Editing GNOME Web (section)

== History ==
=== Naming ===
GNOME Web was originally named "Epiphany", but was rebranded in 2012 as part of GNOME 3.4.<ref name="ra-3.4" /> The name Epiphany is still used internally, as its code name,<ref name="code name" /> for development and in the source code.<ref name="Official repository" /> The package remains ''epiphany-browser'' in [[Debian]]<ref name="source-code-ubuntu" /> (to avoid a name collision with a video game that is also called "Epiphany") and ''epiphany'' in [[Fedora (operating system)|Fedora]] and [[Arch Linux]].<ref name=source-code-fedora /><ref>{{Cite web |title=Arch Linux - epiphany 44.7-1 (x86_64) |url=https://archlinux.org/packages/extra/x86_64/epiphany/ |access-date=2023-09-21 |website=archlinux.org}}</ref>

=== Development ===
==== Galeon ====
{{main|Galeon}}
Marco Pesenti Gritti, the initiator of [[Galeon]], originally developed Epiphany in 2002 as a [[Fork (software development)|fork]] of Galeon. The fork occurred because of the disagreement between Gritti and the rest of Galeon developers about new features. Gritti regarded Galeon's monolithic design and the number of user-configurable features as factors that were limiting Galeon's maintainability and usability, but the rest of the Galeon developers wanted to add more features.{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}

Around the same time, the GNOME project adopted a set of [[GNOME Human Interface Guidelines|human interface guidelines]], which promoted simplification of user interfaces. As Galeon was oriented towards [[power user]]s, most developers disapproved. As a result, Gritti created a new browser based on Galeon, with most of the non-critical features removed. He intended Epiphany to comply with the GNOME HIG. As such, Epiphany used the global GNOME theme and other settings from inception.<ref name="galeon-history_website" /><ref name="FSM" />

Gritti explained his motivations:

{{quote|While Mozilla has an excellent rendering engine, its default [[XUL]]-based interface is considered to be overcrowded and bloated. Furthermore, on slower processors even trivial tasks such as pulling down a menu is less than responsive.

Epiphany aims to utilize the simplest interface possible for a browser. Keep in mind that simple does not necessarily mean less powerful. We believe the commonly used browsers of today are too big, buggy, and bloated. Epiphany addresses simplicity with a small browser designed for the web—not mail, newsgroups, file management, instant messaging or coffee making. The [[Unix philosophy]] is to design small tools that do one thing, and do it well.

[..]

Epiphany's main goal is to be integrated with the gnome desktop. We don't aim to make Epiphany usable outside Gnome. If someone will like to use it anyway, it's just a plus. For example: Making people happy that don't have control center installed is not a good reason to have mime configuration in Epiphany itself.|Marco Pesenti Gritti<ref name="mozdev-home"/>}}

Galeon continued after the fork, but lost momentum due to the remaining developers' failure to keep up with changes in the Mozilla platform. Galeon development stalled and the developers decided to work on extensions to bring Galeon's advanced features to Epiphany.<ref name="FSM" />

Gritti ended his work on Epiphany and a GNOME team led by Xan Lopez, Christian Persch and Jean-François Rameau now direct the project.<ref name="webkit-announcement" /> Gritti died of cancer on May 23, 2015.<ref name=gritti />

==== Gecko-based ====
The first version of Epiphany was released on December 24, 2002.<ref name="epiphany-turns-7" />

Epiphany initially used the [[Gecko (layout engine)|Gecko layout engine]] from the [[Mozilla]] project to display web pages. It provided a GNOME [[graphical user interface]] for Gecko, instead of Mozilla's cross-platform interface.<ref name="dont-click_book" />

The development of Epiphany was mainly focused on usability improvements compared to major browsers at the time. The most notable was the new text entry widget, which was introduced in version 1.8. The new widget supported icons inside the text area and reduced the screen space needed to present information, while improving GNOME integration.<ref name="new-text-entry_devblog" />

The next major milestone was version 2.14, which was the first to follow GNOME's version numbering. It also featured network awareness using [[NetworkManager]], [[smart bookmarks]] improvements, and the option to build with [[XULRunner]].{{Citation needed|date=March 2022}}

The latter was critical. Previously, Epiphany could only use an installed Mozilla web browser as a web engine provider. The XULRunner support made it possible to install Epiphany as the only web browser on the system.<ref name="pi-1" /><ref name="198_devblog" />

==== WebKit-based ====
[[File:GNOME Web 40 (released in 2021-03) -- Web Inspector.png|thumb|Web Inspector, showing a [[Safari (web browser)|Safari]]-like user interface]]

