http://www.netsurf-browser.org/

NetSurf is a web browser for RISC OS and UNIX-like platforms including Linux and an early port for BeOS has been completed.


The more developed version is the one for RISC OS. I was wondering, since RISC OS uses RISC architecture processors as we do on AOS 4.0 and MOS 1.4/2.x, and since this is an entirely open source project could this be a nice project for AOS & MOS (and even AROS in its PPC version when the EFika or SAM port is done)?

Its project goals also look like they are in-line with what we would want on the available hardware (Efika for MOS and hopefully soon AROS), SAM for AROS soon (and OS4 if we are lucky), from their page:

Quote:

Speed Efficiency lies at the heart of the NetSurf engine, allowing it to outwit the heavyweights of the web browser world. The NetSurf team continue to squeeze more speed out of their code. Lean requirements From a modern monster PC to a humble 30MHz ARM 6 computer with 16MB of RAM, the web browser will keep you surfing the web whatever your system. Originally written for computer hardware normally found in PDAs, cable TV boxes, mobile phones and other hand-held gadgets, NetSurf is compact and low maintenance by design. Portable NetSurf can be built for a number of modern computer platforms 'out of the box'. Written in C, with portability in mind, NetSurf is developed by programmers from a wide range of computing backgrounds, ensuring it remains available for as many users as possible. Standards compliant Despite a myriad of standards to support, NetSurf makes surfing the web enjoyable and stress-free by striving for complete standards compliancy. As an actively developed project, NetSurf aims to stay abreast of new and upcoming web technologies.

I'm not a programmer so please share your thoughts and comments on this.

Thanks!

Last edited by fairlanefastback on 10-Jul-2008 at 03:45 PM.

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@fairlanefastback

Just do it

Anyway, now when MOS 2.0 is out, lets hope the Sputnik for OS4 can begin :)

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@tomazkid

Quote:

tomazkid wrote: Anyway, now when MOS 2.0 is out, lets hope the Sputnik for OS4 can begin :)

That would be cool. The more Sputnik users the better! Still I personally like the thought of us having two modern web browser choices, especially if one can benefit from the fact that its open source.

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@fairlanefastback

Quote:

fairlanefastback wrote: http://www.netsurf-browser.org/ NetSurf is a web browser for RISC OS and UNIX-like platforms including Linux and an early port for BeOS has been completed. The more developed version is the one for RISC OS. I was wondering, since RISC OS uses RISC architecture processors as we do on AOS 4.0 and MOS 1.4/2.x, and since this is an entirely open source project could this be a nice project for AOS & MOS (and even AROS in its PPC version when the EFika or SAM port is done)?

Just because it's a RISC architecture doesn't mean that this will be any easier to port than say, OWB. What matters is how similar the APIs are. I have no idea how similar/different RISC OS' APIs are to Amiga OS' APIs.

Whilst it looks like a nice browser, I'm more in favour of people helping out with the existing browser efforts than starting yet another one.

Hans

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@Hans

Quote:

I have no idea how similar/different RISC OS' APIs are to Amiga OS' APIs.

Thanks Hans. So thats the pivotal question then I guess. If the APIs were similar the RISC OS crowd's already existing interest and development and it being open source could be a great help to us then I would suspect. Anyone out there know enough about RISC OS (and AOS/MOS) APIs to answer this?

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@fairlanefastback

Joerg is working activey on OWB, Marçik on Sputnik. And you want FireFox or other browser to be ported to our systems.

I prefer supporting our developpers (even Ibrowse is still being developped as far as I understand).

Let's not waste our time trying to get things we have already and which need only improvements.

Or DO it

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Regarding Sputnik.
Is there any chance whatsoever to get MUI 4 to OS4 ?

Last edited by tomazkid on 10-Jul-2008 at 04:56 PM.

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@K-L

Quote:

K-L wrote: @fairlanefastback Joerg is working activey on OWB, Marçik on Sputnik. And you want FireFox or other browser to be ported to our systems. I prefer supporting our developpers (even Ibrowse is still being developped as far as I understand). Let's not waste our time trying to get things we have already and which need only improvements. Or DO it

Most certainly I want to support the current developers. I've given to the bounty for Sputnik on OS4 (without owning OS4) and bought MOS 2.0 which includes Sputnik for MOS. So I have been supporting the developers. It would be nice to have a second browser though. And perhaps us having an open source one could help, especially with some feature sets that are currently missing, like this from the Sputnik page:

Quote:

Q: Will be the Shockwave Flash supported? A: It will if someone creates a plug-in (plug-in API is a part of KTHML, but it has low priotity on my todo list).

