TL;DR
A developer published brow6el on Codeberg: a terminal-based web browser that uses the Sixel graphics format to render full pages inside Sixel-capable terminal emulators. It embeds Chromium rendering, offers modern browser features, but is distributed as proof-of-concept code with known limitations around keyboard input and localization.
What happened
Over the holiday break a developer using the handle janantos released brow6el on Codeberg, a web browser that runs entirely inside terminals that support the Sixel graphics protocol. The project converts Chromium-rendered page output into Sixel bitmaps via the libsixel package so terminals can display full-color pages, including animations, without leaving the shell. According to the repository and a demonstration video, brow6el exposes many conventional browser features — HTML5/CSS/JavaScript support via an embedded Chromium layer, full mouse input, bookmarks, a download manager, private browsing, popup handling, a JavaScript console and page inspection tools, plus a built-in ad blocker. It also supports multiple instances, offers Vim-like single-key navigation and H/J/K/L mouse emulation. The author cautions the code is proof-of-concept and notes issues such as limited support for localized keyboards and accented-character input.
Why it matters
- It demonstrates that modern, graphical web pages can be rendered inside terminal emulators using Sixel, widening choices for minimal or terminal-centric workflows.
- Because brow6el relies on an embedded Chromium renderer, it maintains compatibility with contemporary web standards (HTML5/CSS/JavaScript) while running in a nontraditional interface.
- Some users and organizations seeking to avoid AI-integrated browser features may view terminal-based alternatives as lower-risk options for sensitive browsing, given the project’s minimal default surface for AI sidebars.
- The project highlights gaps and trade-offs: graphical terminal browsing is possible, but the current release is labeled proof-of-concept and has usability limitations that will affect adoption.
Key facts
- Project name: brow6el; published on Codeberg by a developer using the handle janantos.
- Renders graphics in the terminal using the Sixel bitmap format and the libsixel package.
- Uses the Chromium Embedded Framework to provide HTML5/CSS/JavaScript rendering.
- Features demonstrated include mouse input, bookmarks, download manager, private and normal modes, popup handling, page inspection, and a JavaScript console.
- Includes a pre-installed ad blocker and supports multiple concurrent instances.
- Offers Vim-like single-key navigation and H/J/K/L key mouse emulation for cursor movement.
- Developer describes the code as proof-of-concept and warns of known issues.
- Known limitations include lack of support for localized keyboards and missing accented-character input handling.
- Published amid growing concerns about mainstream browsers adding AI features and related enterprise warnings.
What to watch next
- Whether the developer or contributors address the proof-of-concept limitations such as localized keyboard and accented-character input (not confirmed in the source).
- Adoption or forks that expand terminal compatibility beyond Sixel-capable emulators (not confirmed in the source).
- Security reviews or audits examining whether an embedded Chromium instance in a terminal reduces or changes data-exfiltration risks compared with AI-integrated browsers (not confirmed in the source).
Quick glossary
- Sixel: A terminal graphics protocol that encodes bitmap images into sequences of printable characters so terminals can display raster graphics and simple animations.
- libsixel: A software library that converts image data into Sixel-encoded output suitable for terminals that support the Sixel protocol.
- Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF): A project that enables developers to embed Chromium-based web rendering and JavaScript execution into other applications.
- Codeberg: A hosting platform for source code repositories, similar to other git hosting services; used to publish and share projects.
Reader FAQ
Can brow6el display full graphical web pages inside a terminal?
Yes — brow6el converts Chromium-rendered output into Sixel graphics so Sixel-capable terminals can show full-color pages, according to the project materials.
Is brow6el ready for everyday use?
The developer describes it as proof-of-concept code and notes limitations; users should expect rough edges and may need technical skill to run or modify it.
Does brow6el avoid AI features that mainstream browsers are adding?
The source presents brow6el as an alternative to AI-integrated browsers and notes concerns about AI sidebars, but it does not provide definitive guarantees about privacy or AI avoidance.
Where is the project published?
The repository was published on Codeberg by the developer janantos.
APPLICATIONS Finally – a terminal solution to the browser wars A full-featured, Sixel-capable terminal browser for those who’d rather skip AI assistants Brandon Vigliarolo Fri 2 Jan 2026 // 17:39 UTC Old-time web users…
Sources
- Finally – a terminal solution to the browser wars
- Minimalistic graphical terminal web browser using sixels.
- Sixels
- Seeqie: A Terminal-Based Image Viewer Using Sixel Graphics
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