[BRLTTY] Is there a feature-compatible text-based browser

[kperry at blinksoft.com]

Hello everyone,

This is a question from a developer. Back when I worked on the Mobile
Manager for APH (around 2005-2010), we built a handheld Linux device before
the Victor Stream came out. The web browser on that device worked in a
text-based way-you navigated with arrow keys between links, images, and
other elements. Think of something similar to the Pine email client.

What many people don't realize is that under the hood, that browser was
actually Firefox. We ran a full GUI browser in a "faceless" mode, while
interacting with it entirely through a text interface.

That brings me to my idea:
Instead of trying to maintain a stand-alone text browser like Lynx, wouldn't
it be easier to build a command-line browser that uses a modern engine like
Chrome or Firefox as the backend? You'd only need some X libraries
installed, but not an actual running desktop. Interaction could be handled
through text, while the backend stays updated automatically as Chrome or
Firefox updates.

This could be developed using faceless web automation tools, Python, and
other components. Over time, it might become a powerful text-mode browser
where you could even choose your backend (Firefox, Chrome, etc.). and
activate media links through the tools you want to etc.

I'm curious-would this be of interest to people here? Is there something
wrong with this idea that no one is doing it?   


Thanks,
Ken

-----Original Message-----
From: BRLTTY <brltty-bounces at brltty.app> On Behalf Of Aura Kelloniemi
Sent: Tuesday, September 16, 2025 9:44 AM
To: smassy at wolfdream.ca; Informal discussion between users and developers of
BRLTTY. <brltty at brltty.app>; brltty at brltty.app
Subject: Re: [BRLTTY] Is there a feature-compatible text-based broser

Hello,

On 2025-09-15 at 21:56 -0400, "S. Massy" <smassy at wolfdream.ca> wrote:
 > Hello,
 > So it looks like google pulled support for HTML-only text browsers at  >
long last.

I am sitll able to use Google search using HTTP, not HTTPS. I also needed to
spoof my browser's user-agent string. "wg0.9" at least works, but ELinks's
default user-agent string does not.

As a sidenote: wg is a simple command-line browser script which uses Links
to render HTML: http://sange.fi/~atehwa/userland-scripts/wg

--
Aura
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