Qim Browser is a lightweight, keyboard-centric web browser written in C++ using Qt and QtWebEngine. It is inspired by qutebrowser, a popular keyboard-driven browser, but with the goal of providing a native application with better performance and a smaller footprint.

I created Qim Browser because I wanted a complete keyboard-centric workflow for browsing the web. qutebrowser is a great browser that already provides this experience, but it is written in Python and relies on many dependencies, making it somewhat bulky and slower compared to a native application.

While qutebrowser is a good fit for those who love Vim-like keyboard navigation, the Python-based architecture introduces a few challenges for me:

• The size of dependencies is large.
• Performance could be better with a native implementation.
• I don't personally enjoy Python for building a browser.

Thus, I wanted to build something smaller, faster, and more efficient while maintaining the same seamless keyboard-based browsing experience.

• Native Application: Built entirely in C++ with Qt, ensuring a more responsive and faster experience.
• Lightweight: Minimal dependencies, resulting in a much smaller application size compared to Python-based solutions.
• Keyboard-Centric: Like qutebrowser, Qim Browser allows you to navigate the web using just your keyboard, making it ideal for users who prefer keyboard shortcuts and efficiency.
• Faster: Since it’s built in a compiled language, Qim Browser runs faster than the Python-based version, offering improved performance.

• Keyboard Navigation: Full support for Vim-like keybindings for web navigation and control.
• Command Mode: Quickly open websites, manage tabs, and perform actions via a command bar.
• Minimal UI: Clean and distraction-free browsing, similar to qutebrowser's UI philosophy.
• Web Engine: Uses QtWebEngine (built on Chromium) for modern web standards and fast rendering.
• Customizable: Easy-to-extend, with configuration options for keybindings, behavior, and more.

• Qt 6.x (or Qt 5.x) with the QtWebEngine module
• C++17 or later

git clone https://github.com/Purkit/QimBrowser.git
cd qim-browser
mkdir build
cd build
cmake ..
make

• Inspired by qutebrowser for its minimalist, keyboard-driven design.

• Built using Qt 6 and QtWebEngine for modern web rendering.