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120

Concrete examples of things a modern browser should include would be crypto libraries, the Unicode database, a JavaScript runtime and optimizing JIT compiler, video codecs, a PDF renderer, in addition to a complicated rendering engine and parsers for all the supported MIME types. That does add up, but unlike games browsers don't require lots of high-res assets. A modern Firefox download only weighs 40–50MB compressed.

amon
– amon

2015-09-24 08:01:37 +00:00
Commented Sep 24, 2015 at 8:01
23

"the result would be stunningly fast and slick" - sounds like wishful thinking.

Doc Brown
– Doc Brown

2015-09-24 10:08:37 +00:00
Commented Sep 24, 2015 at 10:08
16

@amon Don't forget that browsers also include other type of resourses and an entire API for plugins and what-not. They even come with debugging tools (profilers, network analisers, element inspectors, a fully functional console, debuggers and a ton more). Browsers are getting closer to an entire operating system than we all can imagine. There's even an on-going discussion to use Web Assembly! The O.P. should be amazed by the ton of crap they can cram up in a browser.

Ismael Miguel
– Ismael Miguel

2015-09-24 11:29:22 +00:00
Commented Sep 24, 2015 at 11:29
10

@IsmaelMiguel As far as Chrome OS is concerned, browsers already are an entire operating system. ;-P

Ajedi32
– Ajedi32

2015-09-24 13:33:48 +00:00
Commented Sep 24, 2015 at 13:33
111

tendency to spend less time on optimizing things for space This. When I write code, I don't optimize for space or speed. I optimize for maintenance. It's more important that the codebase can change easily than be fast or small. I can expect that for every complaint about program speed, I'll get ten requests for new features and zero requests to make it smaller.

user2023861
– user2023861

2015-09-24 14:03:22 +00:00
Commented Sep 24, 2015 at 14:03

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