ericlaw

App-to-Web Communication: Launching Web Apps

In recent posts, I’ve explored mechanisms to communicate from web content to local (native) apps, and I explained how web apps can use the HTML5 registerProtocolHandler API to allow launching them from either local apps or other websites. In today’s post, we’ll explore how local apps can launch web apps in the browser. It’s Simple…Continue reading “App-to-Web Communication: Launching Web Apps”

Microsoft’s Three Browsers

It’s an interesting time. Microsoft now maintains three different web browsers: Internet Explorer 11 Microsoft Edge Legacy (Spartan, v18 and below) Chromium-based Microsoft Edge (v79+) If you’re using Internet Explorer 11, you should stop; sometimes, this is easier said than done. If you’re using Legacy Microsoft Edge, you should upgrade to the new Microsoft EdgeContinue reading “Microsoft’s Three Browsers”

My New Chromium Build PC

While I do most of my work in an office, from time to time I work on code changes to Chromium at home. With the recent deprecation of Jumbo Builds, building the browser on my cheap 2016-era Dell XPS 8900 (i7-6700K) went from unpleasant to impractical. While I pondered buying a high-end Threadripper, I couldn’tContinue reading “My New Chromium Build PC”

Security Zones in Edge (and Chrome)

Last updated: 25 March 2025 Browsers As Decision Makers As a part of every page load, browsers have to make dozens, hundreds, or even thousands of decisions — should a particular API be available? Should a resource load be permitted? Should script be allowed to run? Should video be allowed to start playing automatically? ShouldContinue reading “Security Zones in Edge (and Chrome)”

Retiring Internet Explorer

Prelude In late 2004, I was the Program Manager for Microsoft’s clipart website, delivering a million pieces of clipart to Microsoft Office customers every day. It was great fun. But there was a problem– our “Clip of the Day” feature, meant to spotlight a new and topical piece of clipart every day, wasn’t changing asContinue reading “Retiring Internet Explorer”