Falkon is a lightweight and customizable web browser built with the Qt framework and focused on KDE integration. It utilizes QtWebEngine to render web pages, offering speed and standards compliance while remaining resource-efficient. Falkon prioritizes user privacy and offers features like ad blocking and tracking protection. Customization is key, allowing users to tailor the browser with extensions, adjust the interface, and manage their browsing data effectively. Overall, Falkon aims to be a fast, private, and user-friendly browsing experience deeply integrated into the KDE desktop environment.
Electro is a fast, open-source image viewer built for Windows using Rust and Tauri. It prioritizes speed and efficiency, offering a minimal UI with features like zooming, panning, and fullscreen mode. Uniquely, Electro integrates a terminal directly into the application, allowing users to execute commands and scripts related to the currently viewed image without leaving the viewer. This combination aims to provide a streamlined workflow for tasks involving image manipulation or analysis.
HN users generally praised Electro's speed and minimalist design, comparing it favorably to existing image viewers like XnView and IrfanView. Some expressed interest in features like lossless image rotation, better GIF support, and a more robust file browser. A few users questioned the choice of Electron as a framework, citing potential performance overhead, while others suggested alternative technologies. The developer responded to several comments, addressing questions and acknowledging feature requests, indicating active development and responsiveness to user feedback. There was also some discussion about licensing and the possibility of open-sourcing the project in the future.
File Pilot is a new file manager focused on speed and a modern user experience. It boasts instant startup and file browsing, a dual-pane interface for efficient file operations, and extensive customization options like themes and keyboard shortcuts. Built with a robust architecture using Rust and Qt, File Pilot aims to provide a reliable and performant alternative to existing file explorers on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Key features include tabbed browsing, a built-in terminal, seamless file previews, and advanced filtering capabilities. File Pilot is currently available as a free technical preview.
HN commenters generally praised File Pilot's speed and clean interface, with several noting its responsiveness felt superior even to native file managers. Some appreciated specific features like the tabbed interface, customizable keyboard shortcuts, and the dual-pane view. A few users requested features like the ability to edit text files directly within the application and improved search functionality. Concerns were raised about the developer's choice to use Electron, citing potential performance overhead and resource consumption. There was also discussion around the lack of a Linux version and the developer's plans for future development and monetization. Some commenters expressed skepticism about the long-term viability of the project given its reliance on a single developer.
Ricochet is a peer-to-peer encrypted instant messaging application that uses Tor hidden services for communication. Each user generates a unique hidden service address, eliminating the need for servers and providing strong anonymity. Contacts are added by sharing these addresses, and all messages are encrypted end-to-end. This decentralized architecture makes it resistant to surveillance and censorship, as there's no central point to monitor or control. Ricochet prioritizes privacy and security by minimizing metadata leakage and requiring no personal information for account creation. While the project is no longer actively maintained, its source code remains available.
HN commenters discuss Ricochet's reliance on Tor hidden services for its peer-to-peer architecture. Several express concern over its discoverability, suggesting contact discovery is a significant hurdle for wider adoption. Some praised its strong privacy features, while others questioned its scalability and the potential for network congestion with increased usage. The single developer model and lack of recent updates also drew attention, raising questions about the project's long-term viability and security. A few commenters shared positive experiences using Ricochet, highlighting its ease of setup and reliable performance. Others compared it to other secure messaging platforms, debating the trade-offs between usability and anonymity. The discussion also touches on the inherent limitations of relying solely on Tor, including speed and potential vulnerabilities.
Mikey is a free, open-source meeting note-taking application for Windows designed to streamline the process of capturing and organizing meeting information. It focuses on simplicity and efficiency, offering features like automatic speaker identification, timestamped notes, action item tracking, and easy export options to plain text, Markdown, or JSON. The aim is to allow participants to focus on the meeting itself rather than scrambling to take notes, resulting in more productive and engaging discussions.
HN commenters generally expressed interest in Mikey, praising its simple approach and potential usefulness for quickly jotting down notes during meetings. Some suggested improvements like global hotkeys, Markdown support, and cloud syncing. A few users compared it to other note-taking tools, mentioning alternatives like Notepad++, Typora, and dedicated meeting software. Concerns were raised regarding the Windows-only limitation, with commenters hoping for cross-platform compatibility or suggesting similar existing solutions for other operating systems. Some skepticism was expressed about the long-term viability of small, independent projects like this.
