Intent to Prototype: Web app launch handler

[Alan Cutter]

Contact emails

alanc...@chromium.org, mgi...@chromium.org

Explainer

https://github.com/WICG/sw-launch/blob/main/launch_handler.md

Specification

None

Summary

A "launch_handler" app manifest member that enables web apps to customise their launch behaviour across all types of app launch triggers. Example usage: { "name": "Example app", "start_url": "/index.html", "launch_handler": { "route_to": "existing", "navigate_existing_client": "always" } } This will cause all launches of the Example app to focus an existing app window and navigate it (if it exists) instead of always launching a new app window.

Launch handler is a successor to the Declarative Link Capturing API.

Blink component

Blink>AppManifest

Motivation

Web apps currently cannot control whether they're launched in a new app window or whether an existing window is reused. This feature helps support web apps that wish to remain in a single window on desktop platforms.

Initial public proposal

https://github.com/WICG/sw-launch/issues/33

TAG review

None

TAG review status

Pending

Risks

Interoperability and Compatibility

Low interop risk. Web apps currently operate using the "default" launch_handler behaviour where new windows are opened on desktop and existing clients are navigated on mobile. To ensure forwards compatibility the launch_handler fields will accept lists of values similar to display_override to allow sites to use new values without breaking older browser.

Gecko: No signal

WebKit: No signal

Web developers: No signals

Is this feature fully tested by web-platform-tests?

No, this feature involves opening/navigating app windows from various OS surface centric app launch triggers.

Flag name

WebAppLaunchHandler

Requires code in //chrome?

True

Tracking bug

https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=1231886

Estimated milestones

M96

Link to entry on the Chrome Platform Status

https://www.chromestatus.com/feature/5722383233056768

This intent message was generated by Chrome Platform Status.