If you haven’t realized it yet, widgets are here to stay and definitely represent what is currently the most ubiquitous way in which the web has been brought to the desktop. Google Desktop’s Gadgets, Windows Sidebar, OSX’s Dashboard, Opera and the venerable Yahoo Widgets (previously konfabulator) all bring tiny, self contained web pages into the users desktop space. For most people, this is the first thing that comes to mind when you mention taking the web to the desktop.

Widgets, however, are a very small piece of the puzzle. While they overcome some of the limitations of the web by placing your site front and center inside the users normal computing environment and provide some level of escape from the omnipresent security sandbox, widgets just don’t provide much that transcends the traditional web environment.

Widgets do have a role to play in the emerging web ecosystem. They are a lightweight means of integration between sites and they do provide useful tools for the user. Unfortunately, while they do provide a level of convenience, they can also provide a pretty severe level of annoyance to users. Luckily, they are very easy for users to uninstall and users vote with their mice removing any widgets they deem too annoying.

So where do widgets fit in the hybrid web ecosystem? I’m not really sure. They are definitely a motivating force behind the creation of several robust api’s for enabling the integration of disparate platforms and sites. They can also do a great job of providing alternative light weight interfaces for traditional web sites by putting underused tools closer to the daily user experience.

In my mind, I can’t really rule them out for many of my projects. They’re kind of like the gravy at a holiday meal. Even if the turkey is as moist as a swamp in June, you still make it because someone may want it and it isn’t that much more work once you’ve gone to the trouble of cooking the bird.

I’m curious, how are you using Widgets in your projects?

Mozilla has just released a prototype application called Prism.  It streamlines the creation of a Webrunner app through a simple wizard.  Great for getting your feet wet with Webrunner development or exploring the concept of offline use.  You’ll still need to write a custom webapp to deploy however.

Prism is currently Windows only, but a mac version seems to be in the works.

Find More Information

http://labs.mozilla.com/2007/10/prism/ 

What is WebRunner:

WebRunner is a simple XULRunner based browser that hosts web applications without the normal web browser user interface. WebRunner is based on a concept called Site Specific Browsers (SSB). An SSB is an application with an embedded browser designed to work exclusively with a single web application. It doesn’t have the menus, toolbars and accoutrement’s of a normal web browser. Some people have called it a “distraction free browser” because none of the typical browser chrome is used. An SSB also has a tighter integration with the OS and desktop than a typical web application running through a web browser. (From Wiki.Mozilla.Org )

What This Means For You

A webapp packaged with WebRunner looks and acts more like a native desktop application than a traditional web application. It provides a streamlined deployment environment and allows you to dramatically reduce the visual noise a browser provides.

Low Cost of Entry

At a bare minimum, a WebRunner app is simply a file that describes the url of your web application and a few basic settings. Your existing apps will port to the WebRunner environment without any changes at the server.

Added Functionality

Since a WebRunner app is executing in a known browser environment. Many additional capabilities are available. Using the XUL & XBL capabilities of firefox, Applications can take advantage of the OS native widget set. Firefox’s excellent native SVG support can be harnessed for powerful visuals & the relaxed security environment can allow for greater integration between the web application and client desktop.

Read More:

• LifeHacker Article
  
• WebRunner + Google Gears