A Progressive Web Application (PWA) is a web app which uses website capabilities to give an app-like experience to users. It is essentially a website which behaves more like an app that would normal download from your app store – a hybrid of a website and a mobile app.
According to Tech Crunch, 79% of individuals prefer shopping online today compared to only 22% in 2000 so more and more websites, apps and PWAs are coming onstream. These statistics aren’t limited to online retail either. For example, SEO Tribunal found that 97% of consumers find out about local businesses through online searches rather than any other way.
There are many benefits of Progressive Web Applications but not ever PWA stands up as well as the next one and too many fail when it could be avoided. The risk of bugs and errors can kill a PWA. That’s why progressive web app development services depend on tools and technologies like these to make sure that the apps they create for their clients go off without a hitch.
Here are some popular options:
PWA.rock
If you or the company is new to PWAs, it can be extremely helpful to have a model to work towards. This way, you can sample what you’re looking towards to ensure that you meet the generally accepted standards.
One tool that falls into this category is PWA.rocks. This is a tool that is there to help you visualize the potential of your PWA. They offer plenty of categories as well, so companies don’t have to guess at the equivalent of a PWA for their industry. They feature examples in subsections including gaming, business, shopping, social platforms, and more.
While this won’t test for specific bugs, it does help to give developers and companies an idea of what they’re aiming for.
Chrome DevTools
If a company is building their PWA on a Google Chrome browser, they can take advantage of Chrome DevTools as they test and make finishing touches to their PWA. This works directly as a Chrome extension and incorporates most of the main tools that PWAs use. This includes tools such as cache storage, an application panel, push notifications, and a service workers’ panel.
These tools let users manage aspects of their PWA such as updating services, clearing caches, stopping service workers, and trigger events such as “Add to Homescreen” options and push event emulations.
Lighthouse
Once a PWA is up, it’s important to make sure to check the code. This should be done periodically after the initial launch as well as on the day you release the PWA. This allows businesses to stay on track and check to make sure that everything is consistently running effectively and efficiently.
One of the most popular tools for this purpose is called Lighthouse. This works as a plugin for Google Chrome and users only have to click on the extension to get a test started the system has multiple sections including Progressive Web App, Performance, Best Practices, and Fancier Stuff.
The first section looks at information such as the page load performance, network connection security, and analyze whether the design is attractive and mobile-friendly. The “Performance” section features a registered service worker and ensures that the URL responds in a specific way when offline. It also focuses on how responsive a PWA is. “Best Practices” takes a look at modern concepts such as offline features, JavaScript components, and general accessibility. Finally, the “Fancier Stuff” subsection tests the company’s site for up-to-date HTML5/JS features.
React
If a company finds that something is wrong with their code, it needs to be repaired as quickly as possible. However, the typically challenging nature that comes with coding language. Luckily, there are tools that are made to help simplify the process of editing code.
React uses a JavaScript-based design to create individual script components. This way, these components can be used again and again as needed rather than having to rewrite any coding changes from scratch.
LambdaTest
As mentioned before, one of the most crucial components to a PWA is that it works for all platforms. No matter whether a user is on their mobile device or on a laptop and regardless of factors such as the type of browser they’re using, the PWA should work in the same, efficient way. However, manually testing your PWA for every configuration can be difficult if not nearly impossible. Luckily, you can depend on tools and technology to help you out.
One of the most common choices is LambdaTest. This is a tool that’s based on cross-browser testing and it’s made to work for over a thousand devices both mobile and traditional PCs.
Among the biggest draws to this app is the ability to test how certain features would work on different devices rather than just assessing the overall functionality of the PWA. For example, you could test how well your company’s PWA works when it’s set as a user’s home screen or how it launches when new users find it.
It’s crucial that a PWA is thoroughly tested before and after its full release. This way, the bugs and glitches that could drive users away in the beginning don’t fall through the cracks and dissuade people from using your company’s PWA. Tools like these help developers make PWAs that are efficient and will make a business a profit.
