Foreword

The idea of “native apps” always seemed like a regression. Walled gardens with terrible search, dubious security, and the endless tax of updates—it felt so 1990s. And yet, the web remained an objectively poor experience for mobile users. Responsive design helped, as did tools like Cordova and PhoneGap, but most sites weren’t being built to address the real constraints of mobile.

We believed the web could be better, and set out to make it happen. It was a long shot, but by 2015, we succeeded in smuggling “installable web apps” into Chrome, with other browsers joining shortly thereafter. The technology had launched, but it didn’t have a name. How could we succinctly communicate the range of complex technical properties that makes an online experience worth keeping? We found our answer in the moniker progressive web apps.

PWAs have always been motivated by user experience, not technology. Jason Grigsby was one of the first to grasp the implications of this UX shift and why browsers encourage it. Instead of focusing on the tedious aspects of the underlying technologies, Jason leads readers though the business and user consequences of building mobile-first—a journey on which PWAs are but one possible destination.

Knowing what content to make available when, how to give users control over their experience, and other oft-overlooked aspects are given the space they deserve, with thoughtful attention to detail. Each chapter crisply illustrates the business impact of delivering reliable, engaging, yet entirely “webby” experiences that earn user trust, as well as a coveted spot on homescreens and notification trays.

We could scarcely have hoped for a clearer distillation of the considerations, values, and benefits of progressive web apps. If the web wins, it will be the result of clear guides like this one lighting the way.

—Frances Berriman and Alex Russell