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Surf VS HTML5test

Compare Surf VS HTML5test and see what are their differences

Surf logo Surf

A simple web browser based on WebKit2/GTK+

HTML5test logo HTML5test

HTML5test is a platform that assigns you a score based on how well your browser follows the requirements of the HTML5 standard.
  • Surf Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-08-25
  • HTML5test Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-05

Surf features and specs

  • Minimalism
    Surf is extremely lightweight and focuses on offering a minimalistic web browsing experience, which can result in faster performance and lower resource usage.
  • Customizability
    Users can tailor Surf to their specific needs through patches and configuration. This makes it highly adaptable for those who are comfortable with a bit of coding.
  • Integration with Suckless Tools
    Surf fits seamlessly into the Suckless ecosystem, integrating well with other minimal and efficient tools like the DWM window manager.
  • Privacy
    By default, Surf doesn't include many of the tracking features found in mainstream browsers, potentially offering a more privacy-conscious browsing experience.
  • Compliance with UNIX Philosophy
    Surf adheres to the UNIX philosophy of doing one thing well, focusing solely on web browsing without additional, potentially unwanted, features.

Possible disadvantages of Surf

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Customizing and configuring Surf can be challenging for users who are not familiar with programming or the command line.
  • Limited Features
    Due to its minimalistic design, Surf lacks many modern features like extensions, tabs, and a built-in password manager that are standard in other browsers.
  • Manual Updates
    Users need to manually update the browser, which can be a hassle compared to automatic updates provided by mainstream browsers.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Surf may have trouble rendering some modern web pages correctly, as it lacks some of the compatibility layers found in more feature-complete browsers.
  • Community Support
    Being a niche and minimalist browser, Surf does not have as large a user base or as much community support compared to more popular browsers.

HTML5test features and specs

  • Comprehensive Assessment
    HTML5test provides a detailed evaluation of a web browser's support for HTML5 standards, covering a wide range of features.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The interface is intuitive and easy to use, allowing users to quickly obtain results about their browser's capabilities.
  • Cross-Browser Comparison
    It allows users to compare scores between different browsers, facilitating informed decisions about which browser to use.
  • Regular Updates
    The site is updated regularly to incorporate the latest HTML standards and browser versions, ensuring relevant test results.

Possible disadvantages of HTML5test

  • Focus on Quantitative Score
    HTML5test focuses on a numeric score that might oversimplify the complexities of feature support and real-world performance.
  • Lack of Contextual Information
    The site does not provide detailed explanations about how missing features might impact user experience or web development.
  • Not Comprehensive for All Users
    While HTML5test is good for basic assessment, it might not be sufficient for advanced developers looking for in-depth analysis of browser capabilities.

Analysis of Surf

Overall verdict

  • Surf can be considered 'good' for users who value simplicity, minimal system resource usage, and the ability to customize their browsing experience via external scripts or patches. However, it might not be suitable for those who rely heavily on modern web features and extensions available in mainstream browsers.

Why this product is good

  • Surf is a minimalist web browser created by the Suckless community, known for developing software that adheres to the philosophy of simplicity and clarity. It is designed to be lightweight and efficient, making it suitable for users who prefer minimalism and are comfortable using a browser without a graphical user interface (GUI) for settings or extensions.

Recommended for

  • Users who are familiar with Unix-like operating systems and command-line interfaces.
  • Individuals who prefer lightweight and efficient software.
  • Those willing to customize their browser through external tools and scripts.
  • Minimalists who do not require a plethora of features and extensions.

Surf videos

Pro Surfer Reviews Surf Movies, from 'Blue Crush' to 'Point Break' | Vanity Fair

More videos:

  • Review - Noel's "2021 Favorite Finds" Surfboards & Surf Product Must Haves
  • Tutorial - Surf Tip "How to Surf Faster in Small Waves" Part 1

HTML5test videos

No HTML5test videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Surf and HTML5test)
Web Browsers
75 75%
25% 25
Online Services
0 0%
100% 100
Web Development Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Website Testing
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

Share your experience with using Surf and HTML5test. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Social recommendations and mentions

HTML5test might be a bit more popular than Surf. We know about 58 links to it since March 2021 and only 45 links to Surf. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Surf mentions (45)

  • How to build a circular LCD clock
    Interesting, surf is based off WebKit2. https://surf.suckless.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 9 days ago
  • Ladybird browser spreads its wings
    What about surf? https://surf.suckless.org/. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • A peculiarity of the X Window System: Windows all the way down
    Another awesome aspect of X11: Xembed. Since it's "windows all the way down" you can have apps (rather than the window manager or root window) be the parent of other app windows. Two nifty examples of this: * https://tools.suckless.org/tabbed/ * https://surf.suckless.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • The Ladybird Browser Project
    Don't forget WebKit. It leads to project such as https://surf.suckless.org. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Tampermonkey: Dev Mode will become mandatory for running userscripts in Chromium
    I would assume surf[0], I don't know if suckless has any other browser. [0]: https://surf.suckless.org/. - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
View more

HTML5test mentions (58)

  • Ask HN: Kindle Browser Specs?
    Take your Kindle and visit https://html5test.com/ and that should give you a good idea. Spoiler: it scores pretty low but supports JavaScript, which is surprising. PS: You could have gotten this answered more quickly by Googling. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Some questions about RAM, BT and Firefox
    I just don't know what else I can do. I compared Chromium and Firefox in html5test.com, got same result. All browsers says they doesn't support H.265. I turned off HW acceleration, nothing changes. I installed ffmpeg-libs and other codecs from Fedora wiki. Nothing changes. Videos are same vp9 in browsers. I spent all day googling but nothing helpful. Source: over 2 years ago
  • widevine problem?
    What does https://html5test.com/ say for h.264, VP8, VP9 and Theora support? What does it say for aac, Opus, Vorbis and mp3 support? Source: over 2 years ago
  • is there a way to get surround sound working on firefox?
    You can use this website also https://html5test.com is really helpful with more datails. Source: over 2 years ago
  • H265 Browser compatibility
    If I go on html5test.com, no matter which browser I use, H265 support is not enabled and I couldn't find any article online that explains why -- what am I missing here? Source: almost 3 years ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Surf and HTML5test, you can also consider the following products

Sidekick Browser - The fastest browser for work ever made

Can I use - Compatibility tables for support of HTML5, CSS3, SVG and more in desktop and mobile browsers.

Vivaldi - Vivaldi is a free, fast web browser designed for power-users. You decide how you browse. Download Vivaldi's fully customisable browser now and browse your way.

The Acid3 Test - The Acid3 Test is an online test page developed by the Web Standards Project to help everyone check how compliant a specific browser is with different web standards like JavaScript and Document Object Model.

Houseparty - Brining empathy to online communication.

Reddit - Reddit gives you the best of the internet in one place. Get a constantly updating feed of breaking news, fun stories, pics, memes, and videos just for you.