Browsers as Operating Systems

This cluster centers on debates about modern web browsers functioning as or evolving into operating systems, with discussions on their OS-like capabilities for running web apps, sandboxing, and whether they should replace traditional OSes.

📉 Falling 0.5x Web Development
3,352
Comments
20
Years Active
5
Top Authors
#523
Topic ID

Activity Over Time

2007
17
2008
62
2009
106
2010
78
2011
114
2012
150
2013
173
2014
132
2015
169
2016
173
2017
168
2018
181
2019
174
2020
311
2021
273
2022
265
2023
304
2024
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2025
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2026
13

Keywords

X11 CSS JS NET TCP JavaScript HTML OS i.e DSM browser os operating desktop browsers operating systems systems html web browser web

Sample Comments

moosingin3space Oct 23, 2018 View on HN

Why is it such a bad thing for a browser to act as an OS?

afiodorov Nov 5, 2024 View on HN

Browsers are becoming OS'es :).

alive88 Apr 8, 2007 View on HN

but ironically. the browser should be integrated in the core of the OS.

samuelstros Nov 27, 2024 View on HN

What makes you think the browser as OS is silly?

stared Oct 20, 2021 View on HN

A modern browser environment is an OS on its own. Change my view.

Narishma Sep 27, 2019 View on HN

A browser nowadays is pretty much a whole OS.

HidyBush Jun 1, 2022 View on HN

you are implicitly arguing for browsers to become operating systems

klysm Jan 6, 2026 View on HN

The browser is effectively an OS - and it’s not very productive to cling to the notion that it isn’t one

sgc Apr 30, 2021 View on HN

The web app is the app. A browser is a mini OS at this point.

godelmachine Jun 21, 2020 View on HN

Making a browser do all the work of an OS or vice versa