*Result*: Web Browser as an Application Platform: The Lively Kernel Experience
*Further Information*
*For better or worse, the web browser has become a widely-used target platform for software applications. Desktop-style applications such as word processors, spreadsheets, calendars, games and instant messaging systems that were written earlier for specific operating systems, CPU architectures or devices are now written for the World Wide Web, to be used from a web browser by anyone, anywhere, anytime. The original design of the web browser dates back to the early 1990s. Given that the web browser was originally targeted at displaying static, page-structured documents, it is not surprising that the web browser is not an ideal execution environment for desktop-style applications. In this paper we summarize our experiences in using the web browser as a target platform for real applications. As a concrete example, we use the Sun ™ Labs Lively Kernel, a system that pushes the limits of the web browser by implementing a highly interactive web programming environment that runs in a web browser without installation or plug-in components. Based on this work, we analyze the limitations, challenges and opportunities related to the web browser as an application platform. We also provide recommendations for possible future improvements.*