Experimental and emerging web APIs

Abstract

Experimental web application programming interfaces (web APIs) are emerging technologies that provide access to device hardware and software functionality through web applications. These APIs allow web developers to create more sophisticated and powerful web applications that can access features traditionally only available to native applications. However, as these APIs are still in development, they are prone to limitations and changes that could potentially affect web application development. For the purposes of this master’s thesis, twelve experimental and emerging web APIs have been identified, collected and analyzed with a specific focus on hardware APIs. These APIs are essential in demonstrating how web browsers can be enhanced with new features and capabilities. The ultimate goal of using the browser as an operating system is to provide web applications with the same level of access to hardware and software features as native applications, thus using the browser as an operating system. Through collecting and analyzing experimental web APIs, we can help achieve this goal by identifying which APIs are successful, which ones need improvement, and which ones need to be replaced. Furthermore, this analysis aims to demonstrate the adoption rate of experimental, hardware-related web APIs, which can help prioritize resources and development efforts for improving the web ecosystem. By measuring their adoption rate by developers, as well as actual usage, we can determine which APIs are currently gaining popularity and which ones may need further development. Additionally, the analysis of experimental web APIs can reveal potential security and privacy concerns that need to be addressed before APIs are fully integrated into web browsers. Overall, this thesis aims to provide valuable insights into the future of web application development and the potential of the web browser as a full-fledged operating system.