On Tuesday, Google has announced that the iOS version of Chrome is now open-sourced. It was previously separated from the rest of the Chromium project because Apple requires Chrome to use the WebKit, which is the rendering engine found in Safari while Chrome relies on Blink engine platforms.
According to 9to5 Mac, adding the Chrome for iOS to the Chromium project would require the code base, which supports both of the rendering engines. Supporting both engines will create some extra "complexities." After years of hardwork, the team has managed to transfer iOS codes into Chromium and developers can now compile it in an open-source repository.
"Given Chrome's commitment to open-source code, we've spent a lot of time over the past several years making the changes required to upstream the code for Chrome for iOS into Chromium. Today, that upstreaming is complete, and developers can compile the iOS version of Chromium like they can for other versions of Chromium," says Rohit Rao on the Chromium Blog. He added that the upstreaming of the code has been completed and developers can compile the Chromium iOS version just like other platforms.
Chrome for iOS is available to download for free in the App Store for iOS users. Chromium on the other hand, will provide a stable base for iOS developers aiming to code their web browsers. It will give developers more customization options.
Chrome is one of the most popular downloads on the App Store because it works across several platforms like Windows, iOS, Android and Mac. Recently, Google has unveiled the Chrome 56 for Mac, Linux and Windows, as noted on Gadgets NDTV.
Google Chrome is designed as an alternative to Safari and it is largely an open source. Google spent more time bringing an iOS version to Chromium. Rao emphasized that with this, the development speed is now even faster since tests for the app's iOS version can now be readily accessed within the Chromium community.
