Question Controlling Windows Based App from Web Based App

[crystaluz]

Hello there...

I'm wondering if we can control Windows Based App from Web Based App? For example, a user wants to activate alarms system in the laptop remotely by only accessing the web based app. Is it possible? If it is, what techniques/methods can be used?

Thank you...

 

[jmcilhinney]

It's not really possible to "control" a Windows app from a web app. The web app could send notifications to the Windows app to act upon though. If you look at Store apps on Windows 8+ and apps on Windows Phone, they can both receive push notifications very easily, so that's probably one of the first places to look.

 

[crystaluz]

Thank you for replying...

Can I get some advice? I'm about to develop an app in VB.NET. It's just like an Anti-Theft app. User will have the ability to trigger the event (Windows Based) from website (ASP.NET). How can I start this? Can I use WCF? In other words, the Windows Based App and Web Based App will communicate each other.

Thank you

 

[jmcilhinney]

Can I get some advice?

Sure.

If you look at Store apps on Windows 8+ and apps on Windows Phone, they can both receive push notifications very easily, so that's probably one of the first places to look.

There you go.

I don't know exactly how push notifications in Store apps work because I've never done it. You can research that as well as I can.

As for WCF, it may well be involved as I believe that push notifications are achieved by long-lived web requests. Again, that's something for you to research. If you want the Windows app to pull data from the web server or push data back then WCF could definitely be involved.

 

[crystaluz]

Sure.

There you go.

I don't know exactly how push notifications in Store apps work because I've never done it. You can research that as well as I can.

As for WCF, it may well be involved as I believe that push notifications are achieved by long-lived web requests. Again, that's something for you to research. If you want the Windows app to pull data from the web server or push data back then WCF could definitely be involved.

Haha.. Thank you for that jmcilhinney. Wish me luck

 

[Herman]

You CAN control a desktop app from a web app, but you will need to embed a web service in your app. And the web app will need to know where to find that service and how to talk to it.