Dooble Open-Source Web Browser
Dooble is a free and open-source web browser focused on privacy, security, and minimalism. It was first released in 2009 and is developed using the Qt framework, which allows it to run on multiple platforms such as Windows, macOS, Linux, and BSD systems.
Here’s a detailed overview:
🧭 General Information
Name: Dooble Web Browser
Developer: Dooble Project (community-driven)
Initial Release: 2009
Written in: C++ (using the Qt framework)
License: BSD License (open source)
Rendering Engine: Uses Qt WebEngine (based on Chromium) in modern versions; earlier versions used QtWebKit
🔒 Key Features
Privacy-Oriented Design
Does not collect or share any user data.
Includes integrated secure mode for browsing without tracking.
Supports encrypted databases for bookmarks, cookies, and history using strong encryption (AES).
Offers an optional passphrase to protect browsing data.
Minimal and Lightweight
Clean, simple interface with limited built-in features — no telemetry, ads, or analytics.
Prioritizes speed and stability over flashy UI components.
Built-in Tools
Integrated download manager.
FTP browser (in older versions).
Built-in search engine customization.
Optional AdBlock support via third-party filters.
Cross-Platform Compatibility
Runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, FreeBSD, and other Unix-like systems.
🕰️ History
2009: Initial release by the Dooble Project to provide a secure, privacy-focused browser alternative.
2011–2014: Several updates improved encryption, added SQLite databases, and better cookie management.
2017–2019: Switched from QtWebKit to Qt WebEngine (Chromium-based) for better compatibility and rendering.
2020–Present: Continued small-scale updates focusing on encryption, bug fixes, and performance improvements.
🧩 Design Philosophy
Dooble’s creators aimed to make a browser that:
Protects users’ privacy by default.
Avoids unnecessary features and complexity.
Is fully open-source and transparent.
Because of this, Dooble is sometimes used by security enthusiasts, researchers, and minimalist users who want a browser with no hidden background processes or tracking.
Origins & Early Development
Dooble was first released (version 0.1) in September 2008.
The goal from early on was to build a privacy-focused browser, with features like encrypted storage (bookmarks, cookies, history), minimal tracking, etc.
Early versions used QtWebKit (Qt’s original WebKit-based web rendering engine) as their web content engine.
Major Transition (2017)
On 5 November 2017, a significant release came: Dooble 2017.11.05, described as “a brand new Web browser. New icons, new logic, new source, new themes.” It replaced version 1.0 (which had been around in some form since ~2008).
From that version Dooble began using Qt WebEngine (rather than QtWebKit). Qt WebEngine is based on Chromium / Blink. This was a major shift to improve compatibility, rendering modern websites etc.
Subsequent Releases & Feature Additions
The version 2.1.6 was released on 25 January 2018.
Over the next years, multiple incremental updates addressed bugs, added features, enhanced privacy controls, etc. Some of those include:
In 2018: features like high-DPI display support, improvements to the UI, database handling, cookie / site permission corrections.
In 2019-2020: more security/privacy features (e.g. better handling of cookies, private mode, accepted/blocked domains), improving encryption, fixing crashes.
Recent Years (2020-2025)
Releases have become more frequent, with regular bug-fixes, enhancements to user-interface, privacy features, and support for newer versions of Qt.
Some highlighted features / changes:
2021: improvements like floating history window, zoom features, better menu and UI behavior.
2022-2023: further enhancements, tweaks to translation/localization, adding or refining settings (e.g. per-domain JavaScript disabling, user agent tweaking), support for more platforms.
2024-2025: recent versions include more usability & display features (title bar options, tab behavior), further Qt version updates (Qt 6.x), LTS (Long Term Support) releases, more control over site permissions, filters, etc.
Current Status & Observations
As of mid-2025, Dooble is actively maintained. There are frequent releases and bug-fixes.
It supports multiple operating systems: Linux, Windows, macOS, FreeBSD etc.
It continues to emphasize privacy: encrypted local data, per-domain permissions, blocking unwanted cookies/domains, etc.
Overview & Philosophy
Dooble is a free, open-source web browser that prioritizes privacy, security, and portability above all else. Its development has been driven by a single, clear goal: to create a browser that respects the user by minimizing data collection and providing robust built-in protection against tracking.
Unlike mainstream browsers that are often developed by large corporations, Dooble is largely the work of a single primary developer, “schemer2” (a pseudonym), with contributions from the open-source community. This independence is central to its identity.
