Apple Invites Developers to Submit Interoperability Ideas for Interop 2027

Interop 2027 Call for Proposals

Apple's WebKit team has announced an open call for developers to submit their ideas for Interop 2027. This initiative aims to enhance web interoperability across different browsers. The submission period for proposals runs from September 3 to September 23.

Background of the Interop Initiative

Interop is an annual collaboration involving Apple, Google, Microsoft, Mozilla, Bocoup, and Igalia. It began in 2022, evolving from the earlier Compat initiative, to address inconsistencies in modern web technologies. Each year, the group identifies key areas where interoperability issues create problems for web developers.

Participating browser makers work to improve their implementations in these focus areas. Progress is measured using a shared set of Web Platform Tests. Interop 2025 saw a significant increase in passing tests across all browsers, from 29% to 97%.

Submission Requirements

Apple specifies that proposals for Interop 2027 must be based on mature web standards and be testable. Nascent technologies are not considered ready for Interop Focus Areas, as the project relies on automated Web Platform Tests. Technologies lacking sufficient tests or testing infrastructure should be proposed as Interop Investigations instead.

Criteria for Strong Proposals

Ideal submissions are specific, focusing on a single interoperability issue or a narrow group of related features. They should also be impactful, providing a clear description of the problem and use cases. Finally, proposals should be valuable, explaining the benefits of addressing the identified issue.