Ladybird (web browser)

Last updated
Ladybird
Original author(s) Andreas Kling
Developer(s) Ladybird Browser Initiative
Repository github.com/LadybirdBrowser/ladybird
Written in C++
Engine LibWeb
Operating system Linux, macOS, and other Unix-like operating systems.
Available inEnglish
Type Web browser
License BSD 2-Clause License
Website ladybird.org

Ladybird is an open-source web browser developed by the Ladybird Browser Initiative, a nonprofit organization focused on development of the browser. [1] [2] It is licensed under the BSD 2-Clause License. [3] An alpha release is planned in 2026, [4] [5] beta release is expected in 2027, and a stable release for general public in 2028. [6] Originally a component of SerenityOS, it is now being developed as a standalone project. [7] The initiative is funded entirely through donations, with Cloudflare, FUTO, Shopify, and 37signals among its sponsors, [8] in addition to individual donations through Donorbox. [9]

Contents

Features

Ladybird uses a new browser engine called LibWeb that is being created from scratch by the development team. Unlike SerenityOS, it will also use other open source libraries for development. [3] An ad blocking feature is planned. [10] Unlike most new web browsers, Ladybird does not rely on Chromium or Firefox and uses its own rendering engine and JavaScript engine. [11]

Core components

History

The project was initially developed by the SerenityOS community using its internal software libraries implementing specific features (with self-descriptive names prefixed with “Lib”, e.g. LibWeb, LibHTTP, LibJS, or LibWasm).

Ladybird was announced by Andreas Kling, the maintainer and founder of the SerenityOS project, in September 2022. [17]

On June 30, 2024, Kling announced that he would be stepping back from the main project to focus solely on building the Ladybird browser. [18] [7] In July 2024 the Ladybird Browser Initiative announced that it was being funded by Chris Wanstrath, the co-founder of GitHub. [10] [5] Ladybird began receiving sponsorships to fund its development including from large companies such as Shopify [19] and Proton VPN. [11]

As of March 2025, it ranked fourth highest on the Web Platform Tests, a suite of tests used by browser developers, below Chrome, Safari and Firefox. [11] It also had the second most conformant JavaScript Engine after Firefox's SpiderMonkey. [11] [19]

References

  1. ↑ LadybirdBrowser/ladybird, Ladybird, 2024-08-07, archived from the original on 2024-08-06, retrieved 2024-08-07
  2. ↑ Kling, Andreas. "Announcing the Ladybird Browser Initiative". ladybird.org. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  3. 1 2 Anderson, Tim (2024-07-03). "Ladybird web browser now funded by GitHub co-founder, promises 'no code' from rivals". DEVCLASS. Archived from the original on 2024-09-20. Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  4. ↑ Kling, Andreas. "Ladybird FAQ's". ladybird.org. Retrieved 2024-08-21.
  5. 1 2 Wallen, Jack (July 17, 2025). "This new browser won't monetize your every move - how to try it". ZDNET.
  6. ↑ World Wide Web Consortium (2024-09-25). "🐞Ladybird: A new, independent browser engine — written from scratch". w3.org. Archived from the original on 2024-09-17. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  7. 1 2 "Fork! Ladybird Browser And SerenityOS To Go Separate Ways". Hackaday . July 2, 2024.
  8. ↑ "Ladybird". ladybird.org. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  9. ↑ "Ladybird Browser Initiative | Ladybird Browser Initiative (Powered by Donorbox)". donorbox.org. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  10. 1 2 Förster, Moritz (July 4, 2024). "Ladybird web browser takes off: One million US dollars from GitHub founder". Heise . Retrieved 2024-09-20.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Conway, Adam (12 March 2025). "4 reasons Ladybird is the most exciting new browser currently in development". XDA.
  12. ↑ "What is Ladybird? Everything we know about the new browser & web engine". daily.dev. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
  13. ↑ "Pwning the Ladybird browser | Jess's Cafe". jessie.cafe. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  14. ↑ WebAssembly/testsuite, WebAssembly, 2025-09-22, retrieved 2025-09-25
  15. ↑ "This Month in Ladybird - July 2024 - Ladybird". ladybird.org. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  16. ↑ "LibWasm Spec Test results". ladybirdbrowser.github.io. Retrieved 2025-09-25.
  17. ↑ "Ladybird browser spreads its wings". LWN.net . Archived from the original on 2024-09-26. Retrieved 2024-11-22.
  18. ↑ Proven, Liam (17 October 2023). "Serenity OS turns five and emits first offspring, Ladybird". The Register . Retrieved 8 August 2024.
  19. 1 2 "This Month in Ladybird: February 2025". buttondown.com. Retrieved 2025-09-07.
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