Going offline in Gatsby

Building a Progressive Web App (PWA) with Gatsby involves adding key functionalities such as a manifest file, offline support via service workers, and serving the site over HTTPS to enhance user experience and site performance. A manifest file enables the site to be installable on devices, while service workers allow the website to be accessed even without an internet connection by caching resources and intercepting network requests. Gatsby provides plugins to simplify the integration of these features, such as `gatsby-plugin-manifest` for the manifest file and `gatsby-plugin-offline` for service workers, which use Workbox to manage caching and updates. Service workers, however, need careful handling to avoid issues with updates and user experience, as they can cause sites to reload unexpectedly. To mitigate this, strategies like deferring updates and notifying users can be implemented. Additionally, serving the site over HTTPS is crucial to ensure security, as service workers have the potential to intercept and alter network communications. By converting a Gatsby-powered website into a PWA, developers can improve site performance and user access, even in low-connectivity scenarios.