The Early Years: Inception and Initial Releases (2009 - 2011)
Origin: The Dooble project was announced and its first public releases appeared in 2009. This was a time of growing awareness about online privacy, following the rise of browsers like Mozilla Firefox but preceding the modern privacy-focused movement.
Initial Goal: From the start, Dooble was designed to be a “useful and pleasant” browser that treated user data with respect. It was a direct response to concerns about data mining and the increasing complexity of browsers that were becoming platforms rather than simple web viewers.
Key Technologies: It was built using the Qt application framework, which gave it a native look and feel on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Initially, it used its own rendering engine, but it soon transitioned to WebKit (the engine that powered Safari and, at the time, Google Chrome) to ensure compatibility with modern websites.
Early Features: Even in its early versions, Dooble featured:
An emphasis on a simple, clean user interface.
Built-in download manager and history.
The beginnings of its privacy-focused settings.
The Maturation Phase: Refining the Privacy Model (2012 - 2019)
During this long period, Dooble saw steady, incremental development. The developer focused on hardening the browser’s security and privacy features, making it a truly unique offering.
Transition to QtWebEngine: As Qt’s WebKit support waned, Dooble made the significant jump to QtWebEngine, which is the Chromium engine wrapped in a Qt API. This move was crucial. It allowed Dooble to maintain modern web compatibility by leveraging Chromium’s performance and standards support, while layering its own stringent privacy and security controls on top. This separated it from other Chromium-based browsers that often shared data with Google.
Development of Core Privacy Features: This era saw the implementation and refinement of Dooble’s signature features:
Automatic Cookie Management: Dooble could be set to automatically accept, reject, or expire cookies at the end of a session, giving users fine-grained control.
Strict History Control: Users could set history to automatically expire, preventing the accumulation of a permanent browsing record.
Built-in Encryption for User Data: Dooble could encrypt its own databases (cookies, history, etc.) on disk, protecting user data even if the machine was compromised.
Download Manager with Integrity Checking: The download manager could verify the integrity of downloaded files using hashes.
No Telemetry: A firm stance was taken against any form of phoning home or usage statistics collection by default.
Modern Era: Stability and Niche Refinement (2020 - Present)
In recent years, Dooble has settled into its role as a stable, highly specialized privacy browser.
Continued Updates: The developer, schemer2, has remained highly active, releasing frequent updates to keep pace with the underlying Qt and QtWebEngine libraries, ensuring security patches and web compatibility.
UI Simplification: The interface has been progressively simplified, removing unnecessary clutter to stay true to its goal of being a pleasant and straightforward tool.
A “Portable-First” Application: Dooble is designed to be truly portable. It can run from a USB drive and stores all its configuration and data in its application directory by default, leaving no traces on the host system.
Current Feature Set: The modern Dooble browser includes:
Tabs and a simple UI with a customizable home page featuring a grid of favorite URLs.
Robust Privacy Controls: Granular settings for cookies, JavaScript, and pop-ups.
Password Manager (with optional disk encryption).
Properties Dialog: A unique feature that displays detailed information about a page’s cookies, scripts, and frames, empowering the user.
No Integration with Cloud Services: It deliberately lacks synchronization features with commercial cloud services, maintaining its independence.
Key Philosophical Tenets and Place in the Browser Landscape
Independence: Dooble is not affiliated with any major tech company. It is a project born from principle, not profit.
Privacy by Default: Its settings are configured with privacy as the default, unlike browsers that require extensive configuration to become private.
Simplicity: It avoids feature bloat, focusing on being a good browser rather than an all-in-one platform.
Transparency: As open-source software, anyone can inspect its code to verify its privacy claims.
Conclusion: Legacy and Summary
The history of Dooble is not one of viral popularity or market dominance, but of consistent, principled dedication. For over a decade, it has served as a testament to the idea that a web browser can be both functional and deeply respectful of its user.
Summary:
Founded: 2009
Primary Developer: schemer2
Motivation: A response to corporate data collection and browser bloat.
Core Philosophy: Privacy, security, and portability above all else.
Key Technology: Built on Qt and QtWebEngine (Chromium).
Standout Features: Built-in user data encryption, automatic cookie and history management, no telemetry, and a portable design.
While it may not have the extension ecosystem of Firefox or the market share of Chrome, Dooble remains a important and respected project in the world of open-source software, offering a pure, no-compromise browsing experience for the privacy-conscious user.
