741439 - Cannot start multiple instances of the same app from the about:apps page

Status: VERIFIED WORKSFORME

(Firefox for Android Graveyard :: Web Apps (PWAs), defect)

Description

[Jason Smith [:jsmith]]

Steps:

	1. Install the latest fennec native nightly
	2. Go to apps.mozillalabs.com/appdir
	3. Select an app to install and hit ok
	4. Go to about:apps
	5. Select the app you just installed to launch it
	6. Go back to about:apps on the tab still open
	7. Select the app you just installed to launch it

Expected:

Another instance of the app should start in a new tab when launching a second app.

Actual:

The tab with the app already opened is refocused. This is inconsistent behavior with how you launch apps from shortcuts from the homescreen, which does allow launching of the same app multiple times. We need to be consistent, although I'd be more in favor in allowing multiple instances of the same app to be ran.

Additional Notes:

UX needs to comment here to indicate what the best workflow is for the user.

Device: Samsung Galaxy Nexus
OS: Android 4.02
Build: Fennec Native Nightly

Comment 1

[Mark Finkle (:mfinkle) (use needinfo?)]

I do not believe we want to start new instances of applications on each launch. The webapp is supposed to act like a native app, and native apps just show the existing instance.

Comment 2

[Jason Smith [:jsmith]]

Note - We'll need to make sure that the following two scenarios are consistent then:

- Launch app from homescreen shortcut
- Launch app from about:apps

Comment 3

[Mark Finkle (:mfinkle) (use needinfo?)]

(In reply to Jason Smith from comment #2)
> Note - We'll need to make sure that the following two scenarios are
> consistent then:
> 
> - Launch app from homescreen shortcut
> - Launch app from about:apps

Right. Bug 737050 will have that logic in it.

Comment 4

[Mark Finkle (:mfinkle) (use needinfo?)]

(In reply to Jason Smith from comment #2)
> Note - We'll need to make sure that the following two scenarios are
> consistent then:
> 
> - Launch app from homescreen shortcut
> - Launch app from about:apps

Given that these will be consistent, I am closing the bug as WFM since the current "single instance" is the desired behavior.

Comment 5

[Jason Smith [:jsmith]]

Okay. Should we open a separate bug then to track the requirement for "single instance" for launching an app from the homescreen shortcut, since that does multiple instances right now?

Comment 6

[Jason Smith [:jsmith]]

Change what I said in comment 5. The implementation in bug 737050 will handle this issue in comment 5, correct?

Comment 7

[Mark Finkle (:mfinkle) (use needinfo?)]

(In reply to Jason Smith from comment #6)
> Change what I said in comment 5. The implementation in bug 737050 will
> handle this issue in comment 5, correct?

Correct. Bug 737050 will enforce "single instance" launching from homescreen.