Site-specific browser

A site-specific browser (SSB) is a software application that is dedicated to accessing pages from a single source (site) on a computer network such as the Internet or a private intranet. SSBs typically simplify the more complex functions of a web browser by excluding the menus, toolbars and browser chrome associated with functions that are external to the workings of a single site.

Site-specific browsers are often implemented through the use of existing application frameworks such as the Apple Computer developed, now open source WebKit, Microsoft Corporation's IE (the underlying engines, specifically Trident and JScript) and the Mozilla application framework. SSBs built upon these frameworks allow web applications and social networking tools to start with desktop icons and double click launching in a manner similar to standard non-network applications. Other technologies including Adobe's AIR use specialized development kits that can create cross-platform SSBs.

Applications

An early example of an SSB was MacDICT, a Macintosh OS 9 application that accessed various web sites to define, translate or find synonyms for words typed into a text box. A more current example is WeatherBug Desktop, which is a standalone client accessing information also available at the weatherbug.com website but configured to display real-time weather data for a user-specified location.

The first general purpose SSB is believed to be Bubbles which launched late 2005 on the Windows platform and later coined the term "Site Specific Extensions" for SSB userscripts and introduced the SSB Javascript API.

On 2 September 2008, the Google Chrome web browser was released for Windows operating systems. Although Chrome is a full featured browser using a WebKit based engine, it also contains a "Create application shortcut" [cite web |url=http://www.google.com/chrome/intl/en/features.html |title=Google Chrome - Features |accessdate=2008-09-03 |publisher=google.com] menu item that adds the ability to create a stand alone SSB window for any site. This is similar to Mozilla Prism, formerly known as WebRunner which is available as an add-on to the Firefox browser. [cite web |url=http://blog.coals2newcastle.com/2008/09/google-chrome-first-impressions.html |title=Google Chrome Fisrt Impressions |accessdate=2008-09-03 |publisher=coals2newcastle.com]

Examples of applications of SSBs in various situations include:

Social networking: dedicated application to access and use sites such as Facebook, MySpace, Twitter or personal blog pages

Email: dedicated to webmail sites such as Gmail, Hotmail or Yahoo! Mail

Business: CRM or ERP client for sites such as Salesforce.com, specific web/browser hybrid implementations such as Elements SBM or intranet pages from suites like those sold by Oracle or SAP

Mapping: SSB specific to maps from providers like Google Maps, Mapquest or Yahoo! Maps

Retail: desktop portal to major retailers that are accessed frequently or consumer services such as Carfax or CNET

Software

The following sites offer software or discussions that are helpful in developing personal or business SSB applications:

* Adobe Integrated Runtime (AIR) http://www.adobe.com/products/air/
* Bubbles http://bubbleshq.com/
* Elements SBM http://www.ntractive.com/
* Fluid http://fluidapp.com/
* Gabtastik http://www.gabtastik.com
* Hana http://alloutsoftware.com/hana/
* Mailplane http://mailplaneapp.com/
* Mango http://mango.browser.googlepages.com/
* Prism (formerly WebRunner) http://wiki.mozilla.org/Prism
* Pyro http://www.karppinen.fi/pyro/
* WebKit on Rails http://webkit.pbwiki.com/
* Webmail http://michael-mccracken.net/wp/2006/05/11/webmail-is-not-web-browsing/

References

In addition to information obtained from the sites listed in the Software section above, the following sites have been referenced:

* TechCrunch http://www.techcrunch.com/2008/04/07/bridging-desktop-and-web-applications-part-2/
* Mark Finkle's Weblog http://starkravingfinkle.org/blog/2007/03/site-specific-browser-webrunner/
* FactoryCity http://factoryjoe.com/blog/2007/10/23/site-specific-browsers-and-greasekit/
* Web Worker Daily http://webworkerdaily.com/2007/12/13/do-you-need-a-site-specific-browser/