Gateway Browser

Gateway is a lightweight, innovative web browser designed to work seamlessly with GoNoJS, a cutting-edge web server and framework that prioritizes server-side processing and efficient data transmission. Gateway focuses on delivering a fast, secure, and streamlined browsing experience by leveraging HTML5, CSS, and advanced server-side technologies while eliminating client-side JavaScript.

Core Features

1. JavaScript-Free Browsing: Gateway does not support client-side JavaScript execution, ensuring a lean and secure browsing environment.

2. Dual Mode Operation:

   • Graphical Mode: Full visual rendering of web pages
   • Text Mode: Efficient, low-bandwidth browsing experience

3. WebSocket Integration: Native support for real-time, bidirectional communication with GoNoJS servers.

4. Server-Sent Events (SSE) Handler: Efficient processing of server-pushed updates for live content.

5. Enhanced CSS Rendering: Optimized engine for CSS animations, transitions, and layout features.

6. Streamlined Cache Management: Intelligent caching of pre-rendered content from GoNoJS servers.

7. Responsive Design Support: Native handling of CSS-based responsive layouts without JavaScript.

Integration with Existing Browsers

To facilitate seamless integration with popular browsers like Chrome and Firefox, Gateway implements a custom URL scheme and browser extensions with two main purposes:

1. Custom URL Scheme: gateway://

   • Example: gateway://hash=abc123

2. Browser Extensions:

   • Optional extensions for Chrome and Firefox to enhance integration.
   • Purpose 1: Facilitate opening GoNoJS server content within the original browser
     • Render GoNoJS content directly in the existing browser when possible
     • Provide a seamless experience for users who prefer to stay in their primary browser
   • Purpose 2: No-click opening of Gateway for supported pages
     • Automatically detect embedded gateway:// links
     • Open Gateway browser in the background when a supported page is encountered
     • Allow users to configure automatic opening behavior

3. Extension Features:

   • Content detection for GoNoJS-compatible pages
   • User-configurable settings for automatic Gateway launching
   • Context menu options for manually opening links in Gateway
   • Lightweight proxy for rendering GoNoJS content in the original browser when feasible

Best Practices and Technologies

1. Go-based Implementation:

   • Develop the entire browser core in Go, leveraging its strong standard library and concurrency features.
   • Utilize Go's garbage collection and memory safety features for robust performance.

2. Rendering Engine:

   • Explore Go-native rendering solutions like go-vdom or go-sciter for HTML and CSS processing.
   • If necessary, create Go bindings for a lightweight C-based rendering engine like WebKit, minimizing C dependencies.

3. Protocol Implementations:

   • Use gorilla/websocket for WebSocket support.
   • Leverage net/http and golang.org/x/net/http2 for HTTP/1.1 and HTTP/2 support.
   • Implement HTTP/3 support using the quic-go library and its HTTP/3 implementation.
   • Utilize HTTP/3 features for improved performance, especially on mobile and unreliable networks:
     • Faster connection establishment with 0-RTT
     • Better multiplexing without head-of-line blocking
     • Connection migration for seamless network switching

4. Security Features:

   • Implement Content Security Policy (CSP) enforcement using Go's net/http package.
   • Use Go's crypto package for cryptographic operations.
   • Implement strict HTTPS enforcement with HSTS preloading.

5. Performance Optimizations:

   • Implement efficient DOM caching mechanisms using Go's concurrent map implementations.
   • Utilize Go's goroutines for parallel processing of CSS and layout calculations.

6. Cross-Platform Development:

   • Use fyne.io or gio for creating a cross-platform GUI that works on Windows, macOS, and Linux.

7. Accessibility:

   • Implement robust screen reader support using OS-specific APIs via CGo when necessary.
   • Ensure keyboard navigation for all browser functions.

8. Developer Tools:

   • Create a simplified set of developer tools focused on HTML and CSS inspection, network monitoring, and performance analysis.

9. Extension API:

   • Develop a limited extension API that allows for content blocking and custom styling, but prohibits JavaScript injection.

10. Data Synchronization:

    • Implement a secure, end-to-end encrypted sync system for bookmarks and settings using go-sqlite3 for local storage and a custom sync server written in Go.

By adhering to these best practices and leveraging Go's strengths, Gateway aims to provide a unique, efficient, and secure browsing experience that complements the GoNoJS server-side framework, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in web browsing without client-side JavaScript.