The resurgence of Dillo, a lightweight and open-source web browser originally celebrated for its simplicity and speed, marks a noteworthy milestone in digital history. Following a prolonged dormancy that spanned over nine years, developer Rodrigo Arias Mallo revived Dillo last year with version 3.1, and he has now introduced version 3.2. This new update to Dillo includes several enhancements, such as initial SVG support for math formulas and WebP image formats. It also features a new scrollbar page navigation mode and customizable link actions for opening URLs. Despite these improvements, the question on many tech enthusiasts’ minds remains: is Dillo capable of vying with contemporary, feature-rich web browsers?
New Features and Enhancements in Dillo 3.2
With version 3.2, Dillo introduces a suite of new features aimed at enhancing user experience and providing more flexibility. Among the improvements is the ability to position the vertical scrollbar on the left side of a webpage, which offers better accessibility options. Enhanced zoom controls have been included, allowing users to adjust webpage views more finely. Additionally, users can now configure a custom new tab page to streamline browsing preferences. Another notable feature is the implementation of line number anchors in the HTML source view, which aids in debugging and web development. The update also brings support for rendering JSON as plain text, making it easier for developers to view and debug code.
Further enhancements involve the image resizing logic, ensuring that aspect ratios are maintained when images are scaled. This is particularly important for maintaining the integrity of visual content. Live page reloading is another valuable addition, allowing users to see changes in real-time without manually refreshing the page. The inclusion of support for various CSS units such as ch, rem, vw, vh, vmin, and vmax offers users another layer of customization and precision in web design. Additionally, the option to ignore certain image formats can help streamline the browsing experience, particularly on image-heavy websites.
Limitations and Challenges
Despite these updates, a critical question looms: can Dillo compete with today’s feature-rich web browsers? Although Dillo continues to prioritize speed and simplicity, it faces stiff competition from modern browsers that offer more advanced functionalities. Yet, its niche focus could appeal to users who seek efficiency and minimalism in their browsing experience. With these ongoing developments, Dillo aims to carve out a space in the competitive landscape of contemporary web browsers.