The development process suffered from major problems related to the Gecko backend. Notably, the release cycles of the two projects did not line up efficiently. Additionally, Mozilla increasingly disregarded third-party software that wished to make use of Gecko, until it became viewed as an integrated Firefox component.<ref name="webkit-announcement" /> To address these issues, in July 2007, the Epiphany team added support for [[WebKit]] as an alternative rendering engine.<ref name="port-buddha" /> On {{dts|2008|4|1}}, the team announced that it would remove the ability to build it using Gecko and proceed using only WebKit.<ref name="webkit-announcement" />

The size of the team and complexity of porting the browser to WebKit caused version 2.22 to be re-released with bugfixes alongside GNOME 2.24,<ref name="epiphany-loves-webkit" /> so the releases stagnated until {{dts|2009|7|1}}, when it was announced that 2.26 would be the final Gecko-based version.<ref name="gecko-eol" />

In September 2009, the transition to WebKit was completed as part of GNOME 2.28.<ref name="ars_garden" />

=== Version history ===
Developers of GNOME Web maintain a complete and accurate [[changelog]] in its official repository that shows complete and detailed changes between all the releases,<ref name="gitlab.gnome">{{Cite web |title=NEWS · main · GNOME / Epiphany · GitLab |url=https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/epiphany/-/blob/main/NEWS |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240722134947/https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/epiphany/-/raw/main/NEWS |archive-date=July 22, 2024 |access-date=July 22, 2024 |website=GNOME GitLab}}</ref> following table just shows arbitrarily mentioned some notable and important changes:<ref name="gnome-rn" /><ref name="git_news" />

