Web browser for RPi

1st Official Post

    Hi.

    I'd like to install a real web browser in LibreELEC on my RPi3B+ install.

    I've search in official addons but I can't find. I tried to install several "Web Interface" extensions but no one can launch.

    Also, I can't find any "Chromium" add-on in the repositories.

    What did I not understand ?

    /shrug

    Oh f...

    Thank you for your answer, this will save me hours of unsuccessful searches.

    But, do you know if it could be available on later versions of LE or not ? Or if there are unofficial repositories that could give a minimal web browser ?

    • Official Post

    People have compiled Chromium to be used with a GBM back-end and a large number of people have pointed this out to us since we are generally moving towards a V4L2/GBM video pipeline in Kodi. There's no guarantees this will be viable though, and we've maintained Chromium in the past and found it to be a rapidly iterating pain in the rear to keep current. TL/DR; don't hold your breath.

    • Official Post

    Chrome/ium with GBM is very experimental and a pain in the ass to maintain (self building Chromium is really nothing anyone wants anymore). I still hope that Kodi get the browser integrated via CEF (Chromium Embedded Framework) that would solve all our problems. Its basically the only missing part at Kodi to a full fledged HTPC software - there is already an older very pre alpha demo of that. Sadly no timeframe at all.

    Hi with the advent of Pi 4 4gb isn't it really about time this lack of a web browser was addressed? I do think that libreelec is the best and specifically bought the 4GB pi 4 to run libreelec but I do miss a web browser, so any chance guys and gals?

    • Official Post
    Quote from Rokky road

    Hi with the advent of Pi 4 4gb isn't it really about time this lack of a web browser was addressed? I do think that libreelec is the best and specifically bought the 4GB pi 4 to run libreelec but I do miss a web browser, so any chance guys and gals?

    I think there is no chance. A modern web browser already is a media player in many ways. On a lean OS you don't want that double-dip. Second point: There is a strong dependency between GUI design and prefered input device. For LE the prefered input device is a TV remote control, but for a web browser it's mouse and keyboard.