View Chrome’s inner workings–and an Easter egg
Google’s Chrome browser has as Spartan a user interface as possible, but the browser’s Omnibox also turns out to be a window into a much more elaborate view of the browser.
That’s because Chrome users can type several commands into the browser’s address box to uncovers a wealth of nitty-gritty detail and an amusing Easter egg.
Google Chrome can display lots of detailed information, such as which plug-ins are running. (Click to enlarge.)
(Credit: CNET News)
Firefox can be fine-tuned by typing “about:config” into its address bar, and other about: commands shed light on many details. Google followed suit.
Most folks won’t care a whit, but the feature is notable for programmers–both those creating Web pages and those who might want to toy with Chromium itself, the open-source project behind Chrome. Programmers are a key audience for Chrome, which Google hopes will advance the state of the art in particular for Web applications.
One Firefox tool popular with Web developers is the Firebug extension, which permits detailed analysis of a Web site. Although Chrome lacks an extensions ability for now, though, right-clicking on Web page elements offers an “inspect element” option that reproduces some of Firebug’s abilities.
Happy Easter
For you non-programmers, there’s an Easter egg, too: type “about:internets” into the Omnibox. I’m not going to be a spoilsport by revealing what happens, but here’s a hint: Ted Stevens.
Because I’m interested in browser user interface limits, though, I’m very curious what rendering technology is used to produce the Easter egg output. Feel free to offer your theories in the comments field below.
Among the “about” features:
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