A presentation at JavaScript Global Summit 22 by Patrick Brosset
👋🏽 Hey, I’m Patrick! I’m a Product Manager at Microsoft. I’ve worked with the web and on browsers for 20 years. 🐥 @patrickbrosset 🕸️ patrickbrosset.com
Let’s talk about desktop apps!
Demo time! 🤞🏽
What makes a nice desktop app? 💾 It 💡 It 📂 It 🪟 It 🔗 It 🔗 It can be installed. just always works. can handle local files. controls the content of its entire window. integrates with other apps. integrates with the Operating System.
💾 1. Making it installable
💡 2. Making it always work
📂 3. Handling local files
🪟 4. Using the entire window
🔗 5. Integrating with other apps
protocol://
web+??://
sharing
🔗 6. Integrating with the operating system
Let’s sum up! 💾 Installation ➡️ manifest/service worker/HTTPS ➡️ publish to stores with PWABuilder 💡 Always works ➡️ Caching resources on install of SW 📂 Local files ➡️ Register as a PWA file_handler 🪟 Draw in the entire window ➡️ Use the Window Controls Overlay 🔗 Integrate with other apps ➡️ Register as a protocol_handler ➡️ Register as a share_target ➡️ Share out with navigator.share() 🔗 Integrate with the OS ➡️ Display shortcuts ➡️ Insert widgets
Myth #1 PWA is old news…🧓🏽
“Service workers will soon control 20% of web traffic, and sites continue adding more capabilities each year” Web Almanac 2021 edition https://almanac.httparchive.org/en/2021/pwa
“~ 100% growth in PWA density between March and Sept 2021” PWAs… What’s going on? https://mobsted.com/world_state_of_pwa_2021
Myth #2 It’s a google thing only
Myth #3 It’s only on mobile📱
Myth #4 But it doesn’t work on iOS🍎
Myth #5 But the web can’t do native
“today we are extending Photoshop to the web as a beta” Photoshop updates https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2021/10/26/photoshop-ships-major…
Myth #6 APIs are not cross-browser
Does building native apps on desktop operating systems have to be frustrating and cost a fortune? Can’t we just use the web to create native-like experiences on desktop?
In this talk, we’ll see how PWAs are revolutionizing the way we build and distribute highly capable apps on desktop OSes.
We’ll take a look at a demo and deep dive into code examples showing how to create a deeply integrated and native-like experience. With this talk, you’ll feel excited about the future of the Web and motivated to build your next app.
for free. You
can too.