Creating a Javascript local application(ran in browser)?

Question

I'd like to write an application that would use both Javascript and HTML as for the user interface. The app wouldn't really need an internet connection but will need access to the user's local files.

My first thought was that this would be impossible in a browser due to the security restrictions on the access to local files.

My second thought was to try to use webkit directly from C++ and use Python instead of Javascript, but that seems rather complicated, and I feel like overkilling by using Qt.

My third thought was to use a signed Java applet to make all local accesses, but then I'm not too sure of this either.

Any suggestions on what I should do?

Answer 1

I'll admit that I know very little about this, but it sounds like what you're after is what XUL provides.

From the homepage:

XUL (XML User Interface Language) is Mozilla's XML-based language that lets you build feature-rich cross platform applications that can run connected or disconnected from the Internet.

...

Web developers already familiar with Dynamic HTML (DHTML) will learn XUL quickly and can start building applications right away.

Regarding filesystem access: https://developer.mozilla.org/en/Code_snippets/File_I//O

This article describes local file input/output in chrome JavaScript.

You access the file system using Mozilla XPCOM components. A list of resources and interfaces for local I/O is available for both Files and Streams at XUL Planet.

Because of my lack of familiarity, I'll leave it up to the community to decide whether or not this answer has merit.

EDIT: Making this answer a community wiki since I don't have much real information to offer.

Answer 2

It seems, 5 years after the question was asked, there is a framework to do exactly this: build cross platform desktop app with JavaScript, HTML, and CSS, and with access to local files, http://electron.atom.io/.

I have not used it myself, but it is recommended in other answers.