TL;DR: The Linux Basis has introduced the formation of a brand new group, the “Supporters of Chromium-Based mostly Browsers,” geared toward funding and advancing the event of browsers constructed on the open-source Chromium codebase. Founding members of the alliance embrace Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Opera.
The Linux Basis mentioned the brand new group will present a “impartial area” for builders, software program distributors, and the broader open-source neighborhood to higher contribute to the Chromium ecosystem and collaborate on Chromium-based tasks.
The muse emphasised that present Chromium tasks will stay underneath their respective builders’ management and won’t be absorbed by the brand new alliance. As an alternative, the new group will function underneath the Linux Basis to “take away obstacles to innovation, develop adoption, and be sure that tasks throughout the Chromium ecosystem obtain the assets they should thrive.”
Google defined that the Linux Basis was chosen to handle the alliance and its funding as a consequence of its confirmed observe file of “open governance, prioritizing transparency, inclusivity, and community-driven growth.” The corporate additionally expressed its enthusiasm for the initiative, noting that it was “thrilled” to have garnered help from Meta, Microsoft, and Opera.
Google claimed to have contributed greater than 100,000 commits to the Chromium codebase in 2024, representing roughly 94 % of complete contributions. The corporate assured the neighborhood that it has no plans to reduce its efforts and intends to proceed investing within the Chromium mission to drive additional growth. Moreover, Google known as on its companions to “step up” and improve their very own contributions to the mission.
Microsoft and Opera additionally launched statements praising the brand new initiative and reaffirming their dedication to the Chromium ecosystem. Microsoft said that it will proceed contributing to the Chromium codebase “to enhance Edge and different Chromium-based browsers.” Opera expressed optimism that the alliance would enable it “to take an much more lively function in Chromium’s growth and future course.”
Many standard fashionable browsers, together with Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Courageous, and Vivaldi, are constructed on the open-source Chromium codebase. In distinction, the 2 most widely-used non-Chromium browsers are Mozilla Firefox and Apple’s Safari. Firefox depends on Mozilla’s proprietary Quantum/Gecko engine, whereas Safari is powered by Apple’s WebKit.
The implications of the brand new alliance for non-Chromium browsers stay unclear. For browsers resembling Firefox, which lack the backing of tech giants like Apple, the alliance might pose important challenges. If the Supporters of Chromium-Based mostly Browsers initiative allows Chromium-based browsers to seize much more market share, Mozilla could face rising stress. That is notably regarding given Mozilla’s heavy reliance on funding from Google to maintain the event of its open-source browser.
