NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 - Software News - News

Software News : NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4

Posted by Chris on 2009/4/25 9:43:28 (2742 reads) News by the same author

The NetSurf developers are happy to announce the immediate availability of
NetSurf 2.0. This release contains many new features and enhancements as well
as many minor bug fixes and improvments. It is available for download from
http://www.netsurf-browser.org/

Here is a change log detailing the important changes in this release:

Core / All
----------

* Completely new HTML parser (Hubbub).
* SVG support. (Can be used as normal images and background images.)
* PDF export support.
* Many improvements to page layout and rendering.
* More CSS properties supported.
* Improved text selection behaviour.
* Charset fixes.
* Portability improvements.
* Configurable multi-platform build system.
* Tabbed browsing awareness.
* Corrected behaviour of backgrounds on root element.
* Many fixes related to floated content.
* More lenient meta refresh delay handling.
* Improvements to cut, copy and paste behaviour.
* Better cookie handling.
* Improved form functionality.
* Improved form control display.
* Stability fixes for handling nonsense data.
* Better handling of HTML attributes.
* Fix broken layout on systems which don't use '.' as the decimal
separator.
* Fix inline height not affecting line height.
* Handle whitespace in URL bar.
* New throbber animation.
* Fixed occasional white flicker of page area during layout.
* New default homepage.

RISC OS-specific
----------------

* Restructured menu with access to more functionality.
* Remembers save / download paths.
* Improved style-guide compliance.
* Wimpslot size adjusted at build time.
* Alt+click on close icon closes all NetSurf windows.
* Escape aborts drag save.
* New object > link submenu.
* SVG to Drawfile conversion.
* Zoom/scale with shift+scrollwheel.
* Improved drawfile export.

GTK-specific
------------

* Tabbed browsing.
* Global history.
* Download manager.
* Enhanced interface.
* Text selection.
* Print support.
* Improved context menu.
* Handle desktop DPI setting.
* Can support RISC OS Sprite bitmap format via librosprite.
* View source.
* Content language selection option.

BeOS/Haiku-specific
-------------------

* First release.

AmigaOS-specific
----------------

* First release.

Framebuffer-specific
--------------------

* First release.

Also included are many smaller bug fixes, improvements and
documentation enhancements.

Thanks to everybody who has contributed to this release!

About NetSurf
=============

NetSurf is an Open Source web browser for RISC OS, Linux and other Unix-like
platforms, BeOS, Haiku, and AmigaOS 4. For further information, please see
the website at http://www.netsurf-browser.org/

The comments are owned by the author. We aren't responsible for their content.

Author	Thread
nubechecorre	Published: 2009/4/25 10:36 Updated: 2009/4/25 10:36
Just can't stay away Joined: 11/24/2006 From: Sanremo Comments: 1899	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 This is what i call a " Good Morning " thanks to all the people involved in this project

PEB	Published: 2009/4/25 10:46 Updated: 2009/4/25 10:46
Not too shy to talk Joined: 11/29/2006 From: Comments: 474	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 Thanks for the new release Chris! There are noticeable improvements with text entry and image transparencies! I know its a small thing, but I really like being able to use SHIFT+Backspace & SHIFT+Delete in the text fields. The local history is really cool too!

PulsatingQuasar	Published: 2009/4/25 11:29 Updated: 2009/4/25 11:29
Just popping in Joined: 08/09/2007 From: Comments: 29	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 Great work. Netsurf is a great browser.

samo79	Published: 2009/4/25 13:04 Updated: 2009/4/25 13:04
Home away from home Joined: 12/02/2006 From: Italy, Perugia Comments: 3786	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 Great news as expected

nubechecorre	Published: 2009/4/25 13:20 Updated: 2009/4/25 13:20
Just can't stay away Joined: 11/24/2006 From: Sanremo Comments: 1899	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 mmmm.. i have tested Netsurf both with cairo.library and graphics.library but here on my sam440ep is much much slower than owb, the scrolling is slowest.. i thought it would be faster than owb..

PulsatingQuasar	Published: 2009/4/25 13:49 Updated: 2009/4/25 13:49
Just popping in Joined: 08/09/2007 From: Comments: 29	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 I have that too. Scrolling is slow and jerky. This is on an AmigaOne G3 and G4.

Antique	Published: 2009/4/25 13:50 Updated: 2009/4/25 13:50
Home away from home Joined: 11/30/2006 From: Norway Comments: 2628	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 Good work all. Think i have to test this one too.

nubechecorre	Published: 2009/4/25 14:09 Updated: 2009/4/25 14:09
Just can't stay away Joined: 11/24/2006 From: Sanremo Comments: 1899	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 I think that the only " problem " is the scroll of the page.. Btw Netsurf is a gret browser and is very handy

Chris	Published: 2009/4/25 14:26 Updated: 2009/4/25 14:26
Amigans Defender Joined: 11/17/2006 From: England Comments: 3409	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 You can try adding the following to resources/options: cache_bitmaps:1 (that may be default, can't remember) if you're a masochist you can try this but it's unreliable: faster_scroll:1

nubechecorre	Published: 2009/4/25 14:36 Updated: 2009/4/25 14:36
Just can't stay away Joined: 11/24/2006 From: Sanremo Comments: 1899	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 Ok if i use faster scroll, the scroll is faster if i push with the mouse button the scroll bar and push it down, it is really faster but it doesn't render nothing.. but if after doing so i use the scroll wheel i have the page, so it could be a trick to use.. the scroll problem i think is related to the wheel mouse that in the scroll gadget..

