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Force site to open in web app? (Mobile) (self.firefox)

submitted 1 month ago by gedaliyah to c/firefox

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Is there a way either through an add on or through settings to force a website shortcut to open as a web app? I have issues with a lot of sites that are designed as web apps. I've even worked with developers who said that the website is designed and meets all the criteria of a web app. Firefox Mobile seems to not recognize or disregard this information sometimes.

The sites are perfectly functional, but there are benefits to running them outside in their own window. It affects things like the persistence and memory being able to switch quickly between tasks, etc. I could obviously do this through a different browser that is purpose built like Hermit, but I would like to do it in Firefox if possible. I don't want to have to install a bunch of different apps on my phone just to run other apps.

I'm not a developer, but it really seems somewhat arbitrary, which apps, Firefox decides are valid web apps, and I would rather be able to make that indication myself.

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[–] [email protected] 2 points 1 month ago

There are a specific set of requirements for a web app to be a web app. It's significantly more than just rolling out a random pretty website.

As a developer there are specific tests to pass before it's considered an app.

To add to the complexity, different browsers have (slightly) different requirements.

Source: I did this once. It wasn't fun. My proof of concept died quickly. I may revive it at some point.

That said, it's significantly simpler to do this than write an app that runs on MacOS, Linux, Android, iOS and Windows.