Mozilla Labs Apps Project FAQ: Difference between revisions

Mozilla Labs Apps Project FAQ (view source)

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-'''Q: Why is Mozilla building an Open Web App platform?''' <br>
+'''Q: What is the Mozilla Labs Apps Project?''' <br>
-Web apps are becoming a commonly used class of applications - often directly competing with native apps. Web apps offer similar features to native apps and are available through any modern Web browser (both desktop and mobile) from any place in the world. Yet, Web apps lack certain essential features around the user experience, including installation and launch, app discovery, monetization and some platform features, such as notifications and unified search through installed apps. App experiences are usually a tightly vertically integrated (e.g. iPhone/iTunes) with problems such as an opaque approval processes, lack of choice for developers, platform lock-in, high(er) development cost when going cross-platform, etc. Realizing these gaps and issues, Mozilla decided to build the underlying system to enable Open Web Apps - these apps are fundamentally built upon the Web infrastructure.
+The Mozilla Labs Apps project is a big part of realizing the vision that the Web is the platform of the future. It bring apps across your devices and enables developers to build amazing experiences using the  technologies they already use and love: HTML5, CSS and  JavaScript. Mozilla is the non-profit developer of the Firefox Web browser and a champion of the Web.
-'''Q: Is Mozilla creating an Open Web App store?'''
+'''Q: What Apps documentation is available?'''
-At this point in time, Mozilla has no intention to build our own store or distribute apps ourselves. We expect to see app stores develop, which will provide access to both free and paid Open Web Apps. Developers will be able to publish their apps on their own sites and, if they choose to do so, charge for them.<br>
+Documentation for app developers is available on the Apps Developer Community: https://developer.mozilla.org/apps It addresses concerns of developers from different backgrounds, including Web development, mobile application development and game development. It also provides reference information about the app manifest and APIs, as well as basics of how the Mozilla app marketplace will work.
-'''Q: How are Open Web Apps different from add-ons?'''
+'''Q: What is the Apps Developer Preview?'''
-Open Web Apps are applications produced on and delivered through the Web. Open Web Apps are complete applications such as office applications, productivity applications, image processing applications, games, etc. Open Web Apps run in any modern Web browser (both on desktop as well as mobile). Add-ons are extensions to your Firefox browser, which provide specific functionality to the browser itself.<br>
+The Apps Developer Preview is a "sandbox" environment to simulate the developer experience of submitting a HTML5 Web app to Mozilla Labs. This test environment gives developers a taste of the work flow of uploading, pricing and selling an app, but it is not a permanent environment. Some features and functionality planned for the product will not be available in the preview. Also, the data a developer adds in the preview will not persist or be saved. When the product is ready to go live, developers in the preview will need to re-upload their apps.
-'''Q: How will people discover new apps? Will there be recommended apps?''' We expect that we will see a whole array of directories and stores being developed to aid in discovery. This will be another area where stores will compete with each other. Further - as you can link into apps - a developer can market an app through the established online marketing channels such as keyword advertising.
+'''Q: How many people have access to the Apps Developer Preview?'''
-'''Q: Will developers need to submit or create a new app?'''
+The Apps Developer Preview release initially gives a limited number of 3,000 developers to access HTML5 APIs and marketplace. During the preview period we are looking for feedback and testing as part of the Mozilla Labs Apps project to develop a HTML5 app platform that will work across all modern browsers and all devices.
-All developers have to do to make their apps work in the proposed system is to provide a short manifest (as text document consisting of a few lines of JSON code). There is no submission process - the simple existence of a manifest is enough for the system to understand that the particular URL is an app. If the developer chooses to sell her app, she has to add some boilerplate code for purchase verification. We will provide example code and libraries for this purpose.
+'''Q: How are developers selected to access the preview?'''
-'''Q: Will the apps be localized and available globally?'''
+Developers are able to register at the Mozilla Labs Apps Developer Preview site at https://apps-preview.mozilla.org. Initially 3,000 people will be allowed access.
-This is completely up to the developer. An app can be distributed globally in exactly the same way you publish a website today - once the app is available through its URL, anyone around the world can access it. It’s up to the developer to decide if they want to localize, provide special features for certain geographies, etc.<br>
+'''Q: Will you let more people into the Developer Preview and when?'''
-'''Q: What is important about Mozilla’s proposed Open Web App infrastructure?'''
+Our intent is to formalize this new platform and launch as a product next year. More developers and consumers will be able to use the marketplace with our Beta launch expected in early 2012.
-Apps are fundamentally of the Web; they live on the Web and you can link into them.'''<br>'''- Apps can be published without limitations (on your own site, in directories, in stores), fostering innovation on the store fronts/directories, remove problems with approval processes, etc.
+'''Q: What will the final product be called?'''
-*The system provides mechanisms for identification and authentication.<br>- You can easily charge for apps, similarly to experiences you have today on the iPhone or Android devices.
-*Apps run in any modern Web browser.<br>- You are not tied to a specific browser, your apps travel with you from browser to browser independent from the underlying OS (e.g. desktop to mobile). For developers, this means that they develop once and can deploy on every device that runs a modern Web browser.
+Final branding, user experience and naming for the marketplace are to follow. During the Developer Preview and Beta periods users may see numerous iterations of design.
+'''Q: What Apps documentation is available?'''
+When will users be able to experience Mozilla’s app marketplace?
+Users will be able to use the marketplace with our Beta expected in 2012, with a general availability targeted for later in the year.
+'''Q: Are you trying to replace existing app stores?'''
+No. We are providing an alternate marketplace that provides a wide variety of high quality HTML5 apps that work across the widest number of devices and platforms. We are also building a marketplace that puts users needs and experience first before commercial and corporate interests.
+'''Q: Why would people need multiple Web app stores?'''
+Just as we all shop at several stores in our daily lives, we want to provide users the freedom and choice to obtain apps from any source of their choice - be it directly from a developer’s website, a retail channel, a wholesale store, via a friend’s recommendation etc.
+We also believe the existence and adoption of multiple app stores will enable a competitive ecosystem that ultimately benefits users. When stores compete, users benefit from better experiences, wider options and will be more in control of where they do their business.
+'''Q: Why should I use Mozilla’s app marketplace?'''
+Mozilla’s app marketplace will help you find apps that work across the widest number of devices and platforms without being locked down to a specific devices or operating system. These apps will also be linked to your user identity allowing you to take them with you should you switch phones or buy a new tablet. We are working hard to ensure your experience is personalized, serendipitous and focused on helping you discover new apps that are relevant to you.