This is why Google has made a decision to end support for Chrome apps on Windows, and by early 2018, users will no longer have the possibility to load Google apps on their devices.
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However, on Chrome OS, the operating system that powers Chromebooks, Chrome apps will keep on supported and maintained for the foreseeable future. Only Chrome OS users would be able to access new Chrome applications, while old Chrome applications will remain available on all platforms.
A clear push from Google to Chrome is “Developers who can’t fully move their apps to the web can help us prioritize new APIs to help fill the gaps left by Chrome apps”.
As a developer the only cost was having to conform to the packaged apps API and prepare a manifest.
Also, Chrome applications won’t work on Linux, Mac, and Windows by the time 2018 begins. Apps will no longer be able to load on these platforms, which will have the process of discontinuation winded up.
“Additional enhancements to the Chrome apps platform will apply only to Chrome OS devices, including kiosks”, the post added. Google introduced apps in Chrome WebStore back in 2013 to provide users functions that were not available on web.
But the number of affected won’t be that significant as only 1% of users actually use these hosted apps. Google has also recommended developers to switch to Electron or NW.js to rope web applications as native applications.
You can build an extension pure and simple – not sure why this is even suggested as a good idea because if this had been the way to go why bother creating a Chrome App in the first place. Yes this does seem to be a serious suggestion.
Google is likely to shift its focus on OS development and abstain from Chrome packaged app development going forward.
In the bigger context Google is busy unifying Android and Chrome OS. Android apps are being made available now for a few selected Chromebooks.
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Every beginning has an end and it shouldn’t come as surprise Google’s decision to suspend its Chrome apps on Windows since they no longer attract users.
