# Brow6l - Web browser inside the Terminal

[TOC]

## Pre-requisites

- In order to utilize the Sixel graphics, you would need to run an SSH client that supports it. One example that works well and is free is [Tabby](https://github.com/Eugeny/tabby/releases/tag/v1.0.229) - all common platforms like Win, Mac OS and Linux are supported, inc. the ARM64 CPU architecture.
- Alternatively, for a text-based only approach, install `links2`.

## Concerns

- Sixel is an 'ancient' tech that may have security vulnerabilities, which is concerning, especially in combination with SSH tunnels.
- The project's developer is Chinese, which could be a concern for some users.

## Update System and install dependencies

```sql
sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade -y
sudo apt install -y git build-essential cmake libsixel-dev libsixel-bin libgtk-3-dev libnss3-dev libasound2-dev curl wget
```

## Clone repo & build it

```sql
mkdir -p /opt/brow6el
git clone https://codeberg.org/janantos/brow6el.git
cd brow6el

# Download the Chromium-based framework
./download_cef.sh

# Build the rest and set permissions to allow others to execute it
./build.sh

# If you have more than one user, make it executable and accessible for them:
sudo chmod -R 755 /opt/brow6el
```

## Run a test

```sql
./brow6el https://codeberg.org
```

## Create a Global Command

- We will create a command that will be accessible to all users on the Debian system.
- Create a script file:

```sql
sudo nano /usr/local/bin/browse

#!/bin/bash

# Move to the installation directory so it can find local dependencies
cd /opt/brow6el

# Run the application, passing all arguments ("$@") to it
# We use LD_LIBRARY_PATH to ensure it finds the CEF libraries in the same folder
LD_LIBRARY_PATH=. ./brow6el "$@"
```

- Make it accessible:

```sql
sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/browse
```

- Test it

```sql
cd /
browse https://google.com
```

- I tried accessing a page called [seznam.cz](http://seznam.cz/) via Tabby SSH client:

<p align="center"><a href="assets/1-create-a-global-command.png" target="_blank"><img src="assets/1-create-a-global-command.png" alt="1 create a global command" width="300" /></a></p>

## Quick Controls

- x = Exit
- u = Enter URL

## Quick Tips

- For more settings, go to `~/.brow6el/cef_flags.conf`

## Troubleshooting

- **Missing Libraries:** If the application fails to start, complaining about `libcef.so` or similar, ensure the library path is correct. You might need to set `LD_LIBRARY_PATH`:

```sql
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:$(pwd)
```

- **"Garbage" text output:** If you see a stream of random characters instead of images, your terminal client does not support Sixel.
- **Solution:** Close the Proxmox web console. Install **WezTerm** or **Foot** on your local machine and SSH into the VM (`ssh user@your-vm-ip`).