Offline Web Application with Google Gears

All of your application based on web? There is no more hindrance to run that application in your computer while it is offline. Google Gears ready to help you.

Google Gears is open source software, that is a browser extension which enable to developer to create web application that can run while offline.

Google Gears equip three key features:

  1. Local server that has function as a craw for application resource like text, image, and script without have to contact server.

  2. Database to save and access data from browser

  3. Worker thread pool to make web application more responded.

Google Gears enable for both of Firefox (1.5 and more) and IE (6 and more), also can use in Windows, MacOS, and Linux. According to Google, this software still in development and beta status, and more purposed to developer. Nonetheless, you do not must become programmer to use Google Gears. Several web application (some applications are google services) supported this extension.

Install and Try Google Gears

First step is open http://gears.google.com, use supported browser.

Install this application with clicking the right link. If you run IE, you will requested to download executable bundle, named GoogleGearsSetup.exe, while at Mozilla Firefox, Google Gears treated as other extension. After finish, restart your browser.

To test this extension, try to open web application which supported, like Google Reader (google.com/reader).

While open supported web application, you will be asked to give permission to that site(s) to use Google Gears. Give permission to that site. Then that application will run as like usual, but if you sharp, you should find small icon or link to change web application to offline mode.

If you close browser, and open it again in offline mode, you can run web application without connected to internet. At IE, make sure that option File ? Work Offline already checked, same as Firefox. Not all of web application features in online mode can use in offline mode, like add new RSS channel.


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