Build, Install, and Run a Chrome App without Chrome

Until app_shell is created, here is a workaround for building, installing, and running a standalone Chrome App for Windows.

Step 1 - Pack Your Chrome App

1. Use chrome://extensions to package your app. The approach we're outlining here doesn't work for unpacked apps.
2. You should have a .crx file that is your packaged app.

Step 2 - Get Chromium Portable

1. Download the latest Chromium Portable.
2. Install it into a local directory like C:\tmp. While the install will create a portable version of Chromium, there are several paths that are recorded in the settings which you may want to scrub before shipping.
3. In the same folder as ChromiumPortable.exe create a file called ChromiumPortable.ini with the text DisableSplashScreen=true. This will disable the Chromium Portable splash screen from showing when you launch your app.

Step 3 - Install Your App in Chromium Portable

1. Run Chromium Portable.
2. Drag the .crx file on to the window and install the app.
3. Open chrome://extensions and copy the ID of your app.

Step 4 - Run Your Chrome App

1. Close Chromium Portable.

2. Open a Command Prompt and run (replace "APPID" with your app id):

   $ ChromiumPortable\ChromiumPortable.exe --app-id=APPID

3. Your app should launch in a window of its own.