The Rust-based Servo browser engine is actively seeking sponsors to continue development as a viable alternative in a browser landscape dominated by Google's Chrome. Originally created by Mozilla Research in 2012, Servo has since transitioned to the Linux Foundation and is now looking to expand its capabilities with community financial support.
Servo Project Key Facts
- Created: 2012 by Mozilla Research
- Current stewardship: Linux Foundation Europe
- Primary language: Rust
- Development statistics: 50,000+ commits, 22,000+ closed PRs
- Current WPT pass rate: 62%
- Key components:
- servo/servo: Main browser engine
- servo/mozjs: SpiderMonkey fork
- servo/webrender: GPU-based renderer
- servo/stylo: CSS engine (also used in Firefox)
Donation Options
- GitHub Sponsors: Lower fees, more funds reach the project
- Open Collective: Higher fees but supports open infrastructure
The Browser Engine Landscape
The discussion around Servo highlights growing concerns about Chrome's dominance in the browser engine space. Community members express significant interest in developing alternatives to counterbalance what many see as Google's outsized influence on web standards and features. This sentiment is particularly strong regarding privacy features, with several commenters pointing out how Chrome's business model affects decisions around tracking and ad-blocking capabilities.
Browser Engine is not an opinionated thing, or shouldn't be, anyway, why would I want any alternatives for that? I would rather have 1 engine and several good browsers, which are ultimately opinionated.
This comment sparked significant debate, with many arguing that engine development is inherently opinionated, affecting everything from feature implementation to security models. The discussion underscores why many see Servo as important despite its current developmental state.
Development Status and Challenges
Servo currently has a 62% pass rate on Web Platform Tests (WPT), indicating substantial work remains before it could serve as a daily driver browser. However, community members noted that the core rendering, protocol support, and security components are the most challenging aspects, while UI elements like bookmarks and tabs could be implemented relatively quickly.
The project has accumulated impressive development statistics with 50,000 commits and 22,000 closed pull requests, demonstrating substantial investment in its codebase. Servo's implementation in Rust offers potential security advantages over C/C++-based engines by addressing memory vulnerability issues that plague traditional browser implementations.
Competition and Alternatives
Interestingly, some commenters pointed to Ladybird as another emerging browser engine that has recently surpassed Servo in both Web Platform Test results and GitHub stars. Ladybird has reportedly made progress in rendering complex web applications like Gmail, suggesting it may be approaching practical usability for daily needs.
Donation Efficiency
For those interested in supporting Servo, the community highlighted that donating through GitHub Sponsors is more efficient than Open Collective, with significantly lower fees. While GitHub Sponsors takes a smaller cut due to Microsoft's scale, some community members expressed preference for supporting Open Collective despite higher fees, citing concerns about tech monopolies.
Apple's Policy Change and Future Possibilities
A noteworthy development mentioned in the discussions is Apple's recent policy change allowing third-party browser engines on iOS, though only in the European Union and under restrictive conditions. Previously, Apple required all iOS browsers to use WebKit as their engine. This change potentially opens new opportunities for Servo on mobile platforms, though no specific iOS roadmap was mentioned.
As web browsers continue to be essential tools across all computing platforms, the development of alternative engines like Servo represents an important effort to maintain diversity in the technologies that power our online experiences. For those concerned about the influence of tech giants on web standards and privacy, supporting such projects offers a concrete way to help shape a more balanced future for the web.
Reference: Become a sponsor to Servo