Chris	Published: 2009/4/25 15:02 Updated: 2009/4/25 15:02
Amigans Defender Joined: 11/17/2006 From: England Comments: 3409	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 The wheel scrolls down 10 pixels multiplied by the multiplier set in Input prefs, on every click. If the slowness is related to the amount of scroll rather than the rendering time, you might want to try increasing the multiplier setting.

redfox	Published: 2009/4/25 18:44 Updated: 2009/4/25 18:48
Quite a regular Joined: 03/15/2008 From: Canada Comments: 533	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 @Chris I am posting with the NetSurf 2.0 Cairo version. Nice improvements from earlier versions I have tried. So far I have only visited amigaworld and amigans. This is my first post on any site. I found that the scroll wheel is slower than I expected, but using the actual scrollbar seems to be quite fast. I was wondering if there was an option available to open the NetSurf window on the Workbench screen. I have a MicroA1 with 256MB RAM so memory is very limited. I will check out some other websites and report back. Thanks, redfox PS ... I was surprised to see so many files in the SObjs drawer included in the download. I did a backup of my SObjs drawer before updating just in case I ran into trouble later.

Chris	Published: 2009/4/25 19:07 Updated: 2009/4/25 19:07
Amigans Defender Joined: 11/17/2006 From: England Comments: 3409	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 If you set the following in resources/options it will open on the Workbench screen: use_pubscreen:Workbench As for the SObjs, I included the latest versions of everything it needed, unless the versions I had were the ones included with OS4.1. There are a number of new ones too. The Installer script checks the datestamps of the files when it copies them, so it shouldn't overwrite newer versions (in Expert mode it prompts when the file already exists)

cha05e90	Published: 2009/4/25 22:17 Updated: 2009/4/25 22:17
Quite a regular Joined: 03/10/2009 From: Germany Comments: 651	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 some strange things are happening with netsurf - the cairo version has problems with log in fields, i.e. here at amigans. trying to log in generates a requester on workbench complaining about "low memory". -?the static version allows a log in, but posting in the textfield frags the text randomly and the cursor jumps to somewhere on the page (this is posted with good old AWebPPC ). - the static version has problems with frames ( i guess..). opening "www.ebay.de" renders only a part of the page, opening "www.os4welt.de" freezes the system (after opening some empty windows). nevertheless it is more stable and usable than the preview version and i'm glad someone works on this promising browser project for os4.x! ah...all this was done on a sam440ep with os4.1.

redfox	Published: 2009/4/25 23:12 Updated: 2009/4/25 23:12
Quite a regular Joined: 03/15/2008 From: Canada Comments: 533	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 Thanks Chris. use_pubscreen:Workbench did the trick. --- redfox

Chris	Published: 2009/4/25 23:44 Updated: 2009/4/25 23:44
Amigans Defender Joined: 11/17/2006 From: England Comments: 3409	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 @cha05e90 - It works fine on my SAM here. I have compositing turned off though, maybe that makes a difference. Not sure what to suggest on that, except to say that "NetSurf is running out of memory" is rather a default error message and doesn't necessarily mean it is running out of memory. Might be worth running Snoopy to see if something is missing. Make sure all the SObjs copied across as old ones might have that effect. - might be a fonts issue. - Frames are broken, the implementation will be changing and then they will be fixed. At the moment they come up in individual windows, usually way too small (but resizeable). It shouldn't freeze. I'll check that site when I'm not in the middle of something important

sundown	Published: 2009/4/26 1:33 Updated: 2009/4/26 1:33
Not too shy to talk Joined: 11/27/2006 From: California - S.F. Bay area Comments: 384	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 @Chris It seems there are 3 .so files that OS4.1 uses on bootup, libbz2.so, libc.so, & libgcc.so. The last 2 are in your update & don't get copied over because their in use. I also get an "out of memory" box if I try to do a google search. This on a micro with 512MB & a 16 bit WB.

kas1e	Published: 2009/4/26 10:47 Updated: 2009/4/26 10:47
Home away from home Joined: 09/11/2007 From: Russia Comments: 9109	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 Running ok, looks good, but after i browse a bit any site, it#s just freezes. Rendering also looks a bit messed, but for sure it spend some more work into it, it will be good browser ps. but must to say, owb runs much faster (1 second), netsurf got somethink like 3 seconds. peg2/aos41 for me.

