Google deprecating Manifest v2 - Use Qutebrowser

Author:       -fab- <fab@redterminal.org>
License:      CC BY-SA 4.0
Published on: Wed, 09 Oct 2024 06:51:59 +0200
Last updated: Wed, 09 Oct 2024 06:51:59 +0200

I've just seen this video on YouTube from Mental Outlaw, where he goes over the deprecation of Manifest V2 in chromium-based browsers and the end of ad blocking in these browsers.

The End of Ad Blockers In Chrome (YouTube)

So one might think this is the end of ad blocking in internet browsers based on Chromium. Some might take rescue in Firefox, Brave Browser or Librewolf and I endorse these browsers for most people. But I want to recommend another browser, which can be nearly completely controlled with the keyboard and vim bindings as I like it: Qutebrowser!

Qutebrowser - Completely keyboard controllable web browser

Qutebrowser homepage (www)

Qutebrowser Github Repository (www)

While you can control Qutebrowser with the mouse (and on some pages this may be necessary) you also can and should only use the keyboard to navigate through the web. The keybindings are based on the Vim keybindings and you can configure nearly everything. For example:

• "o" lets you enter a new URL which is opened in the current tab

• "O" lets you enter a new URL which is opened in a new tab

• "f" lets you choose a link to follow in the current tab with some keys

• "F" same as "f" but opens in new tab

• "i" enters insert mode for input fields

• "H" goes back one page in the current tab

• "L" goes forward one page in current tab

• "d" closes a tab

• "" goes to next tab

• "" goes to previous tab

• ...

There are many more shortcuts and you can also define your own.

Built in Ad Blocker

Qutebrowser also has a built in Ad Blocker which supports hosts file lists and AdBlock Plus lists. You can use one of them or both. So although it uses the chromium engine (from QTWebEngine) and doesn't support extensions at all you have reliable ad blocking. Who needs extensions anyway?

Updated Chromium engine

While Qutebrowser is based on the QT toolkit which only updates to a new Chromium release on every minor QT release, every patch release backports security fixes from newer Chromium versions. So as long as you're on an up-to-date QT version you should receive security updates regularly.

Highly customizable

It is highly customizable although it doesn't support browser plugins. Qutebrowser can be easily extended with userscripts e.g. I have a script which adds RSS feeds to my feed reader (newsboat) bound to ",f".

I also use "password-store" (pass) for my passwords and I have a rofi script which fuzzy finds my passwords in a list and copies the selected one to the clipboard. Then I can paste it to the web site or where ever else.

Final words

Even if Qutebrowser doesn't support extensions you can build it up the way you like it with self built user scripts. It focuses on efficiency and if you already favorite CLI/TUI applications like Vim and prefer the keyboard over the mouse for most tasks you should give Qutebrowser a try. Of course it's completely free software and licensed under the GPL-3.0.

All in all - Have fun!

-fab-

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