WebDesktopGL Framework Turns Web Sites into Desktop Apps on Astra Linux via Chromium

WebDesktopGL is an open-source framework that converts web applications into standalone desktop programs using a local Chromium engine. It was developed specifically for Astra Linux to meet strict licensing requirements that prohibit unlicensed software. The solution supports both X11 and Wayland sessions and has been tested on Ubuntu 24.04 KDE, Ubuntu 22.04 KDE, and Astra Linux 1.8. Key technical components include a modified VirtualGL build for GPU acceleration inside Xephyr or Xvfb virtual displays, custom clipboard synchronization via xclip, and a lightweight xdotool_xseticon utility for window management. Two launch scripts are provided: InfoDoc.sh for full isolation on a virtual X server and InfoDoc_light.sh for simpler direct execution suitable for remote deployment. The project aims to serve as a lightweight, license-compliant alternative to Electron for Linux environments.

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WebDesktopGL is a new open-source framework that allows developers to run web sites as native desktop applications on Astra Linux and other Linux distributions by leveraging a local Chromium instance.

The project was created after an information system based on an existing web platform had to be delivered under strict licensing constraints that forbade the use of unlicensed software. Instead of adopting Electron, the author built a custom solution using Bash scripts, a recompiled VirtualGL, and a local copy of ungoogled-chromium.

Technical Implementation

The framework supports both X11 and Wayland sessions. On X11 it can launch Chromium inside an Xephyr virtual display with GPU acceleration provided by the modified VirtualGL build. Clipboard synchronization between the host and the virtual display is handled by xclip.

Two main launch scripts are included:

  • InfoDoc.sh – full version that creates an isolated Xephyr session, applies window icon and title via the custom xdotool_xseticon utility, and enables GPU acceleration where available.
  • InfoDoc_light.sh – simplified version that runs Chromium directly without a virtual display, making it suitable for remote deployment over scp.

The repository also contains the source for xdotool_xseticon, example animated icons, and a demo web application featuring a 3D scene, PDF viewer based on pdf.js, and image viewer supporting common formats.

Installation is automated by Install_bash_WebDesktopGL.sh, which installs build dependencies, compiles VirtualGL and the icon utility, and unpacks the bundled Chromium archive. The framework has been verified on Ubuntu 24.04 (KDE), Ubuntu 22.04 (KDE), and Astra Linux 1.8.

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