Citrix Virtual Apps

Citrix Virtual Apps is application virtualization software that delivers centrally-hosted Windows applications to local devices without the necessity of installing them. It is the flagship product for Citrix and was formerly known under the names WinFrame, MetaFrame, and Presentation Server. Citrix Virtual Apps software uses FlexCast Management Architecture (FMA), a proprietary architecture for Citrix virtualization products. It is also used with Citrix Workspace to deliver apps as part of a complete virtual desktop environment. With Citrix Virtual Apps, Windows applications can be used on devices that typically could not run them, including Macintosh computers, mobile devices, Google Chromebooks, and Linux computers. or public, private, or hybrid clouds. ==History==

The precursor to Virtual Apps was called WinFrame, a multi-user operating system based on Windows NT 3.51. Released in 1995, WinFrame was one of the first products distributed by Citrix. In 2012, XenApp 6.5 was released and this update included a new feature called Instant App Access, which aimed to reduce application launch time. In 2013, version 7.0 was released. More recently, Citrix has introduced a cloud-based solution known as Citrix DaaS, which it positions as a successor to its on-premise Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops (CVAD) offering. However, it is still releasing new Virtual Apps and Desktops versions, to meet the needs of customers who prefer or require an on-premise solution. ==References==