3 ms·

> In terms of open source there are really only Chromium- and Firefox-derived browsers (I’m disregarding projects like the still pre-alpha Ladybird here). isn’

by kmlx 2y ago

> In terms of open source there are really only Chromium- and Firefox-derived browsers (I’m disregarding projects like the still pre-alpha Ladybird here). isn’t webkit open source? https://github.com/WebKit/WebKit https://github.com/WebKit/WebKit or maybe are you referring to something else?

layer8 2y ago
WebKit is a browser engine, not a browser. There is no open-source browser based on it that you could use as an alternative to Firefox.
- figomore 2y ago
  Gnome Web is based on WebKit.
  - layer8 2y ago
    I should have added “cross-platform”. It’s not a viable alternative for most Firefox users.
    - ranger_danger 2y ago
      There are several, just none that are still maintained. But webkit is still open source and there's no reason someone could not fork or start up a new browser project with 90% of the work already done by webkit, you just need a GUI.
- eadmund 2y ago
  Emacs supports browsing with WebKit: https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/Embedded-WebKit-Widgets.html https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/Em... This is distinct from its own Emacs Web Wowser, which is a more primitive browser (but quite good for quite a lot!).
- kmlx 2y ago
  > There is no open-source browser based on it that you could use as an alternative to Firefox. here you go: https://github.com/duckduckgo/apple-browsers https://github.com/duckduckgo/apple-browsers
hedora 2y ago
I was under the impression Apple forked it and didn’t contribute upstream, but the text on that landing page suggests otherwise. Is it roughly comparable to safari, functionality-wise? Also, is there a non-gnome version? Gtk’s fine; containerized gnome, not so much.
escape_velocity 2y ago
I believe the GNOME Web Browser (previously known as Epiphany) is built from the WebKit source.
- krykp 2y ago
  This is also a great way to test out a page during web-development in a pinch[when you are on Linux]. Chrome and Firefox are obviously available, and GNOME-Web is useful-enough to fill the gap[of Safari]. I'd always run a real cross-browser test before a proper release. Thankfully the cross-platform issues are dwindling by the day.
laweijfmvo 2y ago
Kagi’s browser is based on WebKit, but currently macOS only and non-opensource. I’m perfectly willing to pay for a browser but not sure if closed source is viable no matter how much you trust the company today.
- JumpCrisscross 2y ago
  > but not sure if closed source is viable The evidence points in the exact opposite direction. Open source implies free. And free means getting fucked with ads. I trust a product I pay for versus one reliant on getting bailed out by Google.
- PokemonNoGo 2y ago
  Same. I mean i have already paid for opera once in life (20 years ago?) I don't have a problem to do it again.

by kmlx 2y ago

layer8 2y ago

WebKit is a browser engine, not a browser. There is no open-source browser based on it that you could use as an alternative to Firefox.

figomore 2y ago
Gnome Web is based on WebKit.
- layer8 2y ago
  I should have added “cross-platform”. It’s not a viable alternative for most Firefox users.
  - ranger_danger 2y ago
    There are several, just none that are still maintained. But webkit is still open source and there's no reason someone could not fork or start up a new browser project with 90% of the work already done by webkit, you just need a GUI.
eadmund 2y ago
Emacs supports browsing with WebKit: https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/Embedded-WebKit-Widgets.html https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/emacs/Em... This is distinct from its own Emacs Web Wowser, which is a more primitive browser (but quite good for quite a lot!).
kmlx 2y ago
> There is no open-source browser based on it that you could use as an alternative to Firefox. here you go: https://github.com/duckduckgo/apple-browsers https://github.com/duckduckgo/apple-browsers

hedora 2y ago

I was under the impression Apple forked it and didn’t contribute upstream, but the text on that landing page suggests otherwise. Is it roughly comparable to safari, functionality-wise? Also, is there a non-gnome version? Gtk’s fine; containerized gnome, not so much.

escape_velocity 2y ago

I believe the GNOME Web Browser (previously known as Epiphany) is built from the WebKit source.

krykp 2y ago
This is also a great way to test out a page during web-development in a pinch[when you are on Linux]. Chrome and Firefox are obviously available, and GNOME-Web is useful-enough to fill the gap[of Safari]. I'd always run a real cross-browser test before a proper release. Thankfully the cross-platform issues are dwindling by the day.

laweijfmvo 2y ago

Kagi’s browser is based on WebKit, but currently macOS only and non-opensource. I’m perfectly willing to pay for a browser but not sure if closed source is viable no matter how much you trust the company today.

JumpCrisscross 2y ago
> but not sure if closed source is viable The evidence points in the exact opposite direction. Open source implies free. And free means getting fucked with ads. I trust a product I pay for versus one reliant on getting bailed out by Google.
PokemonNoGo 2y ago
Same. I mean i have already paid for opera once in life (20 years ago?) I don't have a problem to do it again.