Chrome become almost entirely open-source on Android
A historic change for Chrome for Android, which becomes ” almost completely open-source, ” said the same Google engineers. This could bring new mobile browser based on the same Chromium browser that powers the Big G.
After less than seven years after its birth, Chrome is the most popular browser on the desktop market. Chromium is the basic software, also developed by Google and available as open-source software. The mode of distribution was until a few days ago on a different mobile version of the app, whose code was not available for inspection and modification by the community.
An engineer of Chrome for Android on Reddit announced that the mobile browser is now ” almost completely open-source “, with big part of his code now available in the repository of Chromium just as for years for its desktop counterpart. Some features, however, are not public, and probably never will be, such as those relating to the connections with your Google account.
Despite the underlying code of the browser is open to modification by the community, some parts are very important for the financial aspect of the company. Google generates most of its turnover through the provision of specially tailored banner on the individual user by collecting the data of the latter, and it is natural to want to keep some control over the technologies used.
The ” intellectual property ” is a concept that clashes with that of open source, but Google is a commercial reality and although not directly with its Chrome gains, the software provides to Big G a solid customer base both on a desktop or on Mobile. Distributing to the public code of the browser Google acquired the benefits of open-source, with the entire community can participate in the work of improving the software.
How does this translate to the end user? Developers can create new web browser for mobile devices starting from Chromium, but other than Chrome, introducing unique features not available on the official version. On the desktop are Opera and Vivaldi, among many, and it is likely that following the recent major changes will happen a similar phenomenon on the mobile.
