Should I add PWA support in starter template of next js (that is by default)

[hamidrazadev]

Goals

1. Add PWA support.
2. Approved by Lighthouse.
3. Fully functional service worker.
4. Adding manifest.json

Non-Goals

Background

Feature Request: Default PWA Support in Next.js Starter Template

Summary

Many beginner developers who start working with Next.js find it challenging to implement Progressive Web App (PWA) functionality in their projects. Despite the growing need for PWAs in modern web development, setting up PWA support in Next.js still requires additional libraries, complex configuration, and external learning.

I believe this is a common issue faced by the community, and given the current trends, almost every web application today aims to provide PWA capabilities for a more native-like experience.

There is currently no built-in or alternative out-of-the-box solution in Next.js for PWA support. It would greatly benefit developers if PWA support was included by default in the official Next.js starter template.

Motivation

• Simplify the PWA setup for beginners and intermediate developers.
• Reduce friction and time spent searching for third-party solutions.
• Promote modern, installable, and offline-capable web applications by default.
• Align with the current expectations of web standards where PWAs are becoming the norm.

Proposed Solution

• Add a minimal but functional PWA setup in the official create-next-app starter template.
• Provide a basic manifest.json and service worker configuration.
• Include optional PWA support that can be toggled via the create-next-app CLI flags (e.g. --pwa).

Alternatives Considered

Currently, developers rely on community packages like next-pwa which, while helpful, still require manual setup and troubleshooting. This gap in native support often creates barriers, especially for new developers.

Additional Context

Making PWA a first-class citizen in Next.js will not only enhance the developer experience but will also encourage best practices across the ecosystem.

Thank you for considering this feature!

Proposal

Proposal

I propose that the official Next.js starter template (create-next-app) should include optional, built-in PWA support that can be easily enabled with a CLI flag like:

npx create-next-app@latest my-app --pwa