Re: [w3c/manifest] Editorial: Refine the definition of an installable web application (PR #1164)

benfrancis left a comment (w3c/manifest#1164)

> What do you use as manifest URL when processing the default manifest?

Oh, I see you already filed an issue about this in #1111.

Putting aside the issue that the manifest processing algorithm requires a manifest URL as an input (which is a problem), I'm guessing the defaults you mentioned could come from:

- `start_url` is set to document URL (and returns before getting to the bit about manifest URL)
- `id` is set to `start_url`
- `scope` is set to `.` resolved against `start_url` as a base

So whilst I can see it's _possible_ to create a default manifest from just a document URL, as far as I can tell the concept of a default manifest is not actually defined in the specification. What the specification actually says is:

_"A manifest has an associated manifest URL, which is the [[URL](https://w3c.github.io/manifest/#bib-url)] from which the [manifest](https://w3c.github.io/manifest/#dfn-manifest) was fetched."_

The idea of a default manifest feels like an implementation detail which has become an assumption but not actually specified anywhere..?

I'm not necessarily opposed to the idea that all websites are installable web apps if that's the consensus of the Working Group. Whilst I don't think most web developers would currently see it that way, and that's not how it's documented in places like [MDN](https://developer.mozilla.org/en-US/docs/Web/Progressive_web_apps/Tutorials/js13kGames/Installable_PWAs) and [web.dev](https://web.dev/learn/pwa/installation), it is an idea we experimented with back in Firefox OS 3.0 and I don't think it's a terrible idea. I just don't think that's currently the common understanding.

I maintain that as the specification is currently written, a web site can only become an "installed" web application if it links to web application manifest. So if this definition is going to stick, a lot more changes are needed for it to make sense.

-- 
Reply to this email directly or view it on GitHub:
https://github.com/w3c/manifest/pull/1164#issuecomment-2706495162
You are receiving this because you are subscribed to this thread.

Message ID: <w3c/manifest/pull/1164/c2706495162@github.com>