So after messing about with browsers a lot on many different versions of Linux, I have seen that Firefox and any forks of it, all have great touchscreen keyboard support, and the opposite for anything Chrome based.
But on any of these locked down Linux versions like Bazzite, we cant install the PWA packages that add PWA support to Firefox (It should support this by default, but that for another argument), I would love to see these packages as an install option along side the browser install selection, as its impossible to add these as a generic normie.
Although I prefer Brave over Firefox, it would be nice to have the choice to use Firefox with progressive web apps instead of Brave.
Yes, I already use Brave for this task, which is Chromium based, but as mentioned, any Chromium based browser will not trigger the virtual keyboard under Linux, only Firefox based browsers do, so it would be nice to have the this option added if you want to use a Firefox based browser.
This is not an issue for a desktop, HTPC or even a standard laptop, but is an issue with a tablet PC or a handheld game console, on all other standard Linux OS I just install this PWA package and use Firefox as there is no way to force the onscreen keyboard at all, I know we can on Bazzite, but its still annoying.
The WebApp manager has support for Firefox (but not the variants like Floorp and Zen) and the Chromium-ites (at the very least Vivaldi, Edge and Brave). Have you tried it already?
Okay, just tested the Webapp-Manager, this not a great experience, its much much worse than the PWA extension, the web apps that are created are awefully, menus popping in and out, swaping from right to left, the window doesnt really act like a PWA, more like a browser window that auto hides the address bar, also not sure what its doing with profiles, the experience on Brave is far better as well.
I stand by my request of needing the PWA extension packages to be including in order to make Firefox a more usable option, either that or Chrome based browsers need to figure out how to invoke the virtual keyboard.
Yes, I tested this last month, currently works only on a select version of Firefox, and it sucks badly, the PWA addon is currently better than Chrome’s support too, I use PWA’s for local intranet HTTP GUI’s and the FIrefox PWA addon allows you to not have that stupid “Insecure” crap constantly showing at the top of the PWA, this cant be removed on both the Chrome and Firefox implementation of PWA’s but is not an issue under the addon, I don’t want or need SSL for local network content, so taking up space at the top of the full screen window to show me something I already know is just annoying to me.
Well, I just did my regular monthly test of new software and operating systems, and I’m glad to announce this issue is a non issue, Brave and other Chromium based browsers all now invoke the onscreen keyboard, and I have process to strip away the “Not secure” banner and the top bar, and turn the Chromium based web app into something that actually looks like an app, always full screen, and no boarders.
I think I will do a YouTube tutorial on this, will be done on Bazzite, but should be repeatable on any system running KDE
