Google today published a new resource for developers interested in building applications for Chrome OS (the operating system that powers its ecosystem of Chromebook computers) gives the company.
In a blog post, iein valdez, Head of Chrome OS Developer Relations, said Chromebooks, along with laptops traditional, are experiencing a rebirth thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic that has forced people to spend more time on computers.
With so much time on their hands, people are increasingly ditching their mobile phones in favor of bigger screens.
"Whether they're video chatting with friends and family, discovering entertaining apps and games, multitasking at work, or pursuing an exciting project, bigger screens and better performance have made all the difference," said Valdez.
With the increasingly popular Chromebooks, it's natural that more developers are also interested in the Chrome OS platformTherefore Google has announced the release of ChromeOS.dev, a new website available in English and Spanish that is packed with resources that include technical documentation and developer tools, new product announcements and more.
It doesn't matter if you're a web, Android or Linux developer - you'll find tools, help, and best practices at chromeOS.dev that will help you create a great app that fits well and takes advantage of all that Chromebooks bring to the table.
The resource is also packed with blog posts and video tutorials. created by Google developers and other Chrome OS experts, where share tips, benefits, and challenges of building app experiences for the Chromebook platform.
chromeOS.dev also allows new developers to review the new Chrome OS design and the UX application quality guidelines that must be followed to create games and progressive web applications, or web-based applications, for Chrome OS.
Clearly Chrome OS team is very excited for the perspective of what is to come from this new site / PWA.
Publicize the tools and basic awareness to developers is key to truly improving the app experience on Chrome OS in the future.
With chromeOS.dev , the team will now have a clear and concise portal to not only deliver the necessary tools and guidance to application developers, but also a platform to share updates and news.
Some of new features for developers available through ChromeOS.dev include a new customizable Linux terminal It offers custom features like built-in tabs and shortcuts designed to make multitasking easier.
As well developers may customize terminal in which they work by selecting different themes for the background, frame, font, and cursor point, and they can even customize the settings menu to their personal tastes.
chromeOS.dev it also presents compatibility with the Android emulator on Chrome OS, which means Chromebooks can now be used to write and test Android apps.
With the Android emulator, developers can test their apps on any version of Android and any type of device, without the need for the hardware itself.
As well allows simulating different map locationsfor example, as well as other sensor data to see how your application performs in different orientations and under various environmental conditions.
The idea is that developers can optimize their applications for multiple versions and devices, including foldable tablets and phones, from one place.
Other new features include an improved project wizard in Android Studio that can support multiple layouts for various phones and tablets.
There is also an improved default check in Android's lint tool, designed to help developers fix encoding issues that affect application performance on larger screens.
The ChromeOS.dev website is this.