Quick App

Status: In preparation

Initiative Objective: The OW2 Quick App initiative will focus on Quick Apps, a new platform to build and interact using a new paradigm of light hybrid applications. These apps do not require installation and enable quick and easy access.

Initiative Name: The official name is "OW2 Quick App" (QAi), but we are open to any suggestion for a more "marketing" name.

The Quick App initiative (abbreviated simply to "QAI") is focused on Quick Apps, a new platform for building light hybrid applications that do not require installation and so enable a near-instant "see-acquire-use" app dynamic for users. Quick Apps can deliver a comparable experience to native apps but with less development code and less acquisition friction.

• Visit the portal.
• Read the White Paper.
• Access the code repository.
• Join the initiative by registering.
• And please feel free to subscribe to the mailing list. Please, subscribe here

Some Context

In January 2021, the W3C, supported by the leading technology companies, launched the MiniApp Working Group. This group aims to define standards for a new paradigm of light hybrid applications called MiniApps. The MiniApp technology is based on front-end Web technologies like XML, CSS, JavaScript, and Web APIs, yet offers advanced access to device features and supports native rendering. Importantly, MiniApps are designed to run on a runtime engine close to the device OS rather than in a browser, and as such, should be platform agnostic.

The OW2 Quick App initiative promotes a concrete implementation of the abstract MiniApp standard, allowing light applications in native environments for smart devices.

Quick App is a way to develop, package, and distribute MiniApp compliant applications across platforms, facilitating the process of development through advanced UI components and predefined native APIs (e.g., push notifications, network monitoring, Bluetooth, or camera) that enable developers to design and build usable, reliable and efficient applications rapidly. What's more, as the MiniApp standard matures, the implementation of runtime engines for devices facilitates a "code once, deploy anywhere" paradigm. A clear benefit for developers and businesses.

Objectives

The initiative explores vertical applications where Quick Apps have the potential to be part of a solution, as well as transversal activities that further core technologies across verticals, including (as appropriate) usability, accessibility, sustainability, privacy, security, and ethical standards.
The initiative has four key aims:

• Raise awareness and understanding about Quick Apps in business and developer communities.
• Develop a commons of technical knowledge, guidelines, and best practices.
• Feed into the emerging W3C MiniApp standard (and act as a dissemination channel).
• Develop Open Source code about Quick Apps. For example, tools, code templates, plugins for IDEs, test-beds, Etc.

Participants

The OW2 Quick App initiative has been launched by the following organisations:

• Huawei, (initiative chair) member of the W3C MiniApp standard working group and active promoter of Quick Apps.
• FRVR, a successful games development company actively using Quick Apps as a means to distribute applications.
• European Alliance for Technology Development (Alliance Tech), an Association that offers a co-creation framework for investors, entrepreneurs, private and public sector leaders, academia and R&D centers, developing uses cases.
• RSI, a new foundation in the process of being launched out of Switzerland to promote sustainability. RSI is interested in leveraging Quick Apps to enable sustainability in domains such as Fashion.
• Santillana: a leading company that transformed education in Latin America and Spain through innovative platforms and digital content. Interested in exploring the Quick App paradigm as a new concept to deliver content to students.
• Famobi, a pioneer in the H5 gaming industry using the newest cross-platform technologies to bring native app-quality to the web. The company has been working with Quick Apps since 2019.
• CTIC: Research and innovation center working on smart territories, active aging and well-being, and industrial digital transformation, interested in exploring new Quick App use

The initiative is transparent and meritocratic, and governed by a charter that has been drafted and peer-reviewed by the launch participants above and the OW2 Board.
(If you would like to share feedback with us about the charter please do so).

Initiative Deliverables

The initiative fosters the authoring of documents and the development of dedicated tools and runtime software engines. New projects submitted to the OW2 code base and other significant deliverables are listed in the developers' section.

Events

Launched at OW2con'21 in June 2021, the inititiative will promote its activities at various events as it makes progress.
The initiative will be showcased at Paris Open Source Experience (OSXP) in November 2021.

You are welcome to participate

The Quick App Initiative is expected to have a wide variety of participants, opening the participation to any interested organization or individual, including, but not limited to:
    • Any organization or individual regardless of geographic location;
    • Operating system and device vendors that implement Quick App engines, marketplaces and other supporting tools for Quick Apps;
    • Content and service providers interested in end-user interactions using Quick Apps;
    • Marketing experts interested in the promotion of Quick Apps as a paradigm;
    • Developers, including professionals, hobbyists and students, interested in Web and native app technologies;
    • Public institutions, including municipalities, with specific needs such as accessible services for citizens and visitors;
    • Research centers and academic institutions interested in innovation through agile technologies;
    • Innovative entrepreneurs and SMEs.