GNOME Web browser
GNOME Web, previously known as Epiphany, is the default web browser for the GNOME desktop environment. It is designed to provide a simple, clean, and beautiful view of the web, closely following GNOME’s design philosophy. The browser is based on the WebKitGTK rendering engine and is developed by the GNOME project for Unix-like systems. It is also the default web browser on elementary OS, Bodhi Linux version 5, and PureOS GNOME Edition.
🧬 Origins and Development
2002: The project began as Epiphany, developed by Marco Pesenti Gritti as a fork of the Galeon browser. Gritti aimed to create a simpler browser that adhered closely to GNOME’s Human Interface Guidelines. Epiphany was designed to be lightweight and user-friendly, without unnecessary features.
2003: Epiphany became the default web browser for the GNOME desktop environment starting with GNOME 2.4.
2009: Epiphany transitioned from using the Gecko engine to WebKitGTK, aligning with GNOME’s move towards WebKit for rendering web content.
2012: With the release of GNOME 3.4, Epiphany was renamed to GNOME Web to better reflect its role as the official web browser of the GNOME project. Despite the name change, the codebase continued to use the Epiphany name internally.
🔧 Key Features
WebKitGTK Engine: GNOME Web uses the WebKitGTK rendering engine, providing a modern and efficient browsing experience.
Privacy-Focused: The browser includes features like Intelligent Tracking Prevention (ITP) to enhance user privacy. ITP is a behavioral system that observes how a domain acts and blocks or neutralizes actions that resemble tracking behavior. Zorin Forum
Firefox Sync Support: Since GNOME 3.26, GNOME Web supports Firefox Sync, allowing users to synchronize their bookmarks, history, passwords, and open tabs across Firefox and GNOME Web. Wikipedia
Web Application Mode: Introduced in GNOME 3.2, this feature allows users to create web applications that can be launched as standalone applications, providing a native-like experience for web-based services. Wikipedia
Built-in Ad Blocker: GNOME Web includes an integrated ad blocker, which is enabled by default, enhancing the browsing experience by reducing unwanted content. wiki.gnome.org
🔄 Recent Developments
2024: GNOME Web continued to receive updates, focusing on performance improvements, security enhancements, and better integration with the GNOME desktop environment.
2025: The browser remains actively developed, with ongoing efforts to refine its features and maintain compatibility with modern web standards.
🧭 Community and Ecosystem
Open Source: GNOME Web is developed under the GPL license, with its source code available on GitLab. gitlab.gnome.org
Active Community: The project has a vibrant community of users and contributors, with discussions and support available through various forums and chat platforms.
Cross-Platform Support: While primarily designed for Linux, GNOME Web is also available on macOS, making it accessible to a wider range of users.
The story of GNOME Web is deeply intertwined with the GNOME project itself, representing its ideals of simplicity, standards compliance, and tight desktop integration.
Phase 1: Origins as Epiphany - A Pure GNOME Browser (2002-2008)
Initial Development (2002-2003): The browser that would become GNOME Web was originally created by Marco Pesenti Gritti and was first released in 2003 under the name Epiphany. The name was inspired by the word for a sudden realization or insight, reflecting its goal of a simple, intuitive browsing experience.
The “Why”: Epiphany was born from the broader Galeon project, a highly customizable and powerful GNOME browser also created by Gritti. However, Galeon was seen as becoming too complex and bloated. Epiphany was forked to return to the core GNOME principles: simplicity, usability, and clean integration with the GNOME desktop and its underlying technologies (like GTK and the GLib stack).
Foundation and Philosophy:
WebKit Engine: Epiphany was an early adopter of the WebKit rendering engine, transitioning from the older Gecko (Firefox) engine to embrace a modern, lightweight, and standards-compliant core.
“The GNOME Way”: It was designed to have no unnecessary buttons, menus, or options. The goal was a browser that was easy for anyone to use, adhering strictly to the GNOME Human Interface Guidelines (HIG).
Official GNOME Browser: Due to its alignment with GNOME’s core values, Epiphany was adopted as the official web browser of the GNOME desktop.
Phase 2: Maturation and the Rise of Mobile (2008-2013)
WebKit Integration: This period was defined by deep integration with the WebKit engine. Epiphany became a showcase application for WebKitGTK+, the Linux port of the WebKit engine.
Influence on iOS: Epiphany’s codebase and its clean, minimalist approach were studied by Apple engineers during the early development of the iPhone’s Safari browser, demonstrating the project’s architectural influence.
Feature Refinement: While maintaining its simple UI, the browser incorporated essential features like extension support (though much more limited than Firefox’s), a password manager, and intelligent address bar searching.
Growing Pains: As the web became more complex with rich web applications (Gmail, Google Docs), Epiphany’s minimalist nature and the performance gap between WebKit and the emerging Blink (Chromium) engine began to pose challenges.
Phase 3: Rebranding to GNOME Web and Adapting to the Modern Web (2013-Present)
Rebranding (2013): To strengthen its identity as a core part of the GNOME ecosystem, the browser was officially renamed from Epiphany to GNOME Web. However, its original internal name is still used in its executable (epiphany) and package names.
The Portal to the Web: The project’s vision was refined to position GNOME Web not just as a browser, but as a seamless “portal to the web applications” that could feel as integrated as native desktop apps.
Web Application Mode: A key feature, “Install Site as Web Application,” was developed, allowing users to create standalone, app-like shortcuts for sites like Gmail or Outlook that run in their own window without the full browser UI.
The Ad-Blocking Initiative (2019): In a significant move, GNOME Web began integrating a built-in, optional ad-blocker using the easylist filter, citing both performance and privacy benefits. This was a pragmatic step to improve the user experience on the modern web.
Phase 4: The Current Challenges and Future (2020-Present)
The Engine Dilemma: The most critical challenge for GNOME Web has been the rendering engine. As Google’s Chromium (Blink) has come to dominate the web, many sites are optimized exclusively for it, leading to compatibility issues in WebKit-based browsers like GNOME Web.
Maintenance Burden: Keeping the WebKitGTK port secure and compatible with modern web standards is a massive undertaking for a relatively small team of developers, most of whom are volunteers.
A Focused Niche: Today, GNOME Web serves as a perfectly integrated, clean, and simple browser for the GNOME desktop. It is the default in many pure GNOME environments and is valued for its:
Excellent GNOME Integration: Native dark mode, system notifications, and a consistent look and feel.
Privacy-Respecting: No telemetry, sync, or data collection by default.
Simplicity: It remains one of the least intimidating and easiest-to-use browsers available.
Summary: Legacy and Current Status
GNOME Web’s history is a story of unwavering philosophical commitment.
The Purist’s Browser: Its legacy is that of a browser that has consistently prioritized desktop integration and user-friendly simplicity over feature bloat and customization.
A Testament to GNOME’s Ideals: It embodies the GNOME project’s core philosophy, for better and for worse. Its simplicity is its greatest strength for basic browsing and its greatest weakness for power users.
A Challenging Future: It faces an ongoing battle for web compatibility and relevance in a Chromium-dominated world, but remains a vital component of a cohesive and independent GNOME desktop experience.
Present Day: GNOME Web is in active development as part of the GNOME project. It continues to be refined, serving as a elegant, integrated, and principled choice for GNOME users and anyone seeking a truly simple web browser.
