Pwa Patterns

PWA Patterns — Next.js 15 + React + Tailwind

1. Installability Requirements

1. HTTPS (or localhost for dev)
2. Valid manifest.json with name, icons (192 + 512), start_url, display: standalone
3. Service worker registered with at least one fetch handler

PWA vs Native: PWA when budget limited, cross-platform audience, existing web app. Native when app store presence critical, deep hardware access, or intensive background processing needed.

Platform support (2026): iOS 16.4+ push notifications, iOS 17+ partial beforeinstallprompt. Android full support since Chrome 67+. Desktop Chrome/Edge full PWA.

next-pwa vs manual SW: Use next-pwa for 90% of cases. Manual only for custom SW lifecycle or very specific caching strategies.

2. Web App Manifest

Ver references/manifest-install.md para complete app/manifest.ts code.

Generate icons: npx pwa-asset-generator logo.svg public/icons

3. Service Worker — next-pwa

// next.config.ts
import withPWA from 'next-pwa'

const pwaConfig = withPWA({
  dest: 'public',
  register: true,
  skipWaiting: true,
  disable: process.env.NODE_ENV === 'development',
  fallbacks: { document: '/offline' },
  runtimeCaching: [
    { urlPattern: /^https:\/\/.*\/api\/.*/i, handler: 'NetworkFirst',
      options: { cacheName: 'api-cache', expiration: { maxEntries: 50, maxAgeSeconds: 300 }, networkTimeoutSeconds: 10 } },
    { urlPattern: /^https:\/\/fonts\.(googleapis|gstatic)\.com\/.*/i, handler: 'CacheFirst',
      options: { cacheName: 'google-fonts', expiration: { maxEntries: 20, maxAgeSeconds: 31536000 } } },
    { urlPattern: /\.(?:png|jpg|jpeg|svg|gif|webp|ico)$/i, handler: 'CacheFirst',
      options: { cacheName: 'images', expiration: { maxEntries: 100, maxAgeSeconds: 2592000 } } },
    { urlPattern: /^https:\/\/.*/i, handler: 'StaleWhileRevalidate',
      options: { cacheName: 'pages', expiration: { maxEntries: 50, maxAgeSeconds: 86400 } } },
  ],
})

Offline page (app/offline/page.tsx): static page with "Retry" button (window.location.reload()). Ver references/service-worker-patterns.md.

4. Install Prompt (A2HS)

Ver references/manifest-install.md para useInstallPrompt hook and InstallBanner component.

5. Push Notifications

Setup: npm install web-push + generate VAPID keys:

npx web-push generate-vapid-keys
# Add to .env: NEXT_PUBLIC_VAPID_PUBLIC_KEY, VAPID_PRIVATE_KEY, VAPID_SUBJECT

Client subscription:

export async function subscribeToPush(): Promise<PushSubscription | null> {
  if (!('serviceWorker' in navigator) || !('PushManager' in window)) return null
  const sw = await navigator.serviceWorker.ready
  const existing = await sw.pushManager.getSubscription()
  if (existing) return existing
  return sw.pushManager.subscribe({
    userVisibleOnly: true,
    applicationServerKey: process.env.NEXT_PUBLIC_VAPID_PUBLIC_KEY!,
  })
}

Permission UX: Never ask on page load. Ask after demonstrating value. Handle 'denied' by explaining how to re-enable in browser settings.

Ver references/push-notifications.md para subscribe/send API routes and expired subscription handling (410 Gone).

6. Background Sync & Offline UI

Ver references/offline-background-sync.md para useNetworkStatus hook, OfflineBanner, and offline queue with IndexedDB.

Pattern: save to IndexedDB if offline -> register sync tag -> SW sends on reconnect.

Ver references/service-worker-patterns.md para full retry implementation.

7. iOS Specifics (2026)

<meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-capable" content="yes" />
<meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-status-bar-style" content="black-translucent" />
<meta name="apple-mobile-web-app-title" content="MiApp" />
<link rel="apple-touch-startup-image" href="/splash/iphone14.png"
  media="(device-width: 390px) and (-webkit-device-pixel-ratio: 3)" />

Persistent limitations: No Badging API. Background Sync very limited (foreground only). No periodic background sync. Push requires iOS 16.4+ and home screen install first.

8. PWA Audit Checklist

Lighthouse PWA (target: 100):

• Valid manifest linked (<link rel="manifest">)
• Service worker with fetch handler
• HTTPS in production
• Functional offline page (/offline)
• theme-color meta tag
• Icons 192x192 and 512x512
• Responsive (viewport meta tag)
• start_url responds 200 offline

Additional:

• beforeinstallprompt captured + banner implemented
• iOS meta tags configured
• Push notifications with correct permission UX
• Background sync for critical forms
• Offline banner with useNetworkStatus
• Tested on real device (not just Lighthouse)