Web browser

[Nairou]

Aside from Firefox, all available web browsers are based on Chrome, and share the features and limitations of Chromium.

We need a new web browser that achieves the following:

1. Is not controlled by a corporation with the power to push web standards simply because of little competition
2. Is light-weight, focusing more on usability than features

A lot of the complexity of modern browsers comes from javascript, but with the recent release of Bun (a custom-made Javascript runtime in Zig), this seems even more within reach.

[mmozeiko]

JavaScript is not where complexity comes from. JS is least of your concerns when you are making web browser. You can implement fully spec compliant JS with a very little amount of C code. For example: https://bellard.org/quickjs/

What is complex in browsers is interaction between all kinds of tech stack they have - html, dom, css, js, + all the "html5" goodies - webrtc, websockets, wasm, webgl, webusb, canvas, file, media, storage, audio, etc... They are and have become full blown OS at this point. And if you're not a "corporation with the power to push web standards" then you will lose the market, because users of your browser won't use your browser if it does not work on websites (that use latest and greatest web stuff) because you are not controlling how this tech evolves.

If you want to make "light-weight" browser then reimplementing all these things will not get you anywhere, because all you'll get will be another Chrome or Firefox. If you want alternative, you should rethink what does "browser" must be. Just replacing JS won't solve anything.

There was similar discussion on this happening in forums: https://handmade.network/forums/t/8476-a_javascript_html_css_replacement_for_higher-performance_web_applications
And it has moved to discord too.