GNOME Makes Progress On Sandboxed Applications

[justmy2cents]

No, docker uses lxc (Linux containers) which uses cgroups and everything runs on the same kernel - just the same as GnomeApps. The plan is that Gnome Apps will be able to share versioned library bundles and each app will be linked to one of those runtime bundles (like Android apps have runtimes for 1.2, 1.3, 1.4... Similar thing) So with docker you have a base filesystem with some kind of versioned overlays, and with Gnome Apps you will have some kind of overlay filesystem built from the archives of libraries. Different but similar.

Of course there will be controversy over whether other distributions and desktops want, or will, support these apps or not. Hypothetically they might, but the history of cross desktop integration in Linux is not encouraging (do we even have shared contacts yet? A fundamental that has worked across Android apps since 1.0, but failed to materialise on the Linux desktop in, what, 20+ years?)

has there been any consideration on how to lower the amount of runtimes? most runtimes using this method usually have longer periods between runtime versions. one runtime for gnome each 6 months... wouldn't spell really good

as far as shared address book and other facilities. there's no need for one, there is a need for universal IPC API for that. at that point one could pick his poison and just enjoy no matter where his data is being stored. otherwise it will never work for basic reasons. like if Gnome app gets picked, KDE users starting whine and vice versa. it should all be just like method of picking default browser just preset on your current desktop after installation