FOSSPicks
FOSSPicks
Graham looks at qutebrowser 1.0, Min, Storyboarder, BorgBackup 1.1, Argentum Age, and much more!
Minimal browser
qutebrowser 1.0
Since starting to use qutebrowser some time ago, it's done nothing less than change the way I think about Linux and user interface design. The minimal, shortcut-driven approach it uses for everything, based on Vim key bindings that many of us are already familiar with, saves you time and mental energy; it helps you navigate the web quickly, removes distractions, and feels amazingly intuitive. Even with only a few Vim commands committed to memory, it's enough to launch new tabs, yank URLs, open hints for links across a page, and save bookmarks. Chromium and Firefox plugins do similar things, but qutebrowser beats these with its level of integration, and also because the entire application is so lightweight. If you've yet to use it, the release of version 1.0 is the best excuse yet to brush up on your Vim skills.
After two successful crowdfunding campaigns to fund development, qutebrowser 1.0 is the rationalization of everything that's gone into development up to this point, and in particular, the re-implementation of its considerable configuration framework. Unfortunately, this means you can't migrate your own settings automatically as you update from an older version. This is important because one of qutebrowser's strengths is that almost anything can be reconfigured through the use of the :set
command and quickly stored with the :save
command. However, bookmarks and browsing history are retained from the old version, and a new diff view will show you the differences between your old pre 1.0 configuration and the new one. This makes it relatively easy to copy your old settings over to the new format, and the new configuration file is much easier to edit and create yourself than the old one.
The other major addition for the 1.0 release, besides the dozens of small fixes that help to make it much more stable, is that QtWebEngine is now the default back-end rendering engine. This means sites like Facebook, GitHub, Gmail, TweetDeck, and Google Docs will work without complaining, and very few sites are now incompatible. Also included is the spell checking that comes with the QtWebEngine, although you'll need to run a Python setup script first to download your required dictionaries and run a configuration command. Afterward, spelling errors will be highlighted just as they are in Chromium, an essential feature for terrible spellers – whether you're firing off a tweet or writing an email – and something you don't realize you rely on until it's missing. Alongside these changes, there are lots of new configuration options to play with and an entirely updated history database, which can now store your entire browsing history or, optionally, a specific number of entries or none at all. And that's the brilliant thing about qutebrowser; not only is it powered by Vim shortcuts (by default) and light on system resources, but it can be reconfigured very easily to perform almost any function you need a browser to perform. The only exception is a plugins interface, which will hopefully come with the next major update.
Project Website
Minimal browser
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
News
-
TUXEDO Computers Unveils Linux Laptop Featuring AMD Ryzen CPU
This latest release is the first laptop to include the new CPU from Ryzen and Linux preinstalled.
-
XZ Gets the All-Clear
The back door xz vulnerability has been officially reverted for Fedora 40 and versions 38 and 39 were never affected.
-
Canonical Collaborates with Qualcomm on New Venture
This new joint effort is geared toward bringing Ubuntu and Ubuntu Core to Qualcomm-powered devices.
-
Kodi 21.0 Open-Source Entertainment Hub Released
After a year of development, the award-winning Kodi cross-platform, media center software is now available with many new additions and improvements.
-
Linux Usage Increases in Two Key Areas
If market share is your thing, you'll be happy to know that Linux is on the rise in two areas that, if they keep climbing, could have serious meaning for Linux's future.
-
Vulnerability Discovered in xz Libraries
An urgent alert for Fedora 40 has been posted and users should pay attention.
-
Canonical Bumps LTS Support to 12 years
If you're worried that your Ubuntu LTS release won't be supported long enough to last, Canonical has a surprise for you in the form of 12 years of security coverage.
-
Fedora 40 Beta Released Soon
With the official release of Fedora 40 coming in April, it's almost time to download the beta and see what's new.
-
New Pentesting Distribution to Compete with Kali Linux
SnoopGod is now available for your testing needs
-
Juno Computers Launches Another Linux Laptop
If you're looking for a powerhouse laptop that runs Ubuntu, the Juno Computers Neptune 17 v6 should be on your radar.