Linux

From.the FAQ

Why build a new browser in C++ when safer and more modern languages are available? Ladybird started as a component of the SerenityOS hobby project, which only allows C++. The choice of language was not so much a technical decision, but more one of personal convenience. Andreas was most comfortable with C++ when creating SerenityOS, and now we have almost half a million lines of modern C++ to maintain.

However, now that Ladybird has forked and become its own independent project, all constraints previously imposed by SerenityOS are no longer in effect. We are actively evaluating a number of alternatives and will be adding a mature successor language to the project in the near future. This process is already quite far along, and prototypes exist in multiple languages.

I will never understand why people name stuff just by opening an English dictionary and simply picking a word

Naming stuff is hard.

For anybody else with the same question…

The Ladybird browser started as a part of the SerenityOS Project. SerenityOS had adopted Ladybug imagery before the browser was conceived. “Ladybird” seemed like a perfectly reasonable name for a core component of the OS given its existing iconography.

It was ( and is ) as good name in context.

Ladybird has decided to split with its SerenityOS roots. I have pretty mixed feelings on that. Regardless, it would be silly to change the name at this point.

The same history applies to C++. SerenityOS is written in C++. Until the split, the OS and browser were maintained in a mono repo with extremely deep code integration and coordination. They share the same custom C++ standard library and coding conventions for example.

SerenityOS was started as a very personal project and the original author is ( or was ) a fan of C++. While I am personally not a fan, it seems like a perfectly reasonable language choice to write an OS in.

Cross-platform and performant, are there options besides C++ and rust?

I’ve seen C++ code written by Microsoft and I’ve got to say, they aren’t the brightest candles on the cake either.

Why do you think most early adopters use Windows exclusively?

They do not need early adopters yet. They know it is too early. It makes sense to focus on progress. Outreach can happen later when they are more technically ready.

I'd hazard as guess that Linux users are at least a magnitude more likely to be an early adopter of this project than Windows users, at 4% market share it shouldn't be that big of problem at the start.

The average Windows user would easily be put off by the project if they tried it this early. I feel it'd actually be better if they don't release on Windows until they are ready. That way they can get better press when it finally releases on Windows.

If you are tech-savvy and looking for alternatives, you won't use Windows.

How exactly would it "get stomped", and by whom?

They're already exploring other languages. C++ just happens be its origin by way of its heritage. It's not their target anymore.

Ultimately, we'll see what happens. I agree that $1mil isn't a ton for a big project, but we don't know, yet, if they'll be able to secure other big donations or not over the course of its life. People have sold stupider ideas to potential donors, so who knows?

Also not super enthused about another browser written in C++. I skimmed some of their code and it seems pretty high quality, but still… this is going to be chock full of security bugs.

If you are going to do anything stability-based these days, Rust should be a big consideration.

The website claims that sponsors have no direct influence on the project ("board seats are not for sale"). The reality is that no project of sufficient scale to fully implement web standards can survive without a significant amount of funding.

from the FAQ

• How can you be "independent" if you have sponsors?
• All sponsorships are in the form of unrestricted donations. Board seats and other forms of influence are not for sale.

Firefox is dependent on Google financially, not codeually.

Google pays Firefox a lot of money to make it the default search engine. It also takes like three clicks to swap it to DDG or something you prefer. If I were Mozilla/Firefox, I would take the money too lol