A few months back Firefox announced it was finally adding support for Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) after years of ignoring its own user’s requests to do so.

If you’re running a recent Firefox Nightly build, you can now flicking the switch on an experimental hidden flag — browser.taskbarTabs.enabled — in the about:config page to enable the feature (which Mozilla is calling Taskbar Tabs).

Right now, enabling that flag won’t do anything (on any platform). But the fact the flag has been added ought to mean the feature itself isn’t too far behind.

In anticipation, here’s a look at what we might expect from Firefox’s overdue support for PWAs.

Firefox Web App Support is Coming

Firefox’s web app integration will intentionally not look, feel, or behave the same way similar features do in other web browsers, like Chromium, GNOME Web, etc.

Rather, Firefox product manager David Rubino says the aim is to “offer features that help you get a more app-like experience for any website you choose, when you choose” but without users feeling like they’re not using Firefox.

This means the browser will not focus on supporting PWAs specifically, i.e., all of the features and capabilities found in the PWA spec and supported in other browsers/platforms (like Android).

Similarly, Rubino says web apps in Firefox will not use a minimal browser frame and will continue to show a main toolbar with address bar, extensions, bookmarks – though the ‘new tab’ button will be replaced with a button to open a normal Firefox window.

“Web apps are still websites in a web browser, so the goal will be to fully maintain access to features that help you with the website itself, while de-emphasising features that are about managing multiple websites,” he adds.

Visual finesse aside, Firefox’s upcoming Taskbar Apps feature will do most of what you’d expect:

  1. Web apps show their own launcher icons in app menus/docks/taskbars
  2. Web apps should remain open until closed
  3. Web apps can handle links to their website instead of opening a browser window/tab

It will also do a few things differently, too.

The plan it to allow any browser tab to transition to ‘web app mode’, even temporarily, without the need to sign-in again. Web apps will support link association, e.g., clicking an X link in a normal Firefox window open the X web app (if installed) – the way things work on mobile.

“I think we can improve upon the current experience offered by other web browsers by offering one-step setup, retaining access to core browser features, and allowing links to be “captured” automatically,” Rubino concludes.

Considering how long web app tools, single-site browsers and PWA integrations have been knocking around, Firefox’s proposed approach reads more like ‘minimum-viable product with minimum of effort’ than an innovative spin on the concept.

However, better late than never.

Enable Web Apps in Firefox Nightly

Vertical tabs, proper profile management, and tab groups are three long-standing user requested features Firefox has finally gotten around to adding (latter two still in beta).

Now, support for “installing” web apps joins them.

When introducing its proposal, Mozilla devs said they’d listen to feedback from users about it but then went quiet, not providing any updates or responses to questions raised.

The latest Firefox nightly builds on Windows, macOS and Linux gain a hidden preference to enable the new ‘taskbar tabs’ (aka web apps) feature so work on the feature has clearly continued despite a lack of public engagement on it.

Alas, flipping the preference to true doesn’t appear to enable/activate anything yet, on Windows, macOS or Linux.

But if the feature is something you’d use, and you keep a copy of Firefox Nightly installed, it will be worth keeping an eye on things in the next few weeks…

Is web app support in Firefox something you’d make use of, something you’ve been longing for, or something you’re not that bothered by? Let me know in the comments!