A web desktop or webtop is a desktop environment embedded in a web browser or similar client application. A webtop integrates web applications, web services, client–server applications, application servers, and applications on the local client into a desktop environment using the desktop metaphor. Web desktops provide an environment similar to that of Windows, Mac, or a graphical user interface on Unix and Linux systems. It is a virtual desktop running in a web browser. In a webtop the applications, data, files, configuration, settings, and access privileges reside remotely over the network. Much of the computing takes place remotely. The browser is primarily used for display and input purposes.
The terms "web desktop" and "webtop" are distinct from web operating system, a network operating system such as TinyOS or distributed operating system such as Inferno. In popular use, web desktops are sometimes referred to incorrectly as web operating systems or simply WebOS.
In the context of a web desktop, the term Webtop was first introduced by the Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) in 1994 for a web-based interface to their Unix operating system. This application was based on the provisional application entitled "The Adaptive Internet Protocol System" filed Nov. 13, 1997, serial number 60/065,521 and is the U.S. patent for the technology used in the Tarantella Webtop. Andy Bovingdon [1] and Ronald Joe Record, who both explored the concepts in different directions, are often credited as the inventors.[2] The initial SCO Webtop, developed by Record, utilized a Netscape Navigator plugin to display applications in a browser window via TightVNC. A trademark application for "SCO Webtop" was filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office on November 8, 1996. In order to avoid confusion with the more complex technology incorporated into the Tarantella Webtop it was abandoned on December 24, 1997 by The Santa Cruz Operation.[3]
Bovingdon's three tiered architecture (TTA) concept was launched as the Tarantella Webtop. This technology originated from early commercial use of web server technology by SCO. the first OS vendor to include a commercial web server, NCSA HTTPd, and commercial web browser, NCSA Mosaic. Their X.desktop product line, obtained when they acquired IXI Limited in the UK, was the first to have icons for URLs (controlled via the Deskshell[4] scripting language) and an HTML-based help system, called DeskHelp, which extended the NCSA Mosaic web browser to include APIs and scripting linked to the X.desktop product for interactive control. The IXI Limited scripting language based on Python was later replaced with JavaScript. Tarantella allowed real UNIX and Windows applications to be displayed within a web browser through the use of Java to form a true web based desktop or Webtop.
The first SCO Webtop releases were part of SCO Skunkware[5] before being integrated into SCO OpenServer version 5 and UnixWare 7.[6] Tarantella was subsequently purchased by Sun Microsystems and integrated into their Sun Secure Global Desktop.[7]
Byte magazine referred to the Webtop as a NUI (Network User Interface).[8]
More recently, Google released an operating system for web connection called ChromeOS and several 11-12" netbooks from Acer and Samsung have implemented the system. It is thought to represent a useful fraction (~10%) of the current (2012) netbook sales.
The following tables compare general and technical information for a number of web desktops.
| Name | Browser support | Developer | Engine | Free | License | 3rd party applications | Productivity Suite | Graphical user interface | Downloadable to Web server | Still Active | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G.ho.st | IE6+, Firefox2+, Safari. Partial: Chrome & Opera | Ghost Inc ("G.ho.st") | Flash + AJAX (mobile version is WAP) | Proprietary | Yahoo! Zimbra, Zoho, Google Docs, ILoveIM | Windows-like | ||||||
| Glide OS | IE7, Firefox 3, Safari, Chrome | TransMedia | HTML5 | (30 GB limit) | Proprietary | From Glide Community | Glide Write, Glide Presenter, Glide Crunch, Photo Editor, Email | Mac+Windows-like | ||||
| Nivio | IE7, IE8, Google Chrome, FF 4 | Sachin Dev Duggal, Saurabh Dhoot | In development | Proprietary | Yes | Windows | ||||||
| Online OS | FF 1.5 and higher, IE7 | iCUBE Network Solutions | Java, Ajax | Proprietary | Yes | Windows-like | ||||||
| OX App Suite | FF, IE 9/10, Chrome, Safari | Open-Xchange | JavaScript, HTML5 | Backend: GPLv2 Frontend: Creative Commons | Yes | Customizable | ||||||
| Oracle Secure Global Desktop | Any browser with a JRE | Oracle | AIP | Proprietary | Yes | Customizable | ||||||
| VMware View | IE, Firefox, Safari, Opera, Chrome | VMware | PCoIP, RDP, HTML5 | Proprietary | Yes | Customizable | ||||||
| xOS Webtop | FF 5.0+, Chrome 12+, Safari | XProduct | HTML5, PHP, JavaScript | Open Source: GPLv3 | Yes | Mac-like | ||||||
| IE 8/9, Firefox v12.0+, Chrome, Safari | ZeroDesktop, Inc. | HTML / HTML5, JavaScript, Java Applet, AJAX | Proprietary | Thinkfree Office, Cloud Storage Mashup, IM | Windows-like | |||||||
| Windows 96 | Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge | sys36 | HTML5/JavaScript/WebAssembly | Proprietary | None | Windows-like | ||||||
| Puter | Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edge | Puter Technologies Inc. | HTML5/JavaScript/WebAssembly/WebGL | AGPL-3.0 | None | Windows-like | ||||||
| Orb | Any browser | Hugo Leisink | jQuery, HTML, AJAX, PHP backend | Open Source (GPLv2) | None | Windows-like | ||||||
| SilveOS | Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, Edge | SilveOS | HTML5, JavaScript, Vue.js, Vuetify | Proprietary | Yes | Windows-like | ||||||
| Uranus | Any browser | Codingneko | HTML/Javascript | Open Source | None | Windows-like | ||||||
| Kasius-OS-13 | Any browser | Kasius Technologies | HTML/Javascript/CSS | Open Source | None | Windows-like | ||||||
| Win7 Simu | Any browser | Visnalize | HTML5, JavaScript, Vue.js | Proprietary | Yes | Windows-like |