It has come to light that Googlebook currently has certain technical limitations regarding its web app installation features and Linux app execution environment.
In Chrome on Googlebook, only websites meeting Progressive Web App (PWA) requirements can be installed, and Linux applications do not support direct launching from the app launcher.
According to a statement from Google reported by 9to5Google, manual installation functionality for non-PWA sites is expected to be added in the near future.
Manual Web App Installation Limits and Upcoming Fixes
Chrome on Googlebook supports installing websites that comply with PWA specifications.
However, websites that do not meet PWA standards—such as Slack or Discord—cannot be manually installed as standalone windows from the browser.
While Chromebooks provided a feature to turn non-PWA sites into standalone apps, this manual installation functionality is currently omitted on Googlebook.
As reported by 9to5Google, Google has acknowledged this limitation and stated that it will soon add the ability to manually install non-PWA websites to Chrome on Googlebook, though no specific timeline was given.
Linux App Launch Restrictions and Current Architecture
Googlebook comes pre-installed with a Debian-based Terminal app, allowing users to install and run developer tools and Linux software via the command line.
On the other hand, Linux apps installed via the Terminal are not added as icons to the Googlebook launcher. As a result, they cannot be launched directly alongside other apps and require opening the Terminal every time they are run.
Furthermore, even when launching a Linux application with a Graphical User Interface (GUI), it does not create a separate, standalone window or taskbar entry; instead, it renders within a single Terminal app window.
While confirming that running GUI-based Linux apps on Googlebook is functional, Google explained that it is not a major focus for the initial release. The company plans to share further details and updates regarding the Terminal app in the near future.