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I tried creating a web browser and Google blocked me (2019)

blog.samuelmaddock.com

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Re: I tried creating a web browser and Google blocked me (2019)

#11

Post by kitsunesoba »

underseacables wrote: post #2

Why aren’t there more browsers? Is it just a matter of all the IP tied up by the majors?

There's a number of reasons, but one of the biggest is that it's impractical for an individual or small group to create a web engine that is capable enough that users will want to use it. This means the only options are to either fork an existing browser (as most Chromium forks are doing) or build a browser around an embeddable engine (as WebKit-based browsers do, and hopefully one day Servo-based browsers will).

For many interested in creating a browser, a new engine is one of the primary reasons for doing so, and so forking or embedding being the only option means that many who would've created a new browser don't, because from their perspective there's no point in a Chrome/Firefox/Safari clone with a slightly different coat of paint.

WebKit at least partially addresses the clone issue, making it easy for developers to write entirely new UI code using their toolkit of choice, but comes with the caveat of not receiving much attention on non-Apple platforms, which is a problem with browser security being so important.

Re: I tried creating a web browser and Google blocked me (2019)

#12

Post by ogre_codes »

underseacables wrote: post #2

Why aren’t there more browsers? Is it just a matter of all the IP tied up by the majors?

Much of the media playback IP is tied up by the big players. Who wants a browser without media playback?

Aside from that, how do you make money on a web browser? Without some kind of payback, it's pretty unlikely a browser project will get funding. Particularly since there are decent browsers on all platforms already.

Re: I tried creating a web browser and Google blocked me (2019)

#14

Post by folkrav »

pwinnski wrote: post #5

Google's commitment to open source stops at their profit's edge, yet again.

Would we see Intel/Samsung/IBM contribute to the Linux kernel if it wasn't in their self-interest? That's just how business tends to go as a general rule, IMHO. At least, I generally are more surprised to see a company go the extra mile than the opposite.

Re: I tried creating a web browser and Google blocked me (2019)

#15

Post by newdude116 »

varispeed wrote: post #4
underseacables wrote: post #2

Why aren’t there more browsers? Is it just a matter of all the IP tied up by the majors?

It's just enormous amount of work if you want to do it from scratch. It is simply impossible to afford for any small business.

Nah. You could do me a favor and get this thing her back to work https://www.uzbl.org/

Re: I tried creating a web browser and Google blocked me (2019)

#16

Post by [deleted] »

gu5 wrote: post #9
varispeed wrote: post #6

If you are a business I'd check if in your country there is a body that deals with anti-competitive behaviour and make a complaint.

I'm not the creator of this web browser, probably should clarify that. https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=19553941 Edit: Title changed from "I tried creating..." to "Someone tried creating..."

[deleted]

Re: I tried creating a web browser and Google blocked me (2019)

#17

Post by gspr »

underseacables wrote: post #2

Why aren’t there more browsers? Is it just a matter of all the IP tied up by the majors?

Browsers are as complicated as operating systems these days. And far more monolithic, meaning the devlopment goalposts are spaced much farther apart.

Re: I tried creating a web browser and Google blocked me (2019)

#18

Post by sneak »

tracedddd wrote: post #13

I’m not claiming the situation is just or should be ignored, but the option the author seems to be ignoring is to launch without Widevine. Sure, a lot won’t work, but a lot will. Having a vocal community can add a lot of pressure.

They could also reverse engineer the Widevine module binary and reimplement it in their own project.

You don't really need Google for this.

Re: I tried creating a web browser and Google blocked me (2019)

#19

Post by fludlight »

annoyingnoob wrote: post #8
underseacables wrote: post #2

Why aren’t there more browsers? Is it just a matter of all the IP tied up by the majors?

1. Its hard. 2. No one will pay for a browser.

The existence of open source software suggests there are other factors.

Re: I tried creating a web browser and Google blocked me (2019)

#20

Post by folkrav »

kitsunesoba wrote: post #11
underseacables wrote: post #2

Why aren’t there more browsers? Is it just a matter of all the IP tied up by the majors?

There's a number of reasons, but one of the biggest is that it's impractical for an individual or small group to create a web engine that is capable enough that users will want to use it. This means the only options are to either fork an existing browser (as most Chromium forks are doing) or build a browser around an embeddable engine (as WebKit-based browsers do, and hopefully one day Servo-based browsers will). For…

Curious as to where Servo's gonna go from here, after the Mozilla layoffs... I'd really love for something non-Chromium to take off.
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