Xxxterm
Encyclopedia
xxxterm is an open source
web browser
developed with a goal to become a lightweight yet secure replacement for full featured browsers like Firefox. Initially it was developed by several OpenBSD
users specificly for OpenBSD, but later was ported to Linux
.
The name comes from the name of xterm
with triple x as a reference to www.
, so it includes the features typically requested by such auditory:
An advertisement blocking feature is intentionally missing from xxxterm. The authors recommend using AdSuck add filtering proxy
for such purpose.
Using these panels and a mouse
the user may operate xxxterm just like Firefox or Midori
. With panels disabled the user can use keyboard to switch between tabs (buffers in xxxterm's terminology), enter URLs, follow links and navigate through browser history and bookmarks.
xxxterm provides a command mode (designed after vi
) for entering commands. Key bindings are also provided for use in default mode.
Similar setup can be reached by using Vimperator
Firefox extension or Uzbl
.
s are generally fast evolving, xxxterm developers didn't actually create releases. Instead they were making source code
snapshots identified by CVS
tags.
Since xxxterm development moved to Git
, the version numbers for releases were rethought. Since then the release numers are in format "X.Y.Z".
community, where it originated. Outside that community, the browser is usually considered either too minimalistic or not enough minimalistic. At the same time, the browser is sometimes considered as a good choice for old and low-end hardware.
Open source
The term open source describes practices in production and development that promote access to the end product's source materials. Some consider open source a philosophy, others consider it a pragmatic methodology...
web browser
Web browser
A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...
developed with a goal to become a lightweight yet secure replacement for full featured browsers like Firefox. Initially it was developed by several OpenBSD
OpenBSD
OpenBSD is a Unix-like computer operating system descended from Berkeley Software Distribution , a Unix derivative developed at the University of California, Berkeley. It was forked from NetBSD by project leader Theo de Raadt in late 1995...
users specificly for OpenBSD, but later was ported to Linux
Linux
Linux is a Unix-like computer operating system assembled under the model of free and open source software development and distribution. The defining component of any Linux system is the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released October 5, 1991 by Linus Torvalds...
.
The name comes from the name of xterm
Xterm
In computing, xterm is the standard terminal emulator for the X Window System. A user can have many different invocations of xterm running at once on the same display, each of which provides independent input/output for the process running in it .xterm originated prior to the X Window System...
with triple x as a reference to www.
Features
xxxterm was supposed to be most useful for experienced users accustomed to command-line interfaceCommand-line interface
A command-line interface is a mechanism for interacting with a computer operating system or software by typing commands to perform specific tasks...
, so it includes the features typically requested by such auditory:
- Cookies and JavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript is a prototype-based scripting language that is dynamic, weakly typed and has first-class functions. It is a multi-paradigm language, supporting object-oriented, imperative, and functional programming styles....
whitelisting; - Mouseless browsing
- No URL prefetch
- viVivi is a screen-oriented text editor originally created for the Unix operating system. The portable subset of the behavior of vi and programs based on it, and the ex editor language supported within these programs, is described by the Single Unix Specification and POSIX.The original code for vi...
-like navigation (including command mode) - vi-like user interfaceUser interfaceThe user interface, in the industrial design field of human–machine interaction, is the space where interaction between humans and machines occurs. The goal of interaction between a human and a machine at the user interface is effective operation and control of the machine, and feedback from the...
, key bindings and commands - Plain text file configurationConfiguration fileIn computing, configuration files, or config files configure the initial settings for some computer programs. They are used for user applications, server processes and operating system settings. The files are often written in ASCII and line-oriented, with lines terminated by a newline or carriage...
- Tabbed browsing
- mailcapMailcapA mailcap file can be used to find the correct program to open a file with, based on MIME information. While the name is "mailcap" and is related to MIME it actually has use outside the domain of electronic mail ....