{|class="wikitable"
|-
!scope="col"| Version
!scope="col"| Date
!scope="col"| Notable and important changes
|-
!scope="row"| 0.4
| {{dts|2002|12|25}}<ref name="ra-0.4" />
| Initial release.
|-
!scope="row"| 0.5
| {{dts|2003|4|13}}<ref name="ra-0.5" />
| Ability to drag bookmarks, smart bookmarks, and topics to the toolbar. Optional "Go" button for URL bar. "Help" support.
|-
!scope="row"| 0.6
| {{dts|2003|5|4}}<ref name="ra-0.6" />
| [[Drag and drop]] of links to [[Tab (GUI)|tab bar]]. Security preferences. User language automatic detection. New history dialog. Default bookmarks toolbar.
|-
!scope="row"| 0.7
| {{dts|2003|6|7}}<ref name="ra-0.7" />
| Zoom control for the toolbar. Ability to reload page while bypassing cache (shift+reload). Traditional bookmarks menu. ''Exit fullscreen'' button.
|-
!scope="row"| 0.8
| {{dts|2003|7|13}}<ref name="mzine_ephy-08" />
| Tooltips. Improved GNOME integration. Fast search for bookmarks and history. Drag and drop of [[URL]]s in the bookmarks toolbar.
|-
!scope="row"| 0.9
| {{dts|2003|8|22}}<ref name="ra-0.9" />
| ''Bugfixes only.''
|-
!scope="row"| 1.0
| {{dts|2003|9|8}}<ref name="ra-1.0" /><br />''GNOME 2.04''
| Support for Mozilla 1.6.
|-
!scope="row"| 1.2
| {{dts|2004|3|15}}<ref name="ra-1.2" /><br/>''GNOME 2.06''
| Support for Mozilla 1.7 and 1.8, Lockdown mode. [[Caret navigation]].
|-
!scope="row"| 1.4
| {{dts|2004|9|13}}<ref name="ra-1.4" /><br/>''GNOME 2.08''
| Offline mode. Per-site [[Pop-up ad|pop-up]] blocking.
|-
!scope="row"| 1.6
| {{dts|2005|3|9}}<ref name="ra-1.6" /><br/>''GNOME 2.10''
| Extensions manager.
|-
!scope="row"| 1.8
| {{dts|2005|9|5}}<ref name="ra-1.8" /><br />''GNOME 2.12''
| [[Python (programming language)|Python]] bindings, ''Find'' toolbar, [[Favicon]] and [[Secure Sockets Layer|SSL]] [[Computer icon|icons]] displayed in location bar.<ref name="new-text-entry_devblog" /> Gecko 1.8 support. Error messages display in content area. Use of the GNOME printing system.
|-
!scope="row"| 2.14
| {{dts|2006|3|12}}<ref name="ra-2.14" />
| [[XULRunner]] backend supported. Topic suggestions in bookmarks manager.<ref name="topics_devblog" /> Version numbering synced to [[GNOME]].<ref name="pi-1" /> [[NetworkManager]] [[DBUS]] interface support.
|-
!scope="row"| 2.16
| {{dts|2006|9|6}}<ref name="ra-2.16" />
| History preserved for links opened in new tabs.<ref name="ephy216_rn" /> [[Spell checking]] support. Page security info dialogue from Certificates extension. New GTK Printing dialog. Stability improvements.<ref name="stabler-stable_devblog" />
|-
!scope="row"| 2.18
| {{dts|2007|3|14}}<ref name="ra-2.18" />
| Bookmarks online storage.<ref name="foresight_devblog" /> UI for Ad Blocker.
|-
!scope="row"| 2.20
| {{dts|2007|9|19}}<ref name="ra-2.20" />
| rowspan=4 | Migration from Gecko to WebKit.<ref name="epiphany-loves-webkit" /> [[Portable Document Format|PDF]] printing. Migration from [[GnomeVFS]] to [[GIO (software)|GIO]].
|-
!scope="row"| 2.22
| {{dts|2008|3|12}}<ref name="ra-2.22" />
|-
!scope="row"| 2.24
| {{dts|2008|9|24}}<ref name="ra-2.24" />
|-
!scope="row"| 2.26
| {{dts|2009|3|31}}<ref name="ra-2.26" />
|-
!scope="row"| 2.28
| {{dts|2009|9|24}}<ref name="ra-2.28" />
| Gecko backends removed. Python extension support removed. WebInspector.<ref name="webinspector" />
|-
!scope="row"| 2.30
| {{dts|2010|3|31}}<ref name="ra-2.30" />
| Broken SSL certificate warning, custom page menus support.
|-
!scope="row"| 2.32
| {{dts|2010|9|29}}<ref name="ra-2.32" />
| ''Bugfixes only''.
|-
!scope="row"| 3.0
| {{dts|2011|4|6}}<ref name="ra-3.0" />
| Reduced the amount of [[user interface chrome]]. [[Geolocation]] support. Switched from text zooming to full content zooming. New download manager. Migration to [[GTK]] 3 and GNOME 3 technologies.
|-
!scope="row"| 3.2
| {{dts|2011|9|28}}<ref name="ra-3.2" />
| Separate font settings. WebKit's page source viewer made default. [[#Web Application Mode|Web Applications mode]] introduced.
|-
!scope="row"| 3.4
| {{dts|2012|3|28}}<ref name="ra-3.4" />
| Renamed from ''Epiphany'' to ''Web''. Major interface overhaul. Performance improvements. Super menu introduced.
|-
!scope="row"| 3.6
| {{dts|2012|9|26}}<ref name="ra-3.6" />
| Overview screen and Full Screen mode introduced.
|-
!scope="row"| 3.8
| {{dts|2013|3|27}}<ref name="ra-3.8" />
| Support [[Adobe Flash]] and other plug-ins using [[WebKit2]]. Privacy mode. [[New Tab]] button. Removes the ability to disable [[JavaScript]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/epiphany/-/blob/master/NEWS#L1652|title=NEWS · master · GNOME / Epiphany|access-date=May 27, 2020|archive-date=August 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801035317/https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/epiphany/-/blob/master/NEWS#L1652|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|3.10
| {{dts|2013|9|26}}<ref name="ra-3.10">{{cite web|publisher=Gnome|date=September 26, 2013|url=https://git.gnome.org/browse/epiphany|title=Epiphany source coder|access-date=October 14, 2013|archive-date=December 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221120135/https://git.gnome.org/browse/epiphany|url-status=live}}</ref>
| New toolbar placement into "Header Bar", the new [[GNOME]] titlebar design.
|-
!scope="row"|3.12
| {{dts|2014|3|25}}<ref name="ra-3.12">{{cite web|publisher=Gnome|date=March 25, 2014|url=https://git.gnome.org/browse/epiphany/tag/?id=3.12.0|title=Epiphany source code|access-date=March 31, 2014|archive-date=December 15, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215162657/https://gitlab.gnome.org/users/sign_in|url-status=live}}</ref>
