Web desktop explained

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.

History

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.

Advantages

Convenience: A personalized desktop on every supported client device
  • Mobility: Access your desktop anywhere there is a supported client device
  • Session management: Server-side session management allows roaming users to access restored sessions from anywhere
  • Software management:
  • Security:
    High availability:

    Drawbacks

    Security: Because all data is transferred over the internet, it might be possible for a cracker to intercept the connection and read data. Although with the use of https 256-bit encryption and access control lists, this can be safe-guarded.
  • Speed: When using a web desktop the whole code used for visualization (.js/.css files, Flash player files, etc.) needs to be transferred to the local computer, so that it can be displayed. Further, network latency or congestion can intermittently slow webtop activity. Offline application storage can mitigate this issue.[9] [10]
  • Application features: Some webtop-delivered applications may not contain the full feature set of their traditional desktop counterparts.
  • Network Access: Web desktops require access to a network. If the client device is misconfigured or the network is unreachable then the web desktop is unavailable.
  • Controlled access: In some webtop implementations and deployments a user's access to some applications and data can be restricted. This is also considered an advantage of webtops but can be viewed as a drawback from the user's perspective.
  • Central control: The normal webtop user is not able to install additional applications or update existing applications. Updates typically must be performed by an administrator on the server side. Webtop users are dependent upon the webtop administrator whereas in the traditional desktop environment the user can fix and/or break the system by installing new software or updates. This can also be seen as an advantage for webtops.
  • Comparison of web desktops

    The following tables compare general and technical information for a number of web desktops.

    NameBrowser supportDeveloperEngineFreeLicense3rd party applicationsProductivity SuiteGraphical user interfaceDownloadable to Web serverStill Active
    G.ho.stIE6+, Firefox2+, Safari. Partial: Chrome & OperaGhost Inc ("G.ho.st")Flash + AJAX (mobile version is WAP)ProprietaryYahoo! Zimbra, Zoho, Google Docs, ILoveIMWindows-like
    Glide OSIE7, Firefox 3, Safari, ChromeTransMediaHTML5 (30 GB limit)ProprietaryFrom Glide CommunityGlide Write, Glide Presenter, Glide Crunch, Photo Editor, EmailMac+Windows-like
    NivioIE7, IE8, Google Chrome, FF 4Sachin Dev Duggal, Saurabh DhootIn developmentProprietaryYesWindows
    Online OSFF 1.5 and higher, IE7iCUBE Network SolutionsJava, AjaxProprietaryYesWindows-like
    OX App SuiteFF, IE 9/10, Chrome, SafariOpen-XchangeJavaScript, HTML5Backend: GPLv2 Frontend: Creative CommonsYesCustomizable
    Oracle Secure Global DesktopAny browser with a JREOracleAIPProprietaryYesCustomizable
    VMware ViewIE, Firefox, Safari, Opera, ChromeVMwarePCoIP, RDP, HTML5ProprietaryYesCustomizable
    xOS WebtopFF 5.0+, Chrome 12+, SafariXProductHTML5, PHP, JavaScriptOpen Source: GPLv3YesMac-like
    IE 8/9, Firefox v12.0+, Chrome, SafariZeroDesktop, Inc.HTML / HTML5, JavaScript, Java Applet, AJAXProprietaryThinkfree Office, Cloud Storage Mashup, IM Windows-like
    Windows 96Chrome, Firefox, Microsoft Edgesys36HTML5/JavaScript/WebAssemblyProprietaryNoneWindows-like
    PuterChrome, Firefox, Microsoft EdgePuter Technologies Inc.HTML5/JavaScript/WebAssembly/WebGLAGPL-3.0NoneWindows-like
    OrbAny browserHugo LeisinkjQuery, HTML, AJAX, PHP backendOpen Source (GPLv2)NoneWindows-like
    SilveOSChrome, Safari, Firefox, Opera, EdgeSilveOSHTML5, JavaScript, Vue.js, VuetifyProprietaryYesWindows-like
    UranusAny browserCodingnekoHTML/JavascriptOpen SourceNoneWindows-like
    Kasius-OS-13Any browserKasius TechnologiesHTML/Javascript/CSSOpen SourceNoneWindows-like
    Win7 SimuAny browserVisnalizeHTML5, JavaScript, Vue.jsProprietaryYesWindows-like

    See also

    References

    Notes and References

    1. Andrew J Bovingdon presented a Human Computer Interaction poster on the subject of Webtops at WWW2 in Chicago, 1994 entitled "Adding a new dimension to the desktop", https://web.archive.org/web/20041231084638/http://archive.ncsa.uiuc.edu/SDG/IT94/Agenda/Posters-received.html
    2. The Santa Cruz Operation Technical White Paper, Tarantella --The Universal Application Server, July, 1997
    3. See uspto.gov, click on "Trademarks -> Search TM Database", and perform a Basic search for "Webtop". The only earlier occurrences in both the Patent and Trademark databases are for systems unrelated to a web desktop context.
    4. http://osr600doc.sco.com/en/man/html.XC/deskshell.XC.html DeskShell
    5. http://www.sco.com/skunkware/relnotes.html SCO Skunkware Release Notes
    6. http://docsrv.sco.com/Webtop/Webtophome.html UnixWare
    7. News: Sun Microsystems Completes Tarantella Acquisition . 2008-04-04 . 2005-07-13 . Associated Press .
    8. Web site: BYTE Magazine - July 1997 / Cover Story / Good-Bye, GUI....Hello, NUI . www.byte.com . 17 January 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/19990420054209/http://www.byte.com/art/9707/sec5/art1.htm . 20 April 1999 . dead.
    9. [Web app|Web Application]
    10. http://diveintohtml5.org/offline.html How offline application cache works