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Hmm. It seems to be mostly open source though? I found a document about differences on Linux, and I didn't see much. https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/

by _qulr 6y ago

Hmm. It seems to be mostly open source though? I found a document about differences on Linux, and I didn't see much. https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/master/docs/chromium_browser_vs_google_chrome.md https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/master/docs...

tedivm 6y ago
Chromium is the open source bit, Chrome is Chromium plus a bunch of proprietary changes that google adds. You can run Chromium- it is a browser by itself- but it's not the same thing you'd download and run if you grab Chrome.
- lima 6y ago
  The "proprietary changes that google adds" are API keys[1], branding, and external plugins like Flash/Widevine. Other than those, the source code is identical. [1]: https://www.chromium.org/developers/how-tos/api-keys https://www.chromium.org/developers/how-tos/api-keys
  - tedivm 6y ago
    > Other than those, the source code is identical. How do you know, and how can we prove it?
    - judge2020 6y ago
      You could decompile, inspect, and debug chrome if you must, but doing something so easily viewable and auditable would be a huge blow to their reputation.
- irrational 6y ago
  TIL. Are there any downsides to running Chromium instead of Chrome?
  - snazz 6y ago
    Chromium has no auto-updater on Windows and macOS. Unless you have a package manager that compiles updated versions for you, you're better off using Chrome.
    - irrational 6y ago
      I use Firefox. But, I'd be willing to install a version of Chrome if it came without all of the Google garbage pre-installed. I was hoping that maybe Chromium could fill this role.
      - MaxBarraclough 6y ago
        There's a project that does exactly this. (I can't comment on the quality or the trustworthiness.) https://github.com/Eloston/ungoogled-chromium https://github.com/Eloston/ungoogled-chromium
        scottydelta 6y ago
        I have used it in the past but now I use Chromium instead as a Chrome replacement since it is more stable than ungoogled-chromium.
  - scottydelta 6y ago
    I use Firefox as my primary browser and Chromium for testing things for Chrome. The only downside to Chromium is you have to update it manually by downloading the package and dragging it to your applications if you use Mac. Other than that, it works perfectly. I trust Chromium more than Chrome if I want to let it run in the background.

by _qulr 6y ago

tedivm 6y ago

Chromium is the open source bit, Chrome is Chromium plus a bunch of proprietary changes that google adds. You can run Chromium- it is a browser by itself- but it's not the same thing you'd download and run if you grab Chrome.

lima 6y ago
The "proprietary changes that google adds" are API keys[1], branding, and external plugins like Flash/Widevine. Other than those, the source code is identical. [1]: https://www.chromium.org/developers/how-tos/api-keys https://www.chromium.org/developers/how-tos/api-keys
- tedivm 6y ago
  > Other than those, the source code is identical. How do you know, and how can we prove it?
  - judge2020 6y ago
    You could decompile, inspect, and debug chrome if you must, but doing something so easily viewable and auditable would be a huge blow to their reputation.
irrational 6y ago
TIL. Are there any downsides to running Chromium instead of Chrome?
- snazz 6y ago
  Chromium has no auto-updater on Windows and macOS. Unless you have a package manager that compiles updated versions for you, you're better off using Chrome.
  - irrational 6y ago
    I use Firefox. But, I'd be willing to install a version of Chrome if it came without all of the Google garbage pre-installed. I was hoping that maybe Chromium could fill this role.
    - MaxBarraclough 6y ago
      There's a project that does exactly this. (I can't comment on the quality or the trustworthiness.) https://github.com/Eloston/ungoogled-chromium https://github.com/Eloston/ungoogled-chromium
      - scottydelta 6y ago
        I have used it in the past but now I use Chromium instead as a Chrome replacement since it is more stable than ungoogled-chromium.
- scottydelta 6y ago
  I use Firefox as my primary browser and Chromium for testing things for Chrome. The only downside to Chromium is you have to update it manually by downloading the package and dragging it to your applications if you use Mac. Other than that, it works perfectly. I trust Chromium more than Chrome if I want to let it run in the background.