Android Deep Links, iOS Universal Links, ...

["Soni L." <[e-mail]>]

hello HTTP WG.

(disclaimer: this list member uses "we" instead of "I"; if you'd like to 
ignore its post because of this, you can do so now.)

have y'all seen these?

Universal Links - Apple Developer 
https://developer.apple.com/ios/universal-links/
Create Deep Links to App Content | Android Developers 
https://developer.android.com/training/app-links/deep-linking

for a short explainer: you have https links, you have a browser, and you 
have an app. the same link works in both the browser and the app, and 
the OS picks the app if you have the app installed.

the most important part of the process - and why these exist - is the 
fact it's the same link. if it weren't the same link, then nobody would 
use it, because it'd make the links unusable to anyone without the app.

another important part that isn't immediately obvious, but it's 
something you'd feel if it were any different, is how this happens 
entirely client-side. it's 0-RTT, you get instant feedback when you 
click the link, and you don't get multiple app switches (this is 
critical for accessibility, by the way).

we have a few questions we would like to ask the HTTP WG about this:

- why isn't there something like this on the desktop? desktops have apps 
too.
- why isn't there something like this that can support, say, atom feeds 
or mastodon posts? obviously you wouldn't want the apps to carry a 
preloaded list of every single atom feed or mastodon instance that 
exists out there (tho some apps do in fact do exactly that), but maybe 
there's another way to make it work? (may require special browser 
support, but that should not be a blocker.)
- if we were to work on this, would the HTTP WG be interested in that work?

personally we would love to have proper support for the kinds of 
integrations these features enable, especially on the desktop. we are 
unaware of any prior work in this area.