Google's Chrome now works on Linux, crudely

Google is tight-lipped about the Linux version of its Chrome browser, but the company's programmers have proved a bit more forthcoming with a brief announcement that they have a crude version of Chrome working on Linux.

"Dude, Gmail works in the test shell on Linux!" said programmer Dan Kegel in a note to the Chromium developers mailing list on Tuesday. It's pretty crude, though: the "enter" key doesn't work, for example.

Chromium is the name of the open-source project behind Chrome. But what's a "test shell"?

Aaron Boodman, who works on Chrome and Gears and spotlighted the Linux accomplishment, had this explanation in his blog post about the Linux Chrome milestone: "The test shell is a very simple browser that the Chromium development team uses for testing our integration with WebKit," the engine that decodes HTML to render a Web page in the browser. "It is the first step of porting Chromium to a new platform."

In other words, Chrome for Linux is in a pretty raw state.

"The team is still a long ways from even getting the Web to render correctly, let alone building the real browser UI (user interface). But it's exciting to see things falling a little more into place each day," Boodman said.

Kegel also indicated in a later e-mail that V8, the engine that runs JavaScript programs on Web pages, is functioning, because he was able to run a JavaScript benchmark test called SunSpider.

"I just did a shootout between test shell and Firefox on Linux by pasting the SunSpider public URL in each. Happily, it ran to completion on both," Kegel said.

[clh22793]

um...most computer users are on PC!

[vertig0730]

Your ignorance is apparent.

[Penguinisto]

Err, you do know that Linux, an operating system, runs on PC's, right?

[timber2005]

PC: Acronym for "Personal Computer", encompasing the operating systems Windows, Linux and Mac OS.

[Dalkorian]

LOL - no worries, just hit the any key.

[estie2007]

Don't expect a Mac version any time soon either. It's too small a market share. LOL!

[northstarr]

And Chrome market share is even more ridiculous, why do we need it on the Mac?

[Dalkorian]

Actually, I'd expect the Mac version to come shortly after the Linux version. If you don't understand why, look into what's running under OSX. Or make another comment that shows your ignorance, it's your choice.

[gsekse]

um...I have no idea where your comment is going???

[leggat]

um...your comment is a statement not a question, no need for question marks. :|

[joetesta70]

Hi, I'm a MAC and there's no software for me. No Chrome, No Games...

Wah! Wah!

LOL!

[gsmiller88]

Yeah and we can't use standard size CD's and have only a one button mouse, isn't that sad?!

[/ sarcasm]

[MSSlayer]

A few things:

1. As a general rules Linux users are savvy enough to not want spyware on their computer. Make no mistake, like every other half-assed Google application, Chrome is spyware.

2. If Google were competent it would take little work to port their browser. It is not that hard to make software like a browser 90%+ cross-platform. See Opera and Firefox for examples.

[cohaver]

Linux should be on Google top list of things to do with chrome . Window 7 Tracking system ,Silver light and cloud Software , could hurt Google by collecting data on end user at point of Origin for Direct specialized marketing .
Google top list Support should be
1. Linux
2. Mac
3. Mono
4. Code weavers
5. Sun Java

[Mr. Dee]

Chrome is an experiment that plans to be in perpetual beta until the year 3000. People will simply see it and click pass it.

[slecalvez]

mmm.... honestly, who gives a damn about this... Did the author ran out of news to write about?

[Penguinisto]

Sorry, but Chrome really isn't on my list of things I really need... Firefox works perfectly. I can also choose Konqueror, Opera, and about a dozen other browsers (including more than a few CLI-only ones).

Unlike Windows (where most of the users are perfectly used to IE and its woes, or have moved on to Firefox), folks outside of Windows require more than just a presence to justify a new web browser.

/P

[Vegaman_Dan]

Sorry, but Chrome, Firefox, Konqueror, Opera and Safari aren't on my list of things I really need.

To each their own. If it works for them, that's fine. You're right, most users of Windows are perfectly happy with IE and what it does for them. Just like Firefox and all its woes and security issues is fine for you. Use what works for you.

[MSSlayer]

Windows users are perfectly happy with IE because they are ignorant.

IE is a mess, it can't render correctly and has one of the worst security records of any software.

Since you are a MS shill with no technical knowledge, I wouldn't expect that you know that.

[Dalkorian]

by Vegaman_Dan November 12, 2008 2:24 PM PST
You're right, most users of Windows are perfectly happy with IE and what it does for them. Just like Firefox and all its woes and security issues is fine for you.

------------------------------------------------------------------

Whoa, did you really go there? Really?? You thing there is more security in the monstrosity known as Internet Exploder, which is so tightly ingrained into the bowels of the OS that it can't be uninstalled without rendering the OS inoperable, then there is in an application running within the same OS? Can I have some of what you're smoking?

[mavink]

For those that are interested: there's a build for MacOS X at http://securityandthe.net/2008/11/12/new-chrome-mac-build/

[goodspeed8701]

IE works well for me. FF too slow. In terms of security.. Its worste than IE. all you have to do is to run it in compactibility mode and it renders very fine.

[Dalkorian]

Another one claiming a browser intimately tied into the bowels of the OS is somehow more secure than applications running within that OS. M$ is going to run into financial trouble soon if they have to keep paying people like you and others to spread nonsense like that.

[thelastsamurai]

Come on guys, u dun need to wait to get a taste of it in Apple MAC OS X/ LINUX. http://www.codeweavers.com/services/ports/chromium ... This is just a proof of concept, for fun, and to showcase what Wine can do. Chromium itself is just beginning. As the Chromium project progresses, they will be providing more compelling support for Mac OS and Linux, particularly with process security and memory management. Those future versions from Chromium will be better suited for daily use than this version. DO NOT run CrossOver Chromium as your main browser!

[linuxMacsuck]

Hi I'm a Mac and I just look pretty. Hi I'm a Linux user who has nothing better to do but to sit around and compline programs from source.

I don't see why google is wasting stockholders money!! I need to write a letter to googles board. What a waste of capital. Heck Linux is still chasing that elusive 1% market share. Wow, let dump all of googles' resources into linux and macs and then they can run to uncle sam and ask for a bail out. Maybe, linux and mac combined can reach the 8% markets share. The new windows 7 will crush linux compiz, and your pretty little mac's.

[Emacs23]

> I don't see why google is wasting stockholders money!! I need to write a letter to googles board. What
> a waste of capital. Heck Linux is still chasing that elusive 1% market share. Wow, let dump all of
> googles' resources into linux and macs and then they can run to uncle sam and ask for a bail out.
> Maybe, linux and mac combined can reach the 8% markets share. The new windows 7 will crush
> linux compiz, and your pretty little mac's.

Lol you suck.
1) Most google devs use linux on their Desktops. I think mac is more spread than windows too there
2) It would be strange if most of google staff wouldn't use google browser
3) Force google devs to use windows is a extremely bad idea - linux is more convenient than windows for this kind of job.
4) You are idiot and better shut up lol.