-like handling of non-HTMLHTMLHyperText Markup Language is the predominant markup language for web pages. HTML elements are the basic building-blocks of webpages....
data - Numbered links (as in LynxLynx (web browser)Lynx is a text-based web browser for use on cursor-addressable character cell terminals and is very configurable.-Usage:Browsing in Lynx consists of highlighting the chosen link using cursor keys, or having all links on a page numbered and entering the chosen link's number. Current versions support...
and UzblUzblUzbl is a free and open source minimalist web browser designed for simplicity and adherence to the Unix philosophy. Development started in early 2009 and is still considered in alpha software by the developers. The core component of uzbl is developed in C but other languages are also used, most...
) - Simplistic bookmarks, downloads and browsing history handling.
An advertisement blocking feature is intentionally missing from xxxterm. The authors recommend using AdSuck add filtering proxy
Proxy
Proxy may refer to:* Proxy abuse , abuse committed on behalf of somebody else* Proxy bullying , bullying committed on behalf of somebody else...
for such purpose.
User interface
xxxterm may be configured two panels:- fancy bar - URL entry and backward, forward, stop and go buttons and optional search string entry;
- status bar - current URL, zoom level indicator and position in page indicator.
Using these panels and a mouse
Mouse
A mouse is a small mammal belonging to the order of rodents. The best known mouse species is the common house mouse . It is also a popular pet. In some places, certain kinds of field mice are also common. This rodent is eaten by large birds such as hawks and eagles...
the user may operate xxxterm just like Firefox or Midori
Midori
Midori is the Japanese word for "green" and may refer to:- Places :* Midori, Gunma* Midori-ku, Chiba* Midori-ku, Nagoya* Midori-ku, Sagamihara* Midori-ku, Saitama* Midori-ku, Yokohama- People :...
. With panels disabled the user can use keyboard to switch between tabs (buffers in xxxterm's terminology), enter URLs, follow links and navigate through browser history and bookmarks.
xxxterm provides a command mode (designed after vi
Vi
vi is a screen-oriented text editor originally created for the Unix operating system. The portable subset of the behavior of vi and programs based on it, and the ex editor language supported within these programs, is described by the Single Unix Specification and POSIX.The original code for vi...
) for entering commands. Key bindings are also provided for use in default mode.
Similar setup can be reached by using Vimperator
Vimperator
Vimperator is a Mozilla Firefox extension forked from the original Firefox extension version of Conkeror and designed to provide a more efficient user interface for keyboard-fluent users...
Firefox extension or Uzbl
Uzbl
Uzbl is a free and open source minimalist web browser designed for simplicity and adherence to the Unix philosophy. Development started in early 2009 and is still considered in alpha software by the developers. The core component of uzbl is developed in C but other languages are also used, most...
.
Release numbering
As web browserWeb browser
A web browser is a software application for retrieving, presenting, and traversing information resources on the World Wide Web. An information resource is identified by a Uniform Resource Identifier and may be a web page, image, video, or other piece of content...
s are generally fast evolving, xxxterm developers didn't actually create releases. Instead they were making source code
Source code
In computer science, source code is text written using the format and syntax of the programming language that it is being written in. Such a language is specially designed to facilitate the work of computer programmers, who specify the actions to be performed by a computer mostly by writing source...
snapshots identified by CVS
CVS
CVS can refer to:* Computer-controlled Vehicle System, a personal rapid transit system developed in Japan* Convenience store -Computing:...
tags.
Since xxxterm development moved to Git
Git
Git may refer to:* Git , a British English term of abuse* Git , a distributed version control system* Git , by Skeletons & The Girl-Faced Boys...
, the version numbers for releases were rethought. Since then the release numers are in format "X.Y.Z".
Reception
The browser is fairly popular within OpenBSDOpenBSD
OpenBSD is a Unix-like computer operating system descended from Berkeley Software Distribution , a Unix derivative developed at the University of California, Berkeley. It was forked from NetBSD by project leader Theo de Raadt in late 1995...
community, where it originated. Outside that community, the browser is usually considered either too minimalistic or not enough minimalistic. At the same time, the browser is sometimes considered as a good choice for old and low-end hardware.