How do I view a webapp in an application and call it up with a hotkey?

Question

I frequently visit a web app hosted on a nearby server, usually via browser bookmarks. I'd like to have a hotkey to "launch" it in an application with none of the browser toolbars or menus, since the web app can take care of its own navigation.

How can I do this? Chrome can place URL shortcuts on your desktop, but I'd like to know my options.

Answer 1

Firefox

Start FF with the -profilemanager command line switch and create a new profile. Set up this profile to now have any chrome at all (Most can be turned off, try Hide Menubar to get rid of the top bar).

Now, grab a copy of AutoHotKey, and try something like this:

#w::Run p:\ath\to\firefox.exe -P "Profile Name (Case Sensitive)" "http://url.to/webapp"

This would launch firefox, without chrome, at your webapp.

Answer 2

If using Firefox, check out the Prism (a Mozilla labs project).

Side Note: if using Windows, you can assign a shortcut hotkey to any desktop icon.

Answer 3

You can use the free Visual Studio Express and make your own .NET-application to display you webpage using the built in WebBrowser-control. It's not that hard even if you are not a programmer, you can find instructions here. The WebBrowser control uses the Internet Explorer engine. When making your own application you are in total control of the layout of the window, don't need any menubars etc. Then you can assign a hotkey to start your application.

You can of course hardcode the URL to your WebApp instead of using the textbox and browse-button in the image above.