Terminal browsers

Let’s be clear about one thing: you’re unlikely to replace your regular browser with any of the terminal browsers on test in this month’s Roundup. The vast majority of websites use JavaScript, and many sites will just refuse to run without it, so this is one limitation to bear in mind.

However, if you’re looking for answers on forums or collecting data from sites, you’re usually going to be fine with a terminal browser at your fingertips. It’s a tool that’s light and quick to carry out common tasks. Distractions are kept to a minimum simply because support is deliberately lacking for the worst offenders in this area: JavaScript and CSS.

Since so many things are either turned off or not implemented, many of the methods of tracking your progress online are eliminated. To avoid tracking, you’ll want to manage your cookies. The tools for this task are much more clear, and it’s easier to clear cookies selectively than in the big browsers.

With much of the graphic content removed the speed of download is greatly increased. Vim users can use standard keybindings without going through heaps of installs and odd extensions. You can pull down media using special features so you can enjoy music and video despite cutting out most graphics.

Simply surfing by using a terminal is not the only reason to consider these browsers. They have other features that will enhance your experience with them. Through the use of scripting and calling other software you can make them even more capable. As is the Linux way, you create your own solutions by connecting the best tool for each type of content and task that you want done.

To do this, you can speed up fact-finding missions using the output options of these browsers and then combining them with parsers and presentation software. You even have the w3m browser that you can use as a pager for your email, directory view and comparison of files. All these capabilities makes your browser an advanced tool rather than just a text viewer.

Browsh comes last in many of this Roundup’s categories, but don’t discount it entirely. It’s an outlier because it’s been developed with a different set of goals in mind. While you may want to drag down all your data, sometimes you just want to explore a site properly – browsh enables you to do this.