Migrate to webapp

[sunglim]

http://blog.chromium.org/2016/08/from-chrome-apps-to-web.html

[jumanjiman]

fwiw several people at $dayjob use beagleterm as chrome app on our chromebooks to connect to network devices. this makes the chromebook a nice alternative to a traditional crash cart.

[codewithtyler]

@sunglim what will it take for us to do this migration? I'm not near a computer atm (currently responding on my phone) so I can't view what APIs are missing.

[sunglim]

In my personal view, There's no future for Chrome app.

Since 2013 I 've been contributing to Chromium especially extensions and apps. (Internally chrome app and extension they both share same code)
From 2015, some of Chrome extension team guys (more than half) Google. and there's no new feature they implement.
I think after Chrome Dev Editor, they decided not to focus on Chrome apps.

It is always better to learn new thing than to hold old technology.
we need to move forward to webapp.

[codewithtyler]

So what would converting this project mean for the project? I know it means continued support by Chrome, but how would this affect using the app within Chrome? Right now I can go to chrome://apps/ and launch Beagle Term from there. Would this change? Are web apps launched differently? Would our users have to re-learn how to use Beagle Term?

[sunglim]

Would our users have to re-learn how to use Beagle Term?

No. We should provide same UI. there're already many chrome app that just has link to webapp. for example Google docs

I think using serial API from webapp is impossible now, I will take a look at Chromium side. I think some new proposal something like webUSB is necessary.

[jumanjiman]

It is always better to learn new thing rather than holding old technology, and get better support. So we need to move forward to webapp.

understood.

This post from Google seems to imply that apps are still needed on chrome os, but it does not describe the extent to which web apps can work offline or connect to hardware today.

Do you think it will be possible to migrate to web app and continue to work completely offline?

[codewithtyler]

I think migrating and being able to work offline might be possible, IF we can get them to add support for the serial API (and possibly the socket API if we implement #70). @jumanjiman In the link to the blog post you provided, Google mentions that we can request prioritizing specific APIs so that our apps will continue to work. Here is the page where we make that request. I think we should all put in a request for it. I'm going to go ahead and request both APIs be added.

[jumanjiman]

@RandomlyKnighted Thanks for the link!

I have submitted a request at https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSenHdpA8_eqKiVOrWDjWe_KTfJmoSBEqFIh6SMwQ-NRDJnx1Q/viewform?c=0&w=1 to add support for the serial API.

[codewithtyler]

I asked the Chrome Developers Twitter account if either of these API's were going to be added. In their reply they included the names of the 2 people who decide what API's to support in the new web app. They also asked for a use case so they know why these API's are needed. I provided the use case they wanted. I'll continue talking to them and see if what I can do to get the support added that we need.

[sunglim]

I'm asking to Chromium guys directly. They are author of WebUSB.

Sungguk Lim limasdf@gmail.com to rockot
Hi Ken!
This is Sungguk. I hope you remember.
Can I ask a question? Recently I saw an article, http://blog.chromium.org/2016/08/from-chrome-apps-to-web.html
So I'm going to migrate my chrome app. but my app uses Chrome.serial api.
Is it possible to use serial in webapp? do we need to write new proposal something like webUSB? and then implement Chromium side first?
Could you kindly share your thought?
Thanks in advance.

Ken Rockot 4:13 AM (5 hours ago)

to Reilly, me
I don't think it's possible to migrate chrome.serial usage to a web app at this time. There have been discussions of a Web Serial API in the past but they didn't gain much traction. Might be worth revisiting at some point, but I think a better course of action would be to find a way to use Web USB if possible.

Do you have a sense of how your app is used primarily, i.e. with what kinds of devices? Is it generally for hacking on custom hardware, Arduino, etc? +Reilly, is there a straightforward way to talk to RS232 USB interfaces without the OS interfering?

Reilly Grant reillyg@chromium.org 8:44 AM (1 hour ago)

to Ken, me
The fact that the OS gets in the way is the primary issue blocking use of WebUSB with serial devices. As the Arduino demo shows however it is possible to build a dual-mode device if your microcontroller supports adding additional endpoints.

[codewithtyler]

@sunglim Thanks for sharing. So what about devices other non microcontroller applications like interacting with a router or switch? How would you know if the devices supports adding additional endpoints?