I'm not at all opposed to Sputnik and Origyn being the two choices on each Amiga-like OS. I know at least Sputnik has plans to go to AOS 4.0, not sure if Origyn is ever destined to MOS though.

Certainly I'm not for mucking up anything here. Not being a programmer perhaps I am over-weighing how open source could possibly help. Conversely though I think having a browser like Firefox could win us new users. Asus being able to say that Eee PC runs Firefox certainly gives an air of familiarity to potential customers.

Last edited by fairlanefastback on 10-Jul-2008 at 05:18 PM.

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@fairlanefastback

About Sputnik: I don't even think Sputnik will evar land on AmigaOS 4 since Marçik doesn't really want to make it.

As said befor, I prefer that Marçik works full time on Sputnik for MorphOS 2 than trying to get it working on Amiga OS 4 (and slowing donw the MOS version).

For OWB, anyone is free to port it to MorphOS 2

But seriously, let's not reinvent the wheel constantly, there are so many other things to do instead of making things that have already be done.

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@tomazkid

Sputnik for OS4 is in the works [EDIT] (it is currently in development, but no release date yet).

Last edited by Troels on 10-Jul-2008 at 06:19 PM.

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@K-L

Quote:

About Sputnik: I don't even think Sputnik will evar land on AmigaOS 4 since Marçik doesn't really want to make it.

He has é3000 reason to do it

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@Troels

Quote:

Troels wrote: @tomazkid Sputnik for OS4 is in the works [EDIT] (it is currently in development, but no release date yet).

Good
OWB is a good effort, but somehow Sputnik feels like a more OS-native of those two.

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I think its enough with sputnik and owb for browsers. better do other stuff like plugins, other software we need etc. We should be happy there is these 2 browsers. You greedy..... ;)

Last edited by Kicko on 10-Jul-2008 at 06:33 PM.

@Kicko

Quote:

Kicko wrote: I think its enough with sputnik and owb for browsers. better do other stuff like plugins, other software we need etc. We should be happy there is these 2 browsers. You greedy..... ;)

Well there is no OWB for MOS. So really I have one browser.

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@fairlanefastback

IBrowse does not work on MOS 2?

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@tomazkid

Quote:

tomazkid wrote: @fairlanefastback IBrowse does not work on MOS 2?

I'm referring to modern browsers. To by understanding and previous usage of Ibrowse (not on MOS) it has many webpage rendering issues. Perhaps my understanding of it to be a legacy web browser is off, but thats how it has felt when I have used it in the past.

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Isnt Sputnik good ? Or shall i say better then all browsers on amiga together ?

There is always linux you can install and run firefox. :)

Last edited by Kicko on 10-Jul-2008 at 06:57 PM.

@Kicko

Quote:

Kicko wrote: Isnt Sputnik good ? Or shall i say better then all browsers on amiga together ? There is always linux you can install and run firefox. :)

Yes its good. But what happens if Marcik decides to quite developing it at some point. Whats wrong with wanting a second modern web browser on an OS?

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@fairlanefastback

Whats wrong is these things do take alot of time and you know how many developers we have left and how many wants to use their sparetime for stuff like this. History tells itself. See how long it takes for ibrowse to release new versions. Aweb is not much happening there either.

Enjoy what you have now :D

If Marcik decides to stop development maybe he releases it opensource and someother people continues. If not maybe Joerg decides to make a port to MOS if we/you raise some money like Sputnik. But who knows what the future gives us. Maybe AmigaInc pays developers to make firefox (and im king of Sweden) :D

Last edited by Kicko on 10-Jul-2008 at 07:36 PM.

@fairlanefastback

Quote:

http://www.netsurf-browser.org/NetSurf is a web browser for RISC OS and UNIX-like platforms including Linux and an early port for BeOS has been completed.

Had a look at this program and it sounds very interesting. I've made a quick port using my (buggy) DirectFB/Cygnix port. NetSurf is really very portable and it compiled without any change (Congratulation to the NetSurf team!).

Here is a screenshot:









It works nice, but there are not much advantages compared to owb. And the biggest disadvantage: It has no javascript

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