Web browser #7

KyleCardoza commented 2025年02月11日 18:27:10 +01:00

There exists no modern web browser using Motif as its UI toolkit. However, there are fewer challenges there than may initially be apparent, because this exists: https://bitbucket.org/chromiumembedded/cef

Chromium Embedded Framework provides a browser engine without making assumptions about the UI layer; one particular way it can be used is to hand it an X11 window (which is distinct from a toplevel "shell" window with a border and such -- think "surface") to draw to and wire in callbacks to control it, so it can work with any UI toolkit. I wouldn't say it's "easy" to make a browser this way, but it's certainly practical.

There exists no modern web browser using Motif as its UI toolkit. However, there are fewer challenges there than may initially be apparent, because this exists: https://bitbucket.org/chromiumembedded/cef Chromium Embedded Framework provides a browser *engine* without making assumptions about the UI layer; one particular way it can be used is to hand it an X11 window (which is distinct from a toplevel "shell" window with a border and such -- think "surface") to draw to and wire in callbacks to control it, so it can work with any UI toolkit. I wouldn't say it's "easy" to make a browser this way, but it's certainly practical.

thomholwerda commented 2025年02月11日 22:54:45 +01:00

There is also the option of going with something less capable and smaller, like Netsurf. It already has support for different toolkits, so we could possibly leverage that. Downside is, of course, that is no JS and will choke on quite a few websites. Same applies to something like Dillo.

I'm a fan of having a proper browser, and if there is one application where I would be okay with e.g. Firefox with some heavy skinning work (taken from NsCDE perhaps? Its Firefox skin is very detailed), it's the browser.

There is also the option of going with something less capable and smaller, like Netsurf. It already has support for different toolkits, so we could possibly leverage that. Downside is, of course, that is no JS and will choke on quite a few websites. Same applies to something like Dillo. I'm a fan of having a proper browser, and if there is *one* application where I would be okay with e.g. Firefox with some heavy skinning work (taken from NsCDE perhaps? Its Firefox skin is very detailed), it's the browser.

KyleCardoza commented 2025年02月11日 23:24:42 +01:00

As a starting point, I have no real issue with NetSurf, but longer term we should definitely have something modern that uses Motif. Perhaps once our wrapper library is up and running, it can be revisited.

As a starting point, I have no real issue with NetSurf, but longer term we should definitely have something modern that uses Motif. Perhaps once our wrapper library is up and running, it can be revisited.

thomholwerda commented 2025年02月12日 23:49:43 +01:00

Agreed. I'd say focus on the base system and desktop environment first. We can use a skinned Firefox or a dirty Netsurf-motif hackjob first.

Agreed. I'd say focus on the base system and desktop environment first. We can use a skinned Firefox or a dirty Netsurf-motif hackjob first.