How to Build a PWA With Vue 3 Composition API

The rise of Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) has transformed the way we build applications, combining the best of web and mobile app experiences. Vue 3, with its Composition API, offers an elegant way to create dynamic and responsive PWAs. In this article, we will guide you through the essential steps to build a PWA using Vue 3 Composition API.

Step 1: Setting Up Your Vue 3 Project

First, you need to set up a new Vue project. You can do this quickly using Vue CLI. If you haven’t installed it yet, run the following command:

npm install -g @vue/cli

Next, create a new Vue project using:

vue create my-pwa

During the setup, ensure to select features such as Vue Router and Vuex if they are required for your application. Once the setup is complete, navigate to your project directory:

cd my-pwa

Step 2: Adding PWA Support

To add PWA support, you need to install Vue PWA Plugin. Execute the following command inside your project directory:

vue add pwa

This command will configure your project with a service worker and provide essential files like `manifest.json` that enables PWA functionalities.

Step 3: Configuring the Manifest File

Next, you’ll want to configure the `manifest.json` file to define how your app appears on the user's device. You can find this file in the `/public` directory of your project.

Here’s an example configuration:

{
  "name": "My PWA",
  "short_name": "MyPWA",
  "theme_color": "#4DBA87",
  "background_color": "#000000",
  "display": "standalone",
  "scope": "/",
  "start_url": "/",
  "icons": [
    {
      "src": "img/icons/android-chrome-192x192.png",
      "sizes": "192x192",
      "type": "image/png"
    },
    {
      "src": "img/icons/android-chrome-512x512.png",
      "sizes": "512x512",
      "type": "image/png"
    }
  ]
}

Step 4: Creating the App Layout

Using the Composition API, you can create reactive components easily. For example, create a new component `MainPage.vue` in the `src/components` folder.

Here’s how you might set up a simple template:

Step 5: Implementing Service Workers

Vue CLI configures a default service worker for caching assets, but you can customize it according to your need. Look for `registerServiceWorker.js` in the `/src` folder and modify it as required.

For example, you can adjust caching strategies or implement background sync for fetching fresh data when connectivity is available.

Step 6: Testing Your PWA

To test your Progressive Web App, run the development server:

npm run serve

Once your app is running, open Chrome DevTools (F12) and navigate to the "Application" tab. Here, you can inspect the service worker, view the manifest, and test the offline capabilities of your PWA.

Step 7: Building and Deploying Your PWA

Finally, to prepare your PWA for production, run the build command:

npm run build

This builds your application in a `/dist` directory, ready to be deployed. You can host it on platforms like Vercel, Netlify, or any other web server.

Conclusion

Building a PWA with Vue

How to Build a PWA With Vue 3 Composition API