have to.”

Step 3: Add the Web App Manifest

This JSON file powers your app’s installability. It defines names, icons, start URLs, and launch screens. For full guidelines, see MDN’s manifest documentation.

Step 4: Implement a Service Worker

Service workers enable offline behavior and caching. We typically use Google’s Workbox library for smooth, reliable configuration. This is what gives your PWA that instant feel—even without a connection.

Step 5: Audit with Lighthouse

We don’t ship and forget. We audit installability, speed, reliability, and more using Lighthouse in Chrome DevTools. Scores come from real metrics—TTI, offline status, and manifest checks—all verified using the Progressive Web App guidelines on web.dev.

“Here’s how we got to this decision.”
“This may not work—and here’s why.”

Step 6: Deploy and Monitor

Launch isn’t an endpoint—it’s the next beginning. We monitor real user performance, fine-tune caching, and adjust as your audience evolves. PWAs require ongoing care—just like any living digital experience.

Common Questions

Is a PWA right for every brand?
Not always. If device-specific features like Bluetooth, camera APIs, or sensors are essential, a native app may still win. We’ll explore the trade-offs with you.

Do I need the App Store?
Nope. PWAs are installable via the browser—no App or Play Store required.

Let’s Build This Together

We don’t just build websites—we build partnerships. PWAs should prioritize your users and bring measurable benefits. If fast, resilient, cost-effective web experiences sound like your goal, let’s talk.

Your insight informs our craft, and together we create something greater.

Ready to explore what a PWA could look like for your brand?
Contact Bloom to start building together.