Progressive Web App

Decidim supports Progressive Web App features to make the platform feel closer to a mobile app. For operators, the main value is a web app experience with optional installation, WebPush notifications, and the option to package the same web app for app stores.

What it includes

  • App-like experience in the browser with optional installation

  • Push notifications through WebPush

  • Service worker support for offline-aware behavior and cached assets

  • Optionally, package the app for app stores to improve discoverability

Operational notes

  • PWA features depend on the service worker being enabled.

  • Browser support is not identical across platforms, especially on iOS.

  • Treat offline support as limited cache assistance, not as a fully offline application.

WebPush setup

To use push notifications, first configure the VAPID keys in your application environment. See Environment Variables for the supported variables.

Generate a key pair with:

bin/rails decidim:pwa:generate_vapid_keys

The command prints the public and private keys. Set them as VAPID_PUBLIC_KEY and VAPID_PRIVATE_KEY, then restart the application.

To test it, log in with any participant account and open the notification settings in the profile. There should be an option to enable WebPush notifications. After enabling it, new notifications should also be received natively according to the platform being used.

Packaging with PWABuilder

Use PWABuilder to package the Decidim PWA for app stores.

  1. Make sure the site exposes a valid web app manifest and service worker.

  2. Open PWABuilder and enter the Decidim URL.

  3. Review the detected PWA features and fix any issues it reports.

  4. Generate the package you need:

    • Android, for Google Play workflows

    • iOS, for Apple distribution workflows

    • Windows, for Microsoft Store or for installation outside of the Store

PWABuilder does not replace the web app itself. It packages the existing PWA for the target platform, so the underlying Decidim installation must already be correctly configured.