| A major update version, including improved performance and user interface enhancements. Implemented a single process for each tab.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.gnome.org/press/2014/03/gnome-3-12-released-with-new-features-for-users-and-developers/ |title=3.12 Released with New Features for Users and Developers |publisher=GNOME |date=March 26, 2014 |access-date=April 7, 2014 |archive-date=March 31, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331224622/http://www.gnome.org/press/2014/03/gnome-3-12-released-with-new-features-for-users-and-developers/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|3.14
| {{dts|2014|9|24}}<ref name="ra-3.14">{{cite web|publisher=Gnome|date=September 24, 2014|url=https://git.gnome.org/browse/epiphany/tree/NEWS/|title=epiphany – A simple, clean, beautiful view of the Web|access-date=October 14, 2014|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105214021/https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/epiphany/-/blob/master/NEWS|url-status=live}}</ref>
| A minor update adding support blocking invalid SSL certificates, warning users about mixed content for improved security, adblocker performance improvements and overall small UI improvements and polishing.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://git.gnome.org/browse/epiphany/tree/NEWS/ |title=Epiphany 3.14 News file |publisher=GNOME |date=September 24, 2014 |access-date=October 14, 2014 |archive-date=November 5, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105214025/https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/epiphany/-/blob/master/NEWS |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|3.16
| {{dts|2015|3|23}}<ref name="gnome.org">{{cite web|url=https://git.gnome.org/browse/epiphany/refs/tags|title=epiphany – A simple, clean, beautiful view of the Web|access-date=December 3, 2015|archive-date=December 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141221120550/https://git.gnome.org/browse/epiphany/refs/tags|url-status=live}}</ref>
|UI updated, fixes to improve incognito mode's privacy and discoverability.<ref name="gnome.org1">{{cite web|url=https://git.gnome.org/browse/epiphany/tree/NEWS/|title=epiphany – A simple, clean, beautiful view of the Web|access-date=December 3, 2015|archive-date=November 5, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211105214021/https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/epiphany/-/blob/master/NEWS|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|3.18
| {{dts|2015|9|23}}<ref name="gnome.org"/>
|UI improvements. Enabled [[Do Not Track]] and the ad blocker by default.<ref name="gnome.org1"/>
|-
!scope="row"|3.20
| {{dts|2016|3|23}}<ref name="gnome.org"/>
|UI improvements. Session restore.
|-
!scope="row"|3.22
| {{dts|2016|9|21}}<ref name="gnome.org"/>
|UI improvements.
|-
!scope="row"|3.30
| {{dts|2018|9|6}}<ref name="ra-3.30" />
|Reader mode, others.
|-
!scope="row"|3.34
| {{dts|2019|9|12}}<ref name="gnome.org"/>
|Rewritten and improved ad blocker which uses WebKit's content filtering. Web process sandboxing for improved security. Favorite tabs can be pinned.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=https://help.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/3.34/index.html.en|title=GNOME 3.34 Release Notes|website=help.gnome.org|access-date=May 26, 2020|archive-date=June 2, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200602061700/https://help.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/3.34/index.html.en|url-status=live}}</ref> plug-in support removed.<ref name="auto2">{{Cite web|url=https://webkitgtk.org/2019/09/09/webkitgtk2.26.0-released.html|title=WebKitGTK 2.26.0 released! - The WebKitGTK Project|website=webkitgtk.org|access-date=September 29, 2019|archive-date=September 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929183407/https://webkitgtk.org/2019/09/09/webkitgtk2.26.0-released.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|3.36
| {{dts|2020|3|07}}<ref name="gnome.org"/>
|User interface improvements for small screens. Native support for [[PDF]] documents. Improved support for handling dark GTK themes. Native viewing of web page source. Removal of vestigial NPAPI support. Support for [[Progressive web application#Service workers|Service workers]]. More secure handling of cookies. Security improvements to better isolate sites from each other in a tab process.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://help.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/3.36/index.html.en|title=GNOME 3.36 Release Notes|website=help.gnome.org|access-date=May 26, 2020|archive-date=March 21, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200321141105/https://help.gnome.org/misc/release-notes/3.36/index.html.en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="blogs.gnome.org">{{Cite web|title=Epiphany 3.36 and WebKitGTK 2.28 – Michael Catanzaro|date=March 11, 2020 |url=https://blogs.gnome.org/mcatanzaro/2020/03/11/epiphany-3-36-and-webkitgtk-2-28/|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-26|archive-date=June 17, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200617121742/https://blogs.gnome.org/mcatanzaro/2020/03/11/epiphany-3-36-and-webkitgtk-2-28/|url-status=live}}</ref> 
|-
!scope="row"|3.38
| {{dts|2020|9|16}}<ref name="gitlab.gnome"/>
|Intelligent Tracking Prevention added and enabled by default, and option added to turn off websites storing [[Web storage|local data]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Epiphany 3.38 and WebKitGTK 2.30 - Michael Catanzaro |date=September 16, 2020 |url=https://blogs.gnome.org/mcatanzaro/2020/09/16/epiphany-3-38-and-webkitgtk-2-30/ |access-date=June 21, 2021 |archive-date=August 13, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813081159/https://blogs.gnome.org/mcatanzaro/2020/09/16/epiphany-3-38-and-webkitgtk-2-30/ |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
!scope="row"|40
| {{dts|2021|3|26}}<ref name="gitlab.gnome"/>
|New option for Google search suggestions, revamped tabs, and [[Google Safe Browsing]] disabled by default.
|}