Collaborative cloud-based document editing from a browser-enabled platform native application

A computer readable medium, embodied in a non-transitory computer readable medium, the non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions which, when stored in memory and executed by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform a set of acts for collaborative editing of a cloud-based shared document using a browser-enabled platform native application, the acts comprising:

• providing shared access to a document that is stored in a remote cloud-based shared file facility;
• launching a platform native application from a user device of a first collaborating user;
• establishing a non-browser connection between the platform native application and the remote cloud-based shared file facility, wherein the non-browser connection operates independently from a browser connection, wherein the non-browser connection is a connection over a communications protocol, and wherein the non-browser connection is an authenticated connection;
• launching, by the platform native application an embedded browser that operates within the platform native application;
• loading, by the embedded browser over a browser connection, a web application that executes within the embedded browser;
• retrieving, from the remote cloud-based shared file facility a first user copy of the cloud-based shared document, wherein the first user copy of the cloud-based shared document is accessible by the web application;
• sending a modification of the first user copy of the cloud-based shared document to the remote cloud-based shared file facility to create a modified document that is exposed to one or more second collaborating users;
• closing the first user copy of the cloud-based shared document;
• receiving, by the platform native application over the non-browser connection, at least one modification to the cloud-based shared document that originates from one of the one or more second collaborating users;
• and
• applying the at least one modification to the first user copy before the first collaborating user reopens the first user copy of the cloud-based shared document.

A system for collaborative editing of a cloud-based shared document using a browser-enabled platform native application, the system comprising:

• a storage medium having stored thereon a sequence of instructions;
• and
• one or more processors that execute the instructions to cause the one or more processors to perform a set of acts, the acts comprising,
• providing shared access to a document that is stored in a remote cloud-based shared file facility;
• launching a platform native application from a user device of a first collaborating user;
• establishing a non-browser connection between the platform native application and the remote cloud-based shared file facility, wherein the non-browser connection operates independently from a browser connection, wherein the non-browser connection is a connection over a communications protocol, and wherein the non-browser connection is an authenticated connection;
• launching, by the platform native application an embedded browser that operates within the platform native application;
• loading, by the embedded browser over a browser connection, a web application that executes within the embedded browser;
• retrieving, from the remote cloud-based shared file facility a first user copy of the cloud-based shared document, wherein the first user copy of the cloud-based shared document is accessible by the web application;
• sending a modification of the first user copy of the cloud-based shared document to the remote cloud-based shared file facility to create a modified document that is exposed to one or more second collaborating users;
• closing the first user copy of the cloud-based shared document;
• receiving, by the platform native application over the non-browser connection, at least one modification to the cloud-based shared document that originates from one of the one or more second collaborating users;
• and
• applying the at least one modification to the first user copy before the first collaborating user reopens the first user copy of the cloud-based shared document.