Product Overview: Falkon Web Browser
Introduction
Falkon, formerly known as QupZilla, is a free and open-source web browser developed by the KDE community. It is designed to be a lightweight, feature-rich browser available on all major platforms, including Linux, FreeBSD, Haiku, and Windows 7 or later.
Key Features and Functionality
Performance and Resource Efficiency
Falkon is built on the QtWebEngine, a wrapper for the Chromium browser core, which ensures fast and efficient web browsing. It is particularly noted for its ability to manage multiple tabs without a significant impact on memory usage, making it an excellent choice for users with lower-powered hardware.
Standard Browser Functions
- Bookmarks and History: Easily accessible in the sidebar.
- Tabs: Efficient tab management to handle numerous tabs simultaneously.
- RSS Reader: Integrated RSS feed management.
- Speed Dial: An Opera-like home page for quick access to favorite sites.
Additional Features
- AdBlock: A built-in AdBlock plugin that can be customized to whitelist specific sites. By default, it whitelists the main search engine, DuckDuckGo.
- Click2Flash: Blocks Flash content to enhance security and performance.
- SSL Manager: Allows users to edit the local CA Certificates database.
- Screenshot Tool: The ability to take a screenshot of the entire web page.
Customization and Integration
Falkon provides several icon sets and elements to match the native look and feel of various desktop operating systems, including GNOME, KDE Plasma, and Microsoft Windows. This ensures a seamless integration with the user’s desktop environment.
Portability
Falkon offers a “portable” version for Windows platforms, which does not require installation, and it is also available in the PortableApps format.
History and Development
Originally started as a research project in 2010, Falkon has evolved from its initial Python-based version to a full-featured browser written in C using the Qt framework. The project transitioned from QtWebKit to QtWebEngine with the release of QupZilla 2.0 in 2016 and was officially renamed to Falkon in 2018 when it became a part of the KDE project.
In summary, Falkon is a robust, lightweight web browser that combines speed, efficiency, and a rich set of features, making it an attractive option for users seeking a reliable and resource-friendly browsing experience.