Progressive Web Apps

Microsoft has been trying to tackle the lack of apps in the Windows Store with Progressive Web Apps. Microsoft allows developers to submit and publish their PWAs in the Store and the company is also working to improve support for PWAs available outside its app store.

Google Chrome v70 brought support for PWAs on Windows 10, but the difference is that these apps run within the Chrome window. Unlike the PWAs available in the Microsoft Store such as Twitter, Chrome-powered PWAs miss out on several Windows 10 features and deeper integration with the OS.

Right-clicking on any app pinned to the taskbar brings a context-menu, also known as shortcut menu or jumplist. The open-source Chromium also allows users to right-click the PWAs, but users cannot start a key task such as ‘Compose a new tweet’ through the context menu.

Chrome PWA shortcuts menu

On the other hand, PWAs available in the Microsoft Store enables multiple options in the shortcut menu. As per a commit, Microsoft is working to add Windows 10 support for the Shortcuts menu to Chromium browsers.

“This proposal adds support for shortcuts defined in a Web App Manifest such that users get the same quick launch bar app icon menu experience as with native apps,” wrote Rahul Singh, a member of Microsoft Edge team.

“Chromium currently supports adding PWA icons in several locations like the desktop, start menu on Windows, and the quick launch bar as part of the installation process. These shortcuts are aimed at helping users quickly launch the PWA. However, Chromium currently does not allow users to start a key task within a PWA through the quick launch bar icon menu,” Singh added.

Microsoft noted that Jumplist (shortcuts menu) for the PWA’s taskbar icon is created automatically during the installation of the app. The menu is based on the details shared by the website.

The commit is currently marked as ‘Work in progress’ and it’s not clear when Microsoft will roll out these changes to Chrome.

About The Author

Mayank Parmar

Mayank Parmar is an entrepreneur who founded Windows Latest. He is the Editor-in-Chief and has written on various topics in his seven years of career, but he is mostly known for his well-researched work on Microsoft's Windows. His articles and research works have been referred to by CNN, Business Insiders, Forbes, Fortune, CBS Interactive, Microsoft and many others over the years.