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Release of WebKitGTK 2.40.0 browser engine and Epiphany 44 web browser

The release of the new stable branch WebKitGTK 2.40.0, a port of the WebKit browser engine for the GTK platform, has been introduced. WebKitGTK allows you to use all the features of WebKit through a GNOME-based GObject-based API and can be used to integrate web content processing tools into any application, from use in specialized HTML/CSS parsers to building full-featured web browsers. Of the well-known projects using WebKitGTK, one can note the regular GNOME browser (Epiphany). Previously, WebKitGTK was used in the Midori browser, but after the transfer of the project to the Astian Foundation, the old version of Midori on WebKitGTK was abandoned and, by creating a branch from the Wexond browser, a fundamentally different product was created with the same name Midori, but based on the Electron and React platform.

Key changes:

  • Support for the GTK4 API has been stabilized.
  • WebGL2 support included. The WebGL implementation uses the ANGLE layer to translate OpenGL ES calls to OpenGL, Direct3D 9/11, Desktop GL, and Vulkan.
  • Transitioned to use primarily EGL instead of GLX.
  • Added support for speech synthesis using Flite.
  • Enabled the clipboard management API, which works in asynchronous mode.
  • Added an API for requesting permissions for certain web capabilities.
  • Added API for returning values ​​from custom script messages in asynchronous mode.
  • Handled the WebKitDownload::decide-destination signal asynchronously.
  • Added a new API for executing JavaScript.
  • Provided the ability to export webkit://gpu output in JSON format.
  • Resolved issues with large memory allocation when loading content.

Based on WebKitGTK 2.40.0, the release of the GNOME Web 44 browser (Epiphany) has been formed. Main changes:

  • Transitioned to use GTK 4 and libadwaita.
  • Information panels are replaced with pop-up menus (popover), dialogs and banners.
  • The tab menu has been replaced with AdwTabButton, and the About dialog has been replaced with AdwAboutWindow.
  • The context menu always shows the Mute Tab element.
  • Reworked support for the elementary OS distribution.
  • Added setting to set the page shown when opening a new tab.
  • Extended support for the WebExtension browserAction API.
  • Added settings for WebExtensions.
  • Implemented support for duplicating a tab when pressing the page refresh button with the middle mouse button.

Source: opennet.ru

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