Onit is an open-source desktop application providing a unified interface for various large language models (LLMs), including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and local models. It aims to simplify access and management of these models, offering features like prompt templates, conversation history, and an intuitive user interface. The project is available on GitHub and designed to be extensible, allowing users to easily integrate new models and features.
HN users generally expressed enthusiasm for Onit, praising its clean UI, open-source nature, and support for multiple LLMs (including local models). Several commenters highlighted the value of running models locally for privacy and cost savings, with specific interest in the upcoming support for llama.cpp. Some pointed out existing similar projects like llama-gpt and queried about Onit's differentiating features. A few users requested additional functionality, such as better prompt management and the ability to export chat logs. The developer actively engaged with comments, addressing questions and acknowledging feature requests.
NotepadJS is a cross-platform, open-source text editor inspired by the simplicity of Windows Notepad. Built with web technologies (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) using Electron, it aims to provide a lightweight and distraction-free writing experience across different operating systems. It supports essential features like basic text editing, find and replace, customizable themes, and automatic file saving, while intentionally avoiding more complex functionalities found in full-fledged code editors. The project focuses on maintaining a clean and minimal interface, prioritizing speed and ease of use for quick note-taking and text manipulation.
Hacker News users generally praised NotepadJS for its simplicity and cross-platform compatibility, viewing it as a welcome alternative to Electron-based text editors. Some appreciated its small size and speed, while others suggested potential improvements like syntax highlighting, tabbed interfaces, and mobile support. A few commenters pointed out existing similar projects like Lite XL and discussed the merits of using Tauri versus Electron for such applications. The developer's choice of using vanilla JavaScript also garnered positive feedback. Some expressed nostalgia for simpler text editors and lauded the project for fulfilling a specific need for a lightweight, no-frills notepad application.
Summary of Comments ( 40 )
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=43297590
HN users discuss Falkon's performance, features, and place within the browser ecosystem. Several commenters praise its speed and lightweight nature, particularly on older hardware, comparing it favorably to Firefox and Chromium-based browsers. Some appreciate its adherence to QtWebEngine, viewing it as a positive for KDE integration and a potential advantage if Chromium's dominance wanes. Others question Falkon's differentiation, suggesting its features are replicated elsewhere and wondering about the practicality of relying on QtWebEngine. The discussion also touches on ad blocking, extensions, and the challenges faced by smaller browser projects. A recurring theme is the desire for a performant, non-Chromium browser, with Falkon presented as a possible contender.
The Hacker News post titled "Falkon: A KDE Web Browser" has generated a modest number of comments, mostly focusing on Falkon's performance, features, and its place within the broader browser ecosystem.
Several commenters praise Falkon's speed and lightweight nature, particularly appreciating its responsiveness compared to other browsers. One user specifically highlights its efficiency on older hardware, mentioning its snappy performance on a ten-year-old laptop. This sentiment is echoed by others who find it a viable alternative to more resource-intensive browsers.
The discussion also touches upon Falkon's use of QtWebEngine. Some express concern about potential performance limitations and memory usage associated with QtWebEngine. However, counterarguments suggest that these concerns are either outdated or overblown, with some users reporting satisfactory performance in their experience.
Falkon's integration with the KDE desktop environment is another recurring theme. Commenters appreciate the seamless integration with KDE's features and settings. This integration is seen as a significant advantage for users already invested in the KDE ecosystem.
A few comments delve into specific features, such as ad blocking and the ability to disable JavaScript. These features are viewed positively, aligning with users' desire for a customizable and privacy-respecting browsing experience.
Some users share their history with Falkon, mentioning their past usage and reasons for switching to or from the browser. These anecdotes provide valuable insights into the browser's evolution and its strengths and weaknesses from a user perspective.
Finally, a few comments compare Falkon to other browsers like Firefox and Konqueror. While acknowledging Falkon's merits, some express a preference for established alternatives due to factors like broader extension support or familiarity.
Overall, the comments paint a picture of Falkon as a nimble and KDE-integrated browser appreciated by a niche user base for its speed and efficiency. While questions about QtWebEngine's performance linger, many users report positive experiences, particularly on less powerful hardware. The discussion highlights Falkon's role as a viable alternative for users seeking a lightweight and KDE-centric browsing experience.