Web - macOS AI Browser: a native AI-powered browser for macOS

Web is an open source macOS browser project developed by nuance-dev and hosted on GitHub. It is based on Apple's WebKit engine, uses the SwiftUI and Combine frameworks, and follows the MVVM architecture. The core feature of Web is the integration of native AI capabilities, which provide web content analysis through the Apple MLX framework, generating short summaries (TL;DR) and contextual information in conjunction with browsing history. The project is licensed under the MIT license, supports macOS 14.0 and above, and requires the Apple Silicon chip to enable AI functionality. Currently in early beta (v0.0.2) for developers and tech enthusiasts, it is not yet fully functional, but its innovative idea of native AI integration has already attracted 421 stars and 38 forks.

Function List

• Local AI Sidebar : Utilizes the Apple MLX framework to analyze web pages, generate short summaries (TL;DR) and provide page and historical context.
• Multi-tag management : Support for creating, switching and hibernating tabs to optimize performance.
• bookmark management : Save, edit and quickly access web links.
• Download Management : Built-in download manager to track the progress of downloads (in testing).
• Private Browsing : Support stealth mode to protect user privacy.
• advertisement blocking : Integration of ad-blocking services (in testing, can be disabled).
• Password Management : Secure handling of user passwords (in testing).
• Keyboard Shortcuts : Supports a variety of shortcuts, such as ⌘T New Label,⌘W Close tab.
• WebKit Rendering : Based on the Apple WebKit engine, pages load quickly and are highly compatible.

Using Help

Installation process

Web is only supported on macOS 14.0 or later and requires Apple Silicon chips (M1/M2 series) for AI functionality. Here are the detailed installation steps:

1. Checking system requirements ::
   • Make sure the device is running macOS 14.0 or later.
   • Xcode 15.0 or higher is required for the development environment.
2. cloning project ::
   Run the following command in a terminal to clone the Web repository:

git clone https://github.com/nuance-dev/Web.git
cd Web

1. Open Project ::
   Open the project using Xcode:

open Web.xcodeproj

1. Build and Run ::
   • Select the target device (emulator or real device) in Xcode.
   • Click the Run button (⌘R) build and start the project.
   • If you have problems with dependencies, check your network connection and Xcode will automatically download the required dependencies.
2. Direct mounting (optional) ::
   • Visit the GitHub release page (https://github.com/nuance-dev/Web/releases) to download the latest version (e.g., the Web-0.0.2.dmg).
   • Double-click the DMG file and drag the application to the Applications folder to complete the installation.

Functional operation flow

1. Local AI sidebar

The AI Sidebar is a core feature of Web, utilizing the Apple MLX framework and Gemma models for local web analytics. Operation Steps:

• Open the page. : Enter the URL in the address bar or access it via a bookmark.
• Activate AI Sidebar : Press the shortcut key ⇧⌘A Or click on the AI icon on the right side of the screen.
• View Summary : The sidebar displays a TL;DR summary of the page, distilling the core content.
• Browse Context : Sidebar displays relevant keywords or links based on browsing history and current page.
• Adjustment of settings : In the sidebar settings, you can adjust the summary length or contextual display range.

take note of : The AI functionality runs locally and does not require an internet connection, but may result in slower analysis due to web complexity. There are bugs in the current version, so it is recommended to use it in a test environment.

2. Multi-tag management

Web supports efficient multi-tabbed browsing, the method of operation:

• New Label : Click the "+" button on the toolbar or press the ⌘TThe
• Toggle Tabs : Click on the label or use the Command + TabThe
• Hibernation tab : Inactive tabs automatically hibernate to free up memory and can be reactivated by clicking on them.
• Close Tags : Click the "x" on the label or press the ⌘WThe
• Recovery Tags : Press ⇧⌘T Reopen the recently closed tab.

3. Bookmark management

The bookmark feature makes it easy to save and access web pages:

• Add Bookmark : Open the web page and click "Bookmarks" > "Add to Bookmarks" in the menu bar.
• Manage Bookmarks : Edit, delete or organize bookmarks in the Bookmarks menu.
• quick access : Click on a link from the bookmarks menu to jump.

4. Download management

The download management function is under testing, the operation steps:

• launch a download : Click on the download link in the web page and the task starts automatically.
• View Progress : Press ⇧⌘J Open the download manager and check the progress and status.
• Access to documents : When the download is complete, click on the link to open the file in the Finder.

5. Privacy and security

• stealth mode : Select "New Invisible Window" in the menu bar to browse without recording history.
• advertisement blocking : Automatic blocking of advertisements, which can be disabled in the settings (under test).
• Password Management : Secure storage of passwords, further testing required.
• Privacy settings : Adjust privacy options in settings, such as blocking trackers (in testing).

6. Keyboard shortcuts

The Web provides rich shortcuts to enhance operational efficiency:

• New Label ::⌘T - Open a new tab.
• Close Tags ::⌘W - Close the current tab.
• reload ::⌘R - Refresh the page.
• address bar ::⌘L - Focus on the address bar.
• find ::⌘F - In-page search.
• Developer Tools ::⌥⌘I - Open the debugging tool.
• Toggle top bar ::⇧⌘H - Toggles top bar mode.
• Toggle Sidebar ::⌘S - Toggle the sidebar or top tab.

7. Developer support

Web is built on MVVM architecture, which makes the code well-organized and suitable for secondary development:

• directory structure ::
  • Models/: Define data models for Tab, Bookmark, and so on.
  • Views/: SwiftUI interface components.
  • ViewModels/: Business logic and state management.
  • Services/: Core services such as downloads and history.
  • AI/: Local AI integration logic.
  • Utils/: Tools and extensions.
• Contribute code ::
  • Fork the repository, create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/new-feature).
  • Submit changes (git commit -m 'Add new feature').
  • Push the branch (git push origin feature/new-feature).
  • Submit a Pull Request on GitHub.

take note of : The project follows Swift 6 strict concurrency rules and maintains zero warnings/errors. Developers can change the AI/ Folder Adjustment AI function.

application scenario

1. Developer Testing
   Web for macOS developers to test the browser functionality of native AI integrations. Developers can modify code to optimize the analytics of the AI sidebar.
2. Exploring for Technology Enthusiasts
   Technology enthusiasts can install the Web, experience native AI-driven web page summarization and contextual analysis, and explore the use of AI in the browser.
3. academic research
   Students and researchers can use bookmarks and history to organize information, and the AI sidebar to quickly extract the core content of a paper or article.
4. Privacy Priority Browsing
   Users who need privacy protection can use incognito mode and ad-blocking features to enjoy a track-free browsing experience.

QA

1. What systems does the Web support?
   Supported only on macOS 14.0 or later. AI functionality requires an Apple Silicon chip.
2. How does the AI sidebar work?
   Using the Apple MLX framework and the Gemma model, web content is analyzed and summaries are generated, all processed locally.
3. Do I need to be connected to the Internet to use the AI features?
   No. The AI function runs completely locally and does not require an internet connection.
4. How do I report a problem or contribute code?
   Submit an issue or Pull Request in the GitHub repository (https://github.com/nuance-dev/Web), following the MIT license.
5. Is Web suitable for everyday use?
   Currently in early beta (v0.0.2), incomplete, suitable for development and testing, not recommended as a primary browser.