This feature proposes adding a Engineer Menu to Orion, exactly like the Debug Menu available in Safari TP. The Engineer Menu would provide advanced tools and flags for developers and power users to test and debug WebKit-related features directly within the browser. It includes all the options present in the Safari TP (that would be applicable to Orion)
Purpose and Benefits:
- Orion’s Engineering Menu would give web developers and browser extension creators tools to fine-tune their work on a WebKit-based platform.
- Features such as memory samplers and debug overlays help track performance regressions, rendering issues, and resource bottlenecks.
This feature would not disrupt typical workflows for the average user since the Engineering Menu could remain hidden behind an advanced settings toggle or a command-line flag, ensuring it is accessible only to users who need it.
Developers:
- Monitoring resource usage, layout rendering, and media performance using debug overlays.
- Experimenting with custom settings like compositing and layout flags to optimize site performance on WebKit browsers.
Power Users:
- Running stress tests or sampling memory to explore Orion’s performance under different conditions.
- Tweaking internal browser settings to suit their unique workflows or experiment with experimental features.
Examples and Comparisons:
- Safari TP includes an extensive Debug Menu for developers to explore WebKit’s experimental capabilities. Replicating this in Orion would signal its commitment to supporting the technical community.
- Chromium-based browsers provide chrome://flags as part of the browser package. An Engineering Menu in Orion would complement Web Inspector for WebKit, focusing on performance, flags, and WebKit-specific behaviors.
- Gecko-based browsers have
about:config
Implementation Suggestions:
The Debug Menu could be enabled via:
- An option in the browser’s advanced settings
- Command Line Flag like
--enable-debug-menu as a launch option for advanced users.
defaults write
Potential Impact:
This feature would make Orion a more attractive choice for developers and enthusiasts, showcasing its technical robustness and dedication to a thriving development ecosystem.
