A2HS for mobile and desktop

[gedw99]

A2HS allows users would be able to install the app onto their Desktop and Mobile.

Its great because it bypasses the App Stores, but gives a App Store like experience. For example it adds a Icon to your Desktop or Mobile home screen. And because it uses service worker it self updates.

I have used this with golang apps.

Here is an example in golang: https://github.com/maxence-charriere/lofimusic
And the demo: https://lofimusic.app/

IOS Safari video demo for install:

lofimusic_a2hs_480.1.mov

I also tried it in IOS Chrome and Safari, but for some reason there is no ability to instal it.
I know it can be done because i have done it with flutter web... I suspect that loki may not everything setup correctly.

If i get more info on this, i will update it here.

[jech]

It's described here: https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Progressive_web_apps/Add_to_home_screen

Implementing that is a simple matter of:

• designing an icon;
• adding a Manifest file;
• adding a service worker that does nothing;
• adding a discrete button somewhere (where?).

The icon should obviously be a cube (that's what galena crystals look like, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galena). Writing a manifest file should be pretty easy. I'm not too keen on service workers, they're a major privacy violation, but adding one that does nothing should not cause any major trouble.

I'll wait a couple of weeks for people to give opinions.

[gedw99]

Here is an example: https://github.com/boratanrikulu/quik.do :)

[gedw99]

Also this should be turned on : boratanrikulu/quik@0f8e531

It now works on IOS but did not back then. THats my own understanding, And i have not recompiled it yet and deployed it to check it.

[gedw99]

also in what way are they a privacy violation ? Curious as i am also concerned about it.

[jech]

This is a little off-topic, but service workers have two properties that make them dangerous:

1. a service worker applies to a whole origin;
2. service workers persist across browsing sessions.

Suppose you combine galene and Jitsi into a single web site (for example by using a reverse proxy). Then you visit https://www.example.com/galene/, which installs a service worker. The service worker is valid for the whole origin https://www.example.com. A week later, you visit https://www.example.com/jitsi/, then the service worker installed by Galene can intercept all requests that go to the jitsi hierarchy.

[gedw99]

thanks . makes total sense. appreciate it.

[jech]

Related to #216.

It also looks like recent versions of Chromium do not require a PWA to have a service worker, just a manifest file. https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Progressive_web_apps/Guides/Making_PWAs_installable

[gedw99]

Related to #216.

It also looks like recent versions of Chromium do not require a PWA to have a service worker, just a manifest file. https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Progressive_web_apps/Guides/Making_PWAs_installable

Oh things are getting easier for users :)

I need to cross test ...