Progressive Web App Development
Build an installable web app around one honest offline promise.
RaftLabs develops progressive web applications for teams that need URL distribution plus installation, offline behaviour, background updates, or web push where browsers support them. The first release defines which screens and tasks work offline, how cached versions update, and where browser and platform limits still require a native app.
Bring the problem, the current workflow, or the existing code. We reply with a practical next step within one business day.
The brief
Start with what is not working.
Good software decisions begin with the constraint, not a list of features or a preferred technology.
Does "works offline" mean different things to product, design, and engineering?
Is a second native codebase being proposed before anyone proves the workflow needs native capability?
Plain answer
Progressive web app development adds installation, offline behaviour, background updates, and supported web push to a browser-delivered product. RaftLabs defines the cache, synchronization, update, and device-support boundaries around one workflow. A focused PWA starts at $15,000 and usually takes 8 to 14 weeks.
Offline is a product promise, not a service-worker checkbox.
A page can load from cache and still fail the moment a user submits a form, opens an uncached record, or returns after the application version changes. Calling that offline support pushes the hard decisions into production.
Name the tasks that work without a network and the point where the product must stop, queue, or explain itself. Then the cache, local data, synchronization, and update path can serve a promise users can understand.
First-release planning
- starting point for one focused PWA
- $15K
- Workflow, manifest, offline boundary, and release
- usual window for a focused first release
- 8-14 weeks
- Sync and browser support affect timing
- distribution path across supported browsers
- 1 URL
- Installation remains platform-dependent
These are RaftLabs planning figures, not a promise that one web build replaces every native use case. Browser support, storage eviction, background limits, notification delivery, and operating-system policy remain external constraints that the scope must name.
A PWA fits when web distribution is the priority and app-like behaviour can stay within browser limits.
Choose a normal web app if installation and offline work add little value, or native mobile when device capability defines the product.
The product has one core web workflow and a clear install or offline use case.
Target browsers and devices can be prioritized rather than treated as identical.
Product owners can decide conflict, stale-data, storage, and update behaviour.
The workflow needs sustained background execution or deep device and sensor access.
The buyer expects identical install, push, storage, and offline behaviour everywhere.
The current web application is unstable and needs product repair before PWA features.
Focused scope
What one PWA release includes
- 01
Install and browser support
Define the manifest, icons, display mode, install education, supported browsers, and fallback for environments that do not offer the same installation experience. - 02
Offline assets and data
Choose which application shell, records, and tasks work offline. Define local storage, queued changes, expiry, conflict handling, authentication loss, and what the user sees when a server decision is required. - 03
Service-worker updates
Control caching and version activation so a new release does not leave tabs on incompatible code or data. Test refresh, waiting updates, partial downloads, rollback, and recovery from a bad cached version. - 04
Push, telemetry, and handover
Implement web push only on the agreed matrix, measure install and offline failures, and leave browser support, release checks, cache rules, and incident runbooks with the operating team.
PWA or native mobile application?
Web distribution vs native capability
| Progressive web app | Native mobile app | |
|---|---|---|
| Distribution | URL first, installation where supported | App-store package and review |
| Codebase | Shared with the web application | Platform or cross-platform mobile runtime |
| Offline | Defined within browser storage and lifecycle | Broader local and background capability |
| Device access | Available web APIs and permissions | Richer platform SDK access |
| Starting price | $15K for focused PWA | Scoped against mobile platform needs |
Use web application development for a normal browser product without a material install or offline requirement. Use mobile app development when sensors, background tasks, stores, or native interaction are central.
Delivery
From browser workflow to a tested installable release
Four steps turn app-like language into explicit browser behaviour.
- Step 101
Define the PWA promise
Name the core workflow, target browsers, install path, offline tasks, notification need, and reason a normal web app is insufficient. Record unsupported devices and states.
- Step 202
Design cache, data, and update rules
Choose assets and records available offline, synchronization and conflict behaviour, version activation, storage limits, and fallbacks. Review user messages for every boundary.
- Step 303
Build and test on real devices
Implement the workflow, manifest, service worker, install prompts, and supported push. Exercise first visit, return, offline, reconnection, eviction, update, and permission failures.
- Step 404
Release and hand over
Deploy through the normal web pipeline, verify install and recovery paths, and leave browser support, telemetry, runbooks, and known limits. Track real failures before widening offline scope.
PWA risks to keep visible
- Offline has no task boundary
- List the screens, reads, writes, conflicts, and server decisions that work or stop without a network.
- A cached release cannot update safely
- Test service-worker activation, old tabs, schema changes, partial downloads, and recovery before shipping automatic updates.
- Platform support is assumed
- Maintain a real browser and device matrix, progressive fallbacks, and copy that does not promise unavailable capabilities.
- Sensitive records remain on shared devices
- Define local encryption, expiry, sign-out deletion, storage limits, and privacy review before caching protected data.
Scope and price
A focused progressive web app starts at $15,000.
Begin with one workflow and an explicit install, offline, update, and browser-support boundary.
Hosting, push providers, analytics, and other third-party charges remain separate unless included in the proposal.
Starting investment
Starts at $15K
A focused first release usually takes 8 to 14 weeks. Synchronization, roles, payments, media, and broad device support move the estimate.
Offline behaviour is written down
The scope names which tasks work disconnected, what becomes stale, how changes queue, how conflicts resolve, and when the product must stop.
Browser limits stay visible
The support matrix and fallbacks are acceptance criteria; RaftLabs does not promise identical install, push, or background behaviour everywhere.
Related application paths
Choose the delivery model the workflow earns
- 01
Web application development
Build a browser product without adding installation and offline complexity that the workflow does not need. It keeps delivery simpler.
- 02
Mobile app development
Use native platform capability, stores, sensors, and background execution when browser limits block the product.
- 03
Desktop app development
Choose an installed desktop runtime for local files, peripherals, enterprise distribution, or sustained background work.
Work with us
Bring the workflow that needs to survive a weak connection.
We will define what works offline, how updates activate, which devices matter, and whether a PWA or native app fits.
- Scope and cost agreed before work starts. No surprises. No obligation.
- Working prototype within 3 weeks of kickoff.
- Pay by milestone. You see progress before each invoice.
- 60-day post-launch warranty. Bug fixes, UI tweaks, and deployment support. No retainer.
- All conversations are NDA-protected.
Common questions
A progressive web app is a web application enhanced with a manifest, service worker, install experience, caching, and other supported browser capabilities. It still ships from a URL and follows web security boundaries. Installation, push, background work, storage, and device APIs vary by browser and operating system, so support must be stated explicitly.
A PWA fits when fast distribution, one web codebase, linkability, and selected offline or install behaviour matter more than deep device access and platform-specific UX. Native apps fit sustained background work, richer sensors, Bluetooth, strict app-store distribution, or platform capabilities the required browsers do not support reliably.
It can support a defined offline boundary, but 'fully offline' is not a useful scope. Static screens, previously fetched records, queued forms, and selected workflows can work without a network. Authentication expiry, new data, payments, large media, conflicts, storage eviction, and server-side decisions still need explicit fallback and recovery behaviour.
No. Web push support and user experience vary by browser and operating system, and platform rules can change. Some environments require installation before permission can be requested. RaftLabs tests the agreed support matrix and provides fallbacks, but does not promise identical push behaviour or delivery across every browser, device, or vendor service.
A focused PWA with one workflow, manifest, installation, offline boundary, and supported push starts at $15,000 and usually takes 8 to 14 weeks. Complex synchronization, several roles, migration from fragile frontend architecture, payments, media, or broad device support increase scope. Hosting and third-party notification services remain separate unless included.