Virtual applications are an important component of IT and software provisioning. One notable challenge with agentless virtual applications is that by their very nature, they are separate from the operating system and hence does not allow a transparent user experience.

This challenge has been addressed by Cameyo. The virtualization provider has built into its flagship product, Cameyo App Virtualization, two new integration methods for virtual apps:

Virtual (or temporary) integration:
Virtual apps are integrated into Windows Explorer through a virtual layer, which simulates the entire user experience. Windows will show the application’s shortcuts, including in the Start Menu, desktop, its associated extensions and shell extensions. Users can even see the application’s directories and files in the “Program Files” folder, although they’re not truly there. Then, once the user logs off or explicitly stops the integration, the virtual layer is removed from Windows Explorer and all of the app’s traces disappear.

Advanced users can also inject that virtual layer into different processes, in addition to Windows Explorer.

Persistent integration:
Applications integrated using this method will have their shortcuts and file extension associations recreated in the user’s profile. The user will see the application’s Start Menu and other shortcuts and associated files as if the application was truly installed. But once the app is removed, all those traces will disappear as well.

Some agentless app virtualization products allow doing one integration method, while other products allow doing the other. But no product has yet been able to offer both.

You can watch the below video for more information about Cameyo.