Meeting minutes
martin's presentation: https://
martin: new trend of applications: chatbots by AI, GenUI
… we also like to discussion the potential topics around MiniApps for the rechartering
… [Slides 5]
… the current challenges and current activities
… Lifecycle, Distribution, Metadata, Reusability, Addressing, Widgets, Accessibility
… we still can not create one miniapps and deploy it to all the platforms
… we have started to look at Widgets
… one of the latest topics is to make MiniApps more inclusive
… [Slide 6]
… one of the major issues is the fact that DOM is missing
… if we pack a MiniApps and distribute it, one of the missing part is the concept of Origin
… MiniApps is using Domain specific language
… a HTML-like template
… we are considering HTML/API subset
… the role attributes is not enough to solve the accessibility issue
… the Semantics of elements are not there yet
… we reduced the priority of Widgets, we only collects some requirements
… you can find similar requirements in some other apps
… we are observing IWA and PWA
… a new way to pack
… we are looking into things they can offer, f.ex, Lifecycle
… it can also solve the A11y problem
… in terms of Distribution, IWA proposed Bundles, Signed Bundles
… and also including CSP
… [Slide 8]
… other ongoing discussions
… thank you for contributing to these discussions
… WebViews CG
… WinterTC, minimal subset of APIs, is what we wanted for MiniApps
… PWA, Installing
… something new, AI-generated light apps [demo]
… we might not need to full Web for this
… if we need to create lighter engines?
… the connection with the WebMCP technologies?
… we would like to include these discussion in the MiniApp WG recharter
… [Slides 10]
… if we boarded the scope, what should we change?
… shall we involve IWA to cover the gaps?
… these hubrid WebApps are running in the SuperApps
… what should we do about the native webapp engines?
… would like to hear your feedback
bkardell: this is a topic we need to get into and discuss
bkardell: Interested in this session
… Many people doing the same thing (packaging...). Many activities in parallel
… Stores for PWAs, bunddles...
… Some people may say: so far we have the Web, and perhaps we only need to keep integrity
… There is a lot of people working on Web techonology that need more powerful features (multiple windows)...
… Relevant also is to consider IPFS.
… Miniapps are very unique, and very specific.
… Recommendation: to draft a Charter to bring this people together
… A lot missing here, but we should build toguether
xiaoqian: I've spoken to the Chinese ecosystem
… Everyone has implemented their own solutions on their platforms
… However they have requirements:
… Connect MiniApps with MCP
… Another, a subset for the Web (standards)
… Web agents and accessibility is another topic. Perhaps for a broader discussion
… I agree with you, we still have to fill many gaps
bkardell: Accessibility gap? If you talked about subsets.
… Please clarifiy it.
martin: I tested some popular Chinese MiniApps, most of them are poor at accessibility
… semantic features are missing
… mostly CSS on DIVs
… lack of desc on images
… instead of reusing all the elements we have for HTML
[hyojin asked for clarification on Slide 10]
martin: this figure came from a previous discussion of the MiniApps community
… it explains some possible ways to allow MiniApps to work with the Web engines and AI (WebMCP)
bkardell: This reminds me to Java in the early days
… The Web changes through evolution, not revolution
… We should create something not too new, but to cover the scopes of more people (embedded web views, etc)
tidoust: We tried multiple times and failed
… when we had to change the security model
… IWAs, the negative feedback is that it gives the power of apps in different contexts
… Not sure how to address this
… Subset and subsetting should not be a big problem...
… WinterTC, they need to consider and worry on the same things....
… I'm not against it, just to help to build the message
Martin: I will continue the discussion offline with the WebView CG and the Chinese Community
… please provide feedback as soon as possible
… I already have an early draft
… I'll share it with the group soon
<tidoust> +1 to changing the group name, e.g., to something like "Embedded web apps"
bkardell: An early draft text on the charter could help to spread the word
[adjourned]
tidoust: Having a text is always better for starting the review.