I’m sure my question must have been asked and answered already in (at least) one of the forums but damned if I can find it. So, let me ask - what does Chrome mean when it offers me the opportunity to “Install Straight Dope Message Board” by clicking on the icon at the far end of the search bar?
As far as I know, I’ve never ‘installed’ the SDMB yet it seems to work fine. Maybe the ‘install’ is meant for use only in phones?
Thanks!
It’s called a progressive web app (PWA) which treats a website sort of like a mobile app, except it works on multiple platforms, including Windows desktops and laptops. You can read Chrome’s help page about them here and read a previous SDMB thread about it here. I’m afraid that’s about the limit of my knowledge because while I’ve read about them, I’ve never actually installed one.
As for the practical differences:
Installing a PWA app will put an icon on your desktop, and be listed under “Recently added” apps on Windows, at least. You can launch this independently of your web browser (though it still uses the same underlying exe under the hood). And, when you do it will have its own window, with a title bar, but no address bar, forward back icons, etc. (Though it does still load relevant addons.)
It will also save a lot of the actual underlying webpage to your computer, and, unlike with browser caching, will automatically update this in the background, even when you aren’t using the app. This is the key part of what “installing” means, in my opinion. You are essentially running the website locally, and it only goes online to get the data (like posts and such).
I have very occasionally done this with sites that actually feel and function like full on apps. For a while I had a solitaire game installed, as it was able to function entirely offline. I also had a video downloader, but I’ve since replaced it with a regular app.
But I’m not too inclined to do so for a web forum, even one I use rather often. I actually installed the SDMB as an app just to see it in action. I do not like how it doesn’t have a back button, and does not have tabs. Opening a link to a forum post in a new tab just opens in it Chrome, which is silly.
It needs more to really be able to function as a proper app.
Terrific! Thank you both.