Web Browser Engineering
Web Browser Engineering, by Pavel Panchekha and Chris Harrelson, teaches readers to build a web browser using Python, covering page loading, document viewing, application running, and modern features.
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Web Browser Engineering is a forthcoming book by Pavel Panchekha and Chris Harrelson, set to be published by Oxford University Press. The book aims to demystify the workings of web browsers by guiding readers through the process of building a basic web browser using Python. It covers essential topics such as loading web pages, viewing documents, and running applications, while also addressing modern browser functionalities. The content is divided into four main parts: the first part focuses on loading pages, including downloading web pages and rendering them on the screen; the second part discusses document viewing, including HTML parsing and CSS application; the third part covers running applications, emphasizing server communication and interactive scripts; and the final part explores modern browser features like visual effects, task scheduling, and accessibility. The authors encourage readers to pre-order the book and engage with updates through their blog and social media.
- The book explains how to build a web browser using Python.
- It covers topics from loading pages to modern browser functionalities.
- The content is structured into four main parts for clarity.
- Readers can pre-order the book and follow updates online.
- The authors invite discussions and support through various platforms.
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- Readers appreciate the engaging writing and practical approach of the book, with many expressing excitement to start their own projects.
- There is a recognition of the complexity of web technologies like CSS and JavaScript, with some commenters sharing their past experiences in browser development.
- Several users express a desire for more independent browser engines and a broader ecosystem beyond the major players like Google and Mozilla.
- Some commenters suggest improvements to the book's structure and content, while others inquire about formats and promotional offers.
- Overall, there is a sense of gratitude towards the authors for their contributions to the field of browser engineering.
25 commentsLayout is really hard. Just tables by themselves are hard, even without any css around them. CSS makes layout impossibly difficult. I challenge anyone to keep the whole CSS spec and its associated behaviors in their head.
At this point css + html + javascript have become a dynamic PDL, and probably is one of the most complex pieces of software today.
As an aside, video decoding is offloaded onto hardware, so it's not as battery intensive as it used to be.
I'm definitely interested in going through this book.
Apparently some of it now runs in the browser ("in the book itself") by compiling Python to JS?
This comic book about how Chrome works is also a great place to get started: https://www.google.com/googlebooks/chrome/med_00.html
Browsers seem like mysterious, undecipherable black boxes, which is very likely how G wants them to be perceived, but that is cracking by seeing the efforts/results of such projects like ladybird and others!
I hope to one day be able to jump in and contribute to break that moat! And this books looks like an amazing start!
I had an opportunity to run a tutorial on basic command line usage for newer software engineers. It's always fun to see people's expressions or read their reactions to seeing me telnet to port 25 and 80.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=28898157 (409 points | Oct 19, 2021 | 63 comments)
Are web browsers, not considered to be "system software"
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