Search: A Minimalist, High-Speed WebKit Browser for macOS

Developed by Office Commun, Search is a streamlined, quiet browsing experience designed specifically for the Mac.

🚀 Getting Started

• Direct Download: Download for macOS $\rightarrow$
  • Requirements: macOS 14 or newer.
  • Cost: Free.
  • Footprint: $\approx 3 \text{ MB}$.
• Homebrew Installation: brew install --cask driceroland/tap/search

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🎯 The Philosophy: Zero Distractions

Search is a browser where nothing stands between you and the web.

The interface is stripped of all unnecessary noise. You get a row of tabs (configurable as either top-aligned or left-aligned) and the webpage itself.

What you won't find here:

• Bloated toolbars
• Intrusive start pages
• Suggestion sidebars
• Mandatory account logins

Simply enter a URL or a search query into the single input field, and you are there.

Why is it so fast?

Search leverages WebKit, the native engine powering Safari. Because it doesn't bundle a separate Chromium instance, the app remains incredibly lightweight: $\text{Disk Space} \approx 3 \text{ MB}$ This ensures the application launches instantly and consumes minimal system memory.

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🛠 Key Features

User Experience & Interface

• Smart Addressing: Autocompletes based on your local history; data is only transmitted upon pressing Return.
• Tab Management:
  • Pinning: Frequently used pages shrink to an icon or a single letter.
  • Session Recovery: Previous tabs restore instantly without consuming resources until accessed.
• Visual Layout: Toggle tab orientation via ⇧⌘S or hide the sidebar entirely with ⌘S.

Privacy & Content Control

• Element Blocking: Use ⇧⌘H to permanently delete cookie banners, newsletter pop-ups, or "related content" rails. These elements stay gone even after refreshing.
• Network-Level Blocking: Third-party trackers and ad networks are stopped before they can even be rendered, increasing speed.
• Private Browsing: ⇧⌘N opens a private tab with an isolated cookie jar that wipes clean upon closing.

Media & Utility

• Floating Video: ⇧⌘P extracts video into a "Picture-in-Picture" window that floats above all other applications.
• Reading Mode: Activate a clean reading view with ⇧⌘R.

Security & Data

• Password Management: Integrates directly with the macOS Keychain. It suggests saved accounts only when you click the field, mirroring Safari's behavior.
• Seamless Import: Migrate your data from $\text{Chrome} \rightarrow \text{Arc} \rightarrow \text{Dia} \rightarrow \text{Brave} \rightarrow \text{Edge}$ in one click.
• Local Storage: Bookmarks, history, and downloads are kept in searchable panels, accessible via a single keystroke.

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🧩 Extensions

Search utilizes WebKit's native extension engine.

How to add extensions:

1. Paste a Chrome Web Store link into Settings › Extensions.
2. Alternatively, navigate to the extension's page in Search and click Add.

The "Gap Fill" Approach: Since WebKit lacks some APIs found in Chrome (such as notifications, speech, offscreen documents, and history), Search implements these APIs internally to ensure compatibility.

• Management: Access extensions via the puzzle icon; pin your favorites for quick access.
• Development: Load folders as unpacked extensions and use the Reload button for real-time testing.

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🛡 Privacy Architecture

Search is designed so that your data never leaves your machine unless you explicitly request a webpage.

Update Cycle: The app performs one small check per day to see if a newer version exists, verifies the signature, and updates automatically.

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⌨️ Keyboard Shortcuts

Note: Use ⌃Tab and ⌃⇧Tab to cycle through tabs; the standard Tab key is reserved for form navigation.

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💻 Developer Information

Why Open Source?

The source code is public so users can verify how their passwords and history are handled, contribute fixes, or compile their own version.

Technical Specs:

• Language: Swift (approx. $1.27 \times 10^4$ lines of code).
• Dependencies: Zero (uses only native macOS frameworks).
• Structure: One file per concern for maximum readability.

Build Instructions

Requirements: macOS 14+, Xcode 16 / Swift 6 toolchain.

# Option 1: Run directly from SwiftPM
swift build

# Option 2: Create a signed .app bundle in /build/
./build.sh

System Flow