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.
HabrAug 31, 2026Translated from Russian