Question

I´ve been following StackOverflow for a few years, but rarely I needed to post because I could find everything I asked already properly answered.

Now isnt the case, so I suppose it´s a hard topic.

I am building a web application, and need the browser to be customized for the app. Among other things, I need it to be completely full-screen, not have keyboard shortcuts, dont auto-update, dont show default error messages when remote server is down, dont interfere with any already-installed browsers, etc.

I checked Firefox and Chrome, both dont seem to satisfy those needs easily. I was hoping for something much easier, like a real “application-mode” that will turn the browser into something like I described, but theres nothing close to it.

On Chrome I would have to change its source code to make it stop reading some items from the registry (since it would be shared with the real Chrome installation), to make the custom error messages and to disable the keyboard shortcuts; would have to start it using command-line so it loads a different profile; would have to customize that profile so that some plugins are disabled and theres no auto-update, etc, and theres a huge risk I mess it up, or break it on some Windows versions (due to use a different registry or path).

There dont seem to be an easy switch that is pre-tested and guaranteed to work. Chrome´s “App” or “Kiosk” command line switch only seem to put the app into full-screen.

Any light?

Thanks.

Answer 1

I know you mention working in Windows. Perhaps you could get what you want by building a vanilla version of Uzbl, which is a minimalist browser built on top of webkit (same as Chrome), although it isn’t ported to Windows, it will act in the way you desire. From the readme:

No built-in means for URL changing, loading/saving of bookmarks, saving history, keybinds, downloads, etc.

However, you’ll have to port it to windows from linux yourself. Porting it on top of something like Cygwin/MinGW may be easier.

[Edit]: You might have more luck with Opera’s kiosk mode

Otherwise, if you’ve already tried the kiosk and application mode for chrome and those were not up to scratch, then the answer is No, there is no mode that fulfils your needs. You’ll have to dig through the code and change things manually. You may have some luck getting a plugin writer with experience to do it for you.