Kicko	Published: 2009/4/26 11:49 Updated: 2009/4/26 11:49
Just can't stay away Joined: 10/25/2007 From: Gothenburg / Sweden Comments: 1175	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 Thanks for the update. Hope to see javascript support in future.

cha05e90	Published: 2009/4/26 12:29 Updated: 2009/4/26 12:32
Quite a regular Joined: 03/10/2009 From: Germany Comments: 651	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 Here on sam ns2.0 runs in 32bit without compositing. I can log in to amigans now - no error "low memory", it was the not-copied libc.so, the previous version 53.1 was blocked by DirOpus. Copying by hand with workbench did it. Everythings else seems to be copied into sobjs. Interestingly the randomly fragged text in text inputs are gone as well - maybe libc.so-related also?! (this was posted with netsurf_static now ). [and was later logged in and edited with netsurf_cairo...] Nice!

Chris	Published: 2009/4/26 12:57 Updated: 2009/4/26 15:17
Amigans Defender Joined: 11/17/2006 From: England Comments: 3409	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 @sundown Copy over libc.so and libgcc.so - that's almost certainly the cause of the error. Do it from "boot with no startup-sequence" if necessary. @kas1e When it freezes, often it has crashed with an assert failed message. If you're very careful not to click on the NetSurf window after it goes, you can switch back to WB and see the error. (edit: see also http://www.amigans.net/modules/newbb/ ... hp?topic_id=2767&forum=19) btw, the launch speed is static vs shared objects. The static (gfx.lib) version starts up much faster, but some of the rendering is slightly out and it won't display SVGs.

sundown	Published: 2009/4/26 20:27 Updated: 2009/4/26 20:27
Not too shy to talk Joined: 11/27/2006 From: California - S.F. Bay area Comments: 384	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 @Chris Quote: Copy over libc.so and libgcc.so - that's almost certainly the cause of the error. Do it from "boot with no startup-sequence" if necessary. Those 2 .so files along with libz2.so are write protected & can't be replaced in OS4.1. Talking to an os4 developer, he said "libc.so and libgcc.so should only be provided by hyperion really, should probably write protect a bunch of 'em, libz2.so isn't so critical, libc.so is like the kernel for shared object progs, same with libgcc.so". Could be why NetSurf crashes for some ppl.

Chris	Published: 2009/4/27 0:10 Updated: 2009/4/27 0:10
Amigans Defender Joined: 11/17/2006 From: England Comments: 3409	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 @sundown That's all great and everything, but libc.so and libgcc.so were updated in the latest SDK, and programs compiled with shared objects with that SDK don't work properly without the updated files (hence why I included them - without the SDK installed these files will be old versions) FWIW the SDK throws up "in use" errors when it tries to update them as well.

sundown	Published: 2009/4/27 2:19 Updated: 2009/4/27 2:19
Not too shy to talk Joined: 11/27/2006 From: California - S.F. Bay area Comments: 384	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 @Chris OK, I don't have the SDK installed, but the SDK.pdf confirms what you said. There's still a problem with the install script because those 2 .so files won't copy over once the system has booted (os4.1), could be causing some issues as most ppl may not notice. I didn't see any copy failure notice come up when installing.

salass00	Published: 2009/4/27 10:39 Updated: 2009/4/27 10:39
Just can't stay away Joined: 11/30/2006 From: Finland Comments: 1890	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 @sundown I remember having such problems when installing the SDK on my ?A1. I had to boot without startup-sequence in order to replace those .so files.

Chris	Published: 2009/4/27 20:35 Updated: 2009/4/27 20:35
Amigans Defender Joined: 11/17/2006 From: England Comments: 3409	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 @sundown The script is set to not fail if it can't copy files. Otherwise the Installer quits and I'd rather it continued to install what it can. There isn't a "warn on failed copy" option unfortunately. Maybe I can look into error trapping to implement this.

sundown	Published: 2009/4/27 22:35 Updated: 2009/4/27 22:35
Not too shy to talk Joined: 11/27/2006 From: California - S.F. Bay area Comments: 384	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 @salass00 I have a kvm switch that stops the early bootup screen from opening. I'll try booting off my backup directory later & see if I can copy over the new files.

salass00	Published: 2009/4/28 17:21 Updated: 2009/4/28 17:21
Just can't stay away Joined: 11/30/2006 From: Finland Comments: 1890	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 Quote: I have a kvm switch that stops the early bootup screen from opening. I'll try booting off my backup directory later & see if I can copy over the new files. Renaming or moving S:startup-sequence should work as well.

Snuffy	Published: 2009/4/30 22:33 Updated: 2009/4/30 22:33
Just can't stay away Joined: 12/06/2006 From: Michigan Comments: 1027	Re: NetSurf 2.0 released for OS4 The script is crap: netsurf_install_log: >Please select theme Ask Choice: User selected "Default". COPYFILES: Couldn't copy file "Throbber" in line 250. in line 250. Error not Trapped!!! -------- I wasn't asked anythink at install time. WTF?