Blisk (browser)

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Blisk
Blisk-logo-transparent.png
Blisk-preview-wiki.png
Blisk browser (version 13 preview)
Initial releaseMay 9, 2016; 7 years ago (2016-05-09)
Stable release(s)
17.0.158.186 (December 19, 2021; 2 years ago (2021-12-19)[1]) [±]
Written inC++.[2]
EnginesBlink, V8
Operating system
  • OS X (10.9 and later)

Windows 7 and later

PlatformIA-32, x64, ARMv7
TypeWeb browser
LicenseFreeware under Blisk Terms of Service[3][note 1]
Websiteblisk.io

Blisk is a freemium[4] Chromium-based web browser that aims to improve productivity and code quality by providing a wide array of tools for Web development and testing for different type of devices: desktop, tablet and mobile.[5]

Features

Blisk is the same as Chromium and Google Chrome in that it features a minimalistic user interface. For example, the merging of the address bar and search bar into the omnibox.[6] Blisk features the side-by-side view of a selected device and desktop content. The workspace can split in two with the device occupying the left-hand side, while the desktop content occupies the right one.

User interface

By default, the main user interface consists of tabs, address bar (Omnibox), toolbar, toolbox, device content, splitter, and desktop content.[7]

Tabs are the main component of Blisk's user interface and located at the top of the window rather than below the controls. Presence and appearance of device and desktop contents are managed by the user and may vary depending on the tab.

The Omnibox is a URL box that combines the functions of both the address bar and search box. If a user enters the URL of a site previously searched from, Blisk allows pressing Tab to search the site again directly from the Omnibox. When a user starts typing in the Omnibox, Blisk provides suggestions for previously visited sites (based on the URL or in-page text), popular websites (not necessarily visited before), and popular searches. Suggestions based on previously visited sites cannot be turned off. Blisk will also autocomplete the URLs of sites visited often. If a user types keywords into the Omnibox that don't match any previously visited websites and presses enter, Blisk will conduct the search using the default search engine.

Blisk's toolbar includes Mode, Screenshot and Screen Recorder, Auto-refresh, Error notifier, Page inspector, DevTools, a Settings buttons to the left, and Back, Forward, Refresh/Cancel buttons to the right. A Home button is not shown by default, but can be added through the Settings page to take the user to the new tab page or a custom home page.

Toolbox contains global settings (Scroll sync, Device sync, Cache, Theme) and device list. In order to use a device, the user is required to select it from the device list. Toolbox can be collapsed by clicking the Toolbox toggler button located at the top right corner of Toolbox.

Device content is hidden by default unless the user selects a device from the device list. It contains the selected device and information about it. At the top right corner, there are buttons to toggle the device orientation, switch on/off device-only mode and close the device. At the bottom bar, the user can select whether to display the device in Fit to view mode or in its real size.

Desktop content is a regular browser with the same view as in Google Chrome, Internet Explorer, Microsoft Edge, Safari or Firefox.

Splitter is enabled in case both Device and Desktop contents are visible and adjusts their width by dragging to the left or right.

Device simulation

Blisk comes with a pre-installed set of phones, tablets, laptops, and desktops that can be simulated, making it easy for developers to test how their code renders across multiple devices and browsers. The feature can be used to compare how the design responds to different screen resolutions and pixel ratios.[8] Device simulation enables developers to test the page behavior in various environments without having to rely on actual devices. Blisk's devices natively support original screen resolution, portrait or landscape orientation, device pixel ratio, user agent, and touch events [9]. As of May 2019, Blisk supports more than 50 devices for web development and testing needs.[9]


Phones

OSs: Android and iOS.

Vendors: Apple Inc., Google, LG, Samsung, OnePlus.

iOS devices:


Android devices:


Tablets

OSs: Android and iOS.

Vendors: Apple Inc., Google.

iOS devices:


Android devices:


Laptops

OSs: macOS and Windows.

Vendors: Apple Inc., Dell.

macOS devices:

  • Macbook Pro Retina
  • Macbook Air
  • Macbook


Windows devices:

  • Laptop 1366×768
  • Laptop 1280×800


Desktops

OSs: macOS and Windows.

Desktops:

  • iMac Retina
  • 2560×1440
  • 1920×1080
  • 1440×900


Scroll synchronization

When looking at two different devices, developers can easily see how elements of their projects translate across devices with simultaneous scrolling, meaning if the user scrolls on his/her screen, Blisk also scrolls the same amount on the emulated device he/she chooses.[8] The developer can focus on web development without needing to update the page manually every once in a while.

Auto-refresh

Blisk can automatically track changes to local code, and accordingly refresh the page, making development easier.[5] Since version 3.1.62.192, Blisk can also automatically update website styling based on file system changes to referenced CSS files.[10]

Privacy

Incognito

Blisk features Incognito mode, which prevents the browser from permanently storing any history information or cookies from the websites visited. Incognito mode is similar to the private browsing feature in other web browsers. It doesn't prevent saving in all windows: "You can switch between an incognito window and any regular windows you have open. You'll only be in incognito mode when you're using the incognito window".

Speed

The JavaScript virtual machine used by Blisk inherited from Chromium, the V8 JavaScript engine, has features such as dynamic code generation, hidden class transitions, and precise garbage collection.

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Blink layout engines and its V8 JavaScript engine are each free and open-source software, while its other components are each either open-source or proprietary. However, section 9 of Blisk's Terms of Service designates the whole package as proprietary freeware.

References

  1. ↑ "Blisk 17.0.158.186: Blisk 17.0: Toggle Developer Mode using a Shortcut, Support for New technologies, Latest Security fixes". Blisk. December 19, 2021. https://blisk.io/blog/17-0-158-186. 
  2. ↑ Lextrait, Vincent (January 2010). "The Programming Languages Beacon, v10.0". Archived from the original on May 30, 2012. https://archive.is/20120530/http://www.lextrait.com/Vincent/implementations.html. Retrieved March 14, 2010. 
  3. ↑ "Blisk Terms of Service". https://blisk.io/eula. 
  4. ↑ "Blisk Pricing". https://app.blisk.io/pricing. Retrieved April 10, 2017. 
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "The Blisk browser is a web developer's dream come true". Mashable. http://mashable.com/2016/05/13/blisk-web-browser/. Retrieved May 13, 2016. 
  6. ↑ Rafe Needleman (May 14, 2008). "The future of the Firefox address bar". CNET News. http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-9944662-2.html. Retrieved May 13, 2010. 
  7. ↑ Blisk team (May 22, 2019). "Blisk's User interface". Blisk team. https://blisk.io/questions/getting-started-with-blisk-browser#interface. Retrieved May 22, 2019. 
  8. ↑ 8.0 8.1 "Blisk is the browser every developer has been longing for". The Next Web. https://thenextweb.com/dd/2016/05/13/browser-every-developer-dreaming/. Retrieved May 13, 2016. 
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Blisk's supported devices". Blisk team. https://blisk.io/devices/. Retrieved May 23, 2019. 
  10. ↑ Blisk release notes - version 3.1.62.192

External links



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