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Zen, a Arc-like open-source browser based on the Firefox engine

zen-browser.app

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Re: Zen, a Arc-like open-source browser based on the Firefox engine

#281

I've recently made a similar (more modular) project which compiles various features and patches them into a Firefox profile. It can compile themes, hardening, userscripts, userstyles and more into a clean firefox profile, basically removing the bloat from firefox while still being fully customizable: https://github.com/explosion-scratch/firebuilder

Really cool! Do you know if there's anything similar for Chrome?

Re: Zen, a Arc-like open-source browser based on the Firefox engine

#282
post #61

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Tab groups again? I don’t remember when exactly, but like 10 years ago Firefox already had this feature. I was using them happily, organising all my numerous tabs to a dozen of groups by theme (work, social, movies, etc). But then Mozilla decided: “Nobody is using tab groups, screw it!” and removed them. All groups and tabs were lost. Now history will repeat?

I never understand the need for tab groups, once you get above 4-5 tabs you are actively working in, whats wrong with bookmarks?

Bookmarks don't have tab history.

Re: Zen, a Arc-like open-source browser based on the Firefox engine

#283

Do people really care about the engine being used under the hood? From a user perspective, I see no difference between Blink, Webkit and Gecko. And when there is, it's a website that has only been tested on Blink, or uses features not available elsewhere.

Yes, I care deeply about diversity in the browser land.

Luckily Gecko also performs the best for me.

Re: Zen, a Arc-like open-source browser based on the Firefox engine

#284
post #208

I've recently started using Arc mostly out of FOMO and there are parts that I like and parts I don't. I have been a Firefox user for a long time before that so glad to see something similar that's one of the major priorities is the aesthetics and I very much appreciate that. I tried to use it on my macOS Apple Silicone and got an error about it being broken and macOS suggested to trash it. Not sure if it is a bug iss…

Pretty sure this is the invalid signature error, not just unsigned which usually works via right click -> open. Not that it helps, but its kind of an easy error to make. I want to try it too but I guess I'll wait.

I thought the same thing, but that didn't work for me. It's busted.

Re: Zen, a Arc-like open-source browser based on the Firefox engine

#285
Very cool project, happy to see a browser that's not a Chromium fork for once.

Some feedback:

- Web Panels: have an option for letting CTRL + Click (or other shortcut) open the link in the Web Panel sidebar. Drag and dropping the link into the sidebar would be a good shortcut as well. This works for use cases like browsing a search results page, and opening multiple links without losing focus on the search results page itself.

- Horizontal Nav Bar: Vivaldi and Arc browser both have no horizontal bar taking up real estate. Maybe this is not possible to replicate with an FF fork, but having sidebar navigation AND a mostly full size top nav bar is redundant.

Re: Zen, a Arc-like open-source browser based on the Firefox engine

#286

I've been wanting split view in FF for a long time, so I'm going to try this right now And I know somebody, somewhere, is going to argue that it should be the job of the desktop. I disagree. I don't want to have to create each context I want things to exist in, and manipulate that carefully. I like automatic context. That's why I like tabs in my browser and not a thousand windows. And that's why I enjoy my split view…

Vote here: https://connect.mozilla.org/t5/ideas/split-screen-tab-in-tab...

Or don't waste your time, given Mozilla management does whatever it or Google wants? Just like with Google, nobody works on anything that won't help get them promoted?

There are decade-old "everyone agrees this sucks, please fix it" bugs in bugzilla that are ignored because nobody in management or development cares. It's not sexy, can't go on their resume, it won't let them give presentations at conferences, or get them on people's podcasts, or tweeted about...

Re: Zen, a Arc-like open-source browser based on the Firefox engine

#287

Not many straightforwardly positive comments here so far, so I will write one. I'm a Firefox user but I've recently been tempted by Arc primarily because of its 'workspaces' feature and its minimal UI that gets out the way. I used Arc for several weeks and really got a taste for these features, so I'm really happy to see them come to a Gecko-based browser. Thank you, and keep it up! My advice would be: don't advertis…

You should try Firefox Mozilla containers https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/multi-account... This is official supported add-on

Along with the excellent "open in container" extension, allowing launching URLs into containers: https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/open-url-in-c...

  $ firefox 'ext+container:name=HN&url=https://news.ycombinator.com/item%3Fid=41311435'

Re: Zen, a Arc-like open-source browser based on the Firefox engine

#288
post #281

I've recently made a similar (more modular) project which compiles various features and patches them into a Firefox profile. It can compile themes, hardening, userscripts, userstyles and more into a clean firefox profile, basically removing the bloat from firefox while still being fully customizable: https://github.com/explosion-scratch/firebuilder

Really cool! Do you know if there's anything similar for Chrome?

I don't think so, it's a lot harder to patch chrome because you'd need to recompile it. There is ungoogled-chromium but it doesn't add many features, mainly takes away the bloat. Unfortunately drm content is a bit finicky in ungoogled chromium.

Firefox is great for modding because everything is contained in one profile folder, so one can simply make a new profile folder however they want and have the perfect browser

Re: Zen, a Arc-like open-source browser based on the Firefox engine

#289
post #208

I've recently started using Arc mostly out of FOMO and there are parts that I like and parts I don't. I have been a Firefox user for a long time before that so glad to see something similar that's one of the major priorities is the aesthetics and I very much appreciate that. I tried to use it on my macOS Apple Silicone and got an error about it being broken and macOS suggested to trash it. Not sure if it is a bug iss…

This is described in their FAQ. Running `xattr -d com.apple.quarantine '/Applications/Zen Browser.app/'` fixes the issue, see https://docs.zen-browser.app/faq#zen-browser-is-damaged-and-...

Re: Zen, a Arc-like open-source browser based on the Firefox engine

#290
post #239

I hope a sustainable Firefox fork emerges soon because it seems Google's illegal default search deals (aka the only thing keeping Mozilla afloat) are coming to an end. That's a great thing in general, but it would really suck if FF died and we all got stuck with Chrome derivatives. Personally, I wouldn't mind paying for my web browser if it's good. I wouldn't pay for Mozilla's FF, but I would pay for a fork of it by…

Mozilla could keep building FF without Google, but it would require that 90% of the C suite get laid off and dedicated focus from the company...

Good. They've lost market share continuously for fifteen years.

In 2009 they had a 30% market share.

Now they have a 5-6% market share.

4/5ths of their market share, gone.

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