Though Chromium has been the core behind some of the most popular web browsers out there, the open-source project is often overshadowed by Google. Now, the Linux Foundation is bringing an initiative that will not only support the Chromium project but extend the use of the Chromium engine to open-source browsers in the works.
The initiative is called Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers and has started from 9 January 2025. A core objective of the Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers is to enhance the overall support developers using Chromium projects can receive from the open-source community. In doing so, they can improve the project and the web browsers stemming out of the project.
It should be noted that existing projects that use the Chromium engine will remain unaffected by this change. The ownership of these browsers would also remain unchanged. However, developers who want to build open-source web browsers will benefit from the additional support from the Linux Foundation. In addition to the foundation itself, companies like Google, Meta, and Microsoft have shown their solidarity. The Linux Foundation sees this support as a great source of collaborative potential.
These companies will be collaborating with aspiring developers and offer funding for the development of open-source web browsers based on the Chromium engine. For reference, Microsoft and Google have their Chromium-based browsers: Google Chrome and Microsoft Edge, respectively. The support from Google has to be taken seriously, especially considering its interaction with the Department of Justice.
For those who are new, Chromium is behind most of the popular browsers you use, but developers tend to add their own set of features. Among these options, Google Chrome has remained the go-to choice for most people, owing partly to the integration it offers with Google products and services. This edge that Google Chrome has had is one of the reasons for the DOJ’s claim that Google has breached the Sherman Antitrust Act, thus giving Chrome a position of privilege. Regardless of what the Supporters of Chromium-based browsers do to Google, the initiative headed by the Linux Foundation is a step in the right path. The initiative will follow a free governance model, like many other open-source projects. Given the resources it could receive from the open-source community and the tech giants part of the initiative, Chromium may have a different future—one where it is not blamed for not having all the Google integration options.
