Googlebook computers currently block manual installation of web apps the system does not recognize as compatible. Google says it plans to add the option to Chrome.
The issue surfaced when 9to5Google journalists had trouble installing Slack as a progressive web app. Googlebook marked it incompatible. Google said Slack does not meet PWA compatibility requirements, although Chrome OS on Chromebooks allows users to install such apps manually. The company said a similar option will come to Chrome on Googlebook.
Linux software also has limitations on the platform. The Terminal app provides a Debian command line for developer tools and programming environments. Running full graphical Linux applications is not a priority for the first version, Google said, adding that it would share more information about Terminal later.
Googlebook is primarily designed for Android apps from the Play Store and web apps. The store labels Android apps “Made for desktop,” “Optimized for desktop” or “Built for mobile.” The first category is designed for larger screens, keyboards and mice. Optimized apps have been adapted for computers, but the label does not guarantee that every part of the interface has been redesigned for desktop use. Mobile apps can run with phone-oriented layouts and have not been tested for computers.
Google introduced Linux app installation on Chromebooks in 2018, and the feature later became one way to broaden the software available on the platform. Google’s current description of Googlebook is more limited: the computers focus on Android apps, web services and developer tools in a Linux terminal.