Google has finally made the code for the iOS version of Google Chrome open source. The tech giant has uploaded its browser's iOS code into the Chromium repository which is open source codes and tools are uploaded.
Google Chrome for iOS code in the Chromium. Analysts said that Google's move to make the code for Chrome for iOS open source was expected. The now open source code can be accessed by anyone as well as modified and assembled.
Google's Chromium lets developers test, modify, and explore Chrome's open source code. It was only recently that Google uploaded the code for Chrome for iOS.
iOS browsers, in particular, have to be built on top of WebKit, a layout engine software that also powers Apple's Safari web browser. In order for Chrome for iOS to be included in Chromium, Google had to ensure WebKit support in addition to its own layout engine software, Blink.
Developers will be able to build iOS web browsers using the open source code of Chrome for iOS as a guide. This particular move may result to more web browsers for the iOS platform apart from Apple's Safari.
Over the years, developers have taken advantage of the Chromium open source project, developing and releasing many new web browsers. In fact, the web browser Opera switched to Chromium-based open source code back in 2013, completely leaving its very own code and structure behind.
"Historically, the code for Chrome for iOS was kept separate from the rest of the Chromium project due to the additional complexity required for the platform. After years of careful refactoring, all of this code is rejoining Chromium and being moved into the open-source repository," said Google Executive Rohit Rao in a published blog post. He further added that a lot of time was spent to make the necessary changes to make the upload of Google Chrome for iOS to Chromium possible.
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