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

#1

Post by gu5 » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 6:13 PM UTC

I tried creating a web browser and Google blocked me (2019)
blog.samuelmaddock.com

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

#2

Post by underseacables » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 7:28 PM UTC

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

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

#3

Post by skrowl » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 7:36 PM UTC

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 trivial to create a browser that's just a Chromium fork.

It's nearly impossible to create one that isn't. Firefox (and Tor) is basically the only one.

https://alternativeto.net/software/google-chrome/

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

#4

Post by varispeed » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 7:36 PM UTC

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.

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

#5

Post by pwinnski » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 7:38 PM UTC

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

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

#6

Post by varispeed » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 7:38 PM UTC

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.

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

#7

Post by dmitriid » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 7:39 PM UTC

underseacables wrote: post #2

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

If we're talking about creating a browser from scratch, it's nearly impossible to implement one without a huge investment of both time and money. Browsers are unbelievably complex, and the new features are being added at such a pace that you need to run twice as fast just to keep up.

If we're talking about forking an existing browser, that is doable. But you still need a huge investment to understand, change and extend that code. Once again, browsers are unbelievably complex beasts.

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

#8

Post by annoyingnoob » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 7:39 PM UTC

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.

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

#9

Post by gu5 » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 7:41 PM UTC

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..."

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

#10

Post by ttt0 » Wed, Jan 20, 2021, 7:42 PM UTC

underseacables wrote: post #2

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

Too many standards to follow, too many APIs, too complicated.

Sometimes I wonder if the web standards aren't designed specifically to prevent any meaningful competition.