Microsoft published information on "Project Westminster" which makes it simple to bring existing Hosted Web Apps to Windows 10
Project Westminster represents an evolution in our continued Web App investment. HTML/JavaScript apps have existed on the platform since Windows 8. However, they were restricted to packaged apps. What this meant was that the app could not directly navigate to a remote URL. Remote in app content could be navigated to only through the WebView control. With Windows 8.1, the Web App Template for Windows used the WebView model to assist developers in publishing websites as apps. In Windows 10, we give the JavaScript app host the ability to directly navigate to remote pages. This eliminates the need to load two web framework instances, as is the case when using the WebView. This is great when developers don’t require the granular control provided by the WebView’s API set. We also enable hosted code running in the app host to directly call Universal Windows APIs. This eliminates the need for packaged code to integrate with the platform.
A Standards approach
Developers who build for the web do so to build apps that run in any browser or on any platform. For that reason we are also contributing to the development of the W3C Manifest for Web Apps. When complete, this will be a single, common manifest that will support web apps in all environments.
In the meantime, Microsoft along with other developers in the community have been supporting a new open source project called Manifoldjs. Manifoldjs is the simplest way to build hosted apps across all platforms. Manifoldjs starts with the W3C manifest and from it, builds hosted apps for Windows 10, along with apps for iOS, Android, FireFoxOS and Chrome. If you don’t yet have a W3C manifest on your website, don’t worry, Manifoldjs will build one for you as well. You can use Manifoldjs to generate apps on the website, or as a command line tool. Once you have node.js installed, just simply type “npm install manifoldjs –g” and you’re set. Find out more about Manifoldjs by visiting the project’s website at www.manifoldjs.com .
Porting existing Hosted Web Apps to Windows 10
Project Westminster represents an evolution in our continued Web App investment. HTML/JavaScript apps have existed on the platform since Windows 8. However, they were restricted to packaged apps. What this meant was that the app could not directly navigate to a remote URL. Remote in app content could be navigated to only through the WebView control. With Windows 8.1, the Web App Template for Windows used the WebView model to assist developers in publishing websites as apps. In Windows 10, we give the JavaScript app host the ability to directly navigate to remote pages. This eliminates the need to load two web framework instances, as is the case when using the WebView. This is great when developers don’t require the granular control provided by the WebView’s API set. We also enable hosted code running in the app host to directly call Universal Windows APIs. This eliminates the need for packaged code to integrate with the platform.
A Standards approach
Developers who build for the web do so to build apps that run in any browser or on any platform. For that reason we are also contributing to the development of the W3C Manifest for Web Apps. When complete, this will be a single, common manifest that will support web apps in all environments.
In the meantime, Microsoft along with other developers in the community have been supporting a new open source project called Manifoldjs. Manifoldjs is the simplest way to build hosted apps across all platforms. Manifoldjs starts with the W3C manifest and from it, builds hosted apps for Windows 10, along with apps for iOS, Android, FireFoxOS and Chrome. If you don’t yet have a W3C manifest on your website, don’t worry, Manifoldjs will build one for you as well. You can use Manifoldjs to generate apps on the website, or as a command line tool. Once you have node.js installed, just simply type “npm install manifoldjs –g” and you’re set. Find out more about Manifoldjs by visiting the project’s website at www.manifoldjs.com .
Porting existing Hosted Web Apps to Windows 10
