Labs/PrismFeature

The Split

Prism will be broken into two projects JS APIs (code name Reach?), and the "turn this page into a desktop app" (Appify?).

Appify

If we do not want Prism to go the way of the every-so-geeky implementations done by Safari and Chrome, we need to focus on helping users discover when they might want to make an web-app into a desktop app.

JS API (Reach)

Use Cases

All require being able to be used when offline.

Flickr Uploader

• Offline use
• Drag and drop file handling
• Generic XHTTP for communication

Zoho Docs

• File association
• File access
• Persistent storage
• Offline use
• Drag and drop file handling
• Generic XHTTP for communication

Task Manager/TO-DO List

• Listen for system-level keystrokes -- i.e., global heyhook
• Display + animate windows (transparent and shaped)
• Run at startup
• Offline use
• Generic XHTTP for communication
• Persistent storage

A Cross Platform Growl

• Daemon tasks
• Listen on a port for IPC
• Install an icon in the menu bar/dock/quick tray/etc.
• Access to system services (like Text To Speech)
• Offline use
• Display + animate windows (transparent and shaped)
• Persistent storage

Twitter/Social Feed Client

• Device access (Audio, Camera/Video, GPS)
• All of the above

Adium/Chat Program

• Ability to interoperate with various chat protocols
• All of the above

Ubiquity

• Access to the clipboard, and ability to issue copy and paste
• All of the above