¿Por qué nadie puede crear un nuevo Navegador Web?

Summary

The transcript discusses the immense complexity and challenges of developing a new web browser from scratch in 2020, highlighting the extensive specifications and features that must be implemented to provide a modern web experience. It emphasizes the difficulty of competing with established browsers like Google Chrome and the dominance of Chromium and WebKit engines. The discussion also touches on the potential for the web to evolve into a more streamlined and minimalistic alternative, suggesting that the current complexity might lead to a new protocol or approach to web development.

Takeaways

• 😀 Browsers have become incredibly complex, making it nearly impossible to create a new one from scratch in the current web environment.
• 📈 The World Wide Web Consortium's specification was 114 million words in 2020, highlighting the vast amount of information browsers must implement to provide a modern web experience.
• 🔍 Even combining the specifications of various programming languages, protocols, and standards does not surpass the web's complexity, which is a testament to the enormity of web development.
• 🚀 The development of a new browser is likened to the effort required by the Apollo program or the Manhattan Project, indicating the monumental task of implementing web standards securely and effectively.
• 💡 The script suggests that the web's complexity and constant evolution may lead to the self-destruction of the current system, potentially paving the way for a new, simpler protocol or web creation method.
• 🔒 Browsers are now the most expensive piece of software running on a computer in terms of resources like CPU usage, memory, and battery life.
• 🚨 Web browsers are responsible for a significant number of security vulnerabilities, with over 8,000 CVEs reported in 2020 alone.
• 🔄 The monopoly in the browser market is evident, as creating a new alternative is very difficult, leading to a reliance on existing browsers like Chrome and Safari.
• 🔄 Most 'alternative' browsers are essentially wrappers around existing browser engines like Chromium or WebKit, rather than truly new creations.
• 🌐 The script contemplates the possibility of a new, more minimalistic web protocol emerging in the future, which could disrupt the current browser landscape.
• 🤝 Contributing to existing open-source browser projects like Chromium is encouraged, as it allows for community involvement and the potential for innovation within the constraints of the existing web standards.

Q & A

Why is it considered impossible to create a new web browser from scratch in 2020 according to the transcript?

The transcript suggests that the complexity of the web has become so immense that creating a new web browser from scratch is akin to the effort of the Apollo program or the Manhattan Project. The World Wide Web Consortium's specification alone has 114 million words, which is more than the combined specifications of C11, C++17, UEFI, the USB 3.2 protocol, and POSIX 8.7.

What does the transcript imply about the state of web browser development in the future?

The transcript implies that the future of web browser development is likely to be dominated by a few major players, with the complexity and cost of creating a new browser being prohibitive. It suggests that we might see a scenario where only a couple of companies, like Google with Chromium and Apple with WebKit, control the web browser market.

What is the significance of the 'infinite scope of browsers' mentioned in the transcript?

The 'infinite scope of browsers' refers to the ever-growing list of features and specifications that web browsers must implement to provide a modern web experience. This has been a strategy used by browsers since the first browser wars between Netscape and Internet Explorer.

How does the transcript describe the impact of web browser development on the software industry?

The transcript describes web browsers as one of the most expensive pieces of software to run on a computer, consuming significant amounts of CPU, memory, and battery life. It also mentions that browsers are responsible for a large number of security vulnerabilities (over 8,000 CVEs in 2020).

What is the role of open-source in the context of web browsers as discussed in the transcript?

The transcript highlights that open-source projects like Chromium and WebKit allow for the possibility of forking and offering alternatives to the mainstream browsers. However, even with open-source, creating a new browser from scratch is still considered an almost impossible task due to the sheer volume of specifications and code.

What does the transcript suggest about the future of web development and the potential for a new protocol?

The transcript suggests that the complexity of the current web might lead to the creation of a new protocol or method for web development that is more minimalistic and simpler than the current system.

How does the transcript view the contributions of engineers and companies to the development of web browsers?

The transcript acknowledges that while engineers and companies have contributed to the development of web browsers, the complexity and cost have become so high that even large software companies like Microsoft have opted to use Chromium for their Edge browser instead of developing their own browser from scratch.

What is the transcript's perspective on the competition between Google, Mozilla, and other browser developers?

The transcript suggests that the competition between browser developers has become less about creating new browsers and more about coexisting and possibly forming a 'non-aggression pact', as the battle for browser dominance no longer makes as much sense given the complexity and cost of developing a new browser.

What does the transcript imply about the role of Chromium and WebKit in the future of web browsers?

The transcript implies that Chromium and WebKit, as the underlying engines of Google Chrome and Safari respectively, will likely remain dominant in the web browser market due to the difficulty of creating a new browser from scratch.

How does the transcript discuss the issue of browser memory consumption and its impact on users?

The transcript mentions that browsers like Google Chrome are known for consuming a lot of memory (RAM), which can impact user experience by slowing down computers and draining battery life.

What is the transcript's view on the potential for a 'new web' or alternative to the current web standards?

The transcript speculates that there might come a time when an alternative to the current web is created, possibly as a more lightweight and simple protocol, as a response to the overwhelming complexity of the current web standards.