Formation of Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers: A New Era for Open-Source Browsing
In a significant move for the open-source ecosystem, the Linux Foundation has partnered with major tech companies, including Google, Microsoft, Meta, and Opera, to establish the Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers. This initiative is dedicated to providing essential support—whether financial or otherwise—for various Chromium-based browsers, ensuring they receive the resources necessary for ongoing development and innovation.
Details of the Initiative
The announcement, made by the Linux Foundation, outlines the purpose of this consortium: to create a collaborative environment where industry leaders, developers, and the broader open-source community can join forces to enhance projects within the Chromium ecosystem. In their press release, they stated:
The Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers will provide a neutral space where industry leaders, academia, developers, and the broader open source community can work together to support projects within the Chromium ecosystem. By fostering collaboration, the initiative aims to remove barriers to innovation, expand adoption, and ensure that projects within the Chromium ecosystem receive the resources they need to thrive.
The Chromium projects themselves will remain under current, existing governance structures while just the new Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers will be housed under the Linux Foundation.
Google’s Commitment to Chromium
As highlighted in a blog post on the Chromium website, Google emphasized the significance of their investment in the Chromium project, noting that in 2024, the company contributed over 100,000 commits, making up approximately 94% of total contributions. Their commitment to this project remains strong:
In 2024, Google made over 100,000 commits to Chromium, accounting for ~94 percent of contributions. While we have no intention of reducing this investment, we continue to welcome others stepping up to invest more.
The Supporters of Chromium-based Browsers fund will be managed by the Linux Foundation, following their long established practices for open governance, prioritizing transparency, inclusivity, and community-driven development. We’re thrilled to have Meta, Microsoft, and Opera on-board as the initial members to pledge their support.
Microsoft’s Role in the Initiative
Microsoft has expressed its enthusiasm for contributing to the Chromium project, particularly in relation to enhancing their Edge browser. The company reaffirmed its dedication to open source:
Six years ago, Microsoft announced that we would adopt the Chromium open-source project for our Edge browser. Today, our open-source principles remain unchanged and we continue to directly contribute to Chromium, bringing our expertise to the project.
Opera’s Perspective
Opera has also shared its views on joining the Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers. They see this partnership as an opportunity to deepen their involvement in shaping Chromium’s future:
For us, being part of the Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers from the get-go represents an opportunity to take an even more active role in Chromium’s development and future direction.
The Future of Chromium-Based Browsers
While Meta has yet to release an official statement regarding its participation, the collective efforts of these tech giants signal an impending boost for Chromium-based browsers. The implications for competing browsers, such as Firefox—which currently holds a mere ~6% share of the desktop market—could be significant. As the Chromium ecosystem strengthens, it poses challenges for alternatives like Mozilla’s Gecko engine.
This new coalition could usher in an era of enhanced browser capabilities, increased adoption, and improved user experiences. The coming months will reveal how this initiative will shape the browsing landscape.
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