The first question that pops into my head (being aware that this is a popular category of apps) is: when do people look at blank tabs? Whenever I open a new tab, it's with the intention of entering an address or a search term, and any content would be an unwelcome distraction.
I'd be more likely to use something like this if it lived under a regular domain name and I could put it into a pinned tab, personally.
> The first question that pops into my head (being aware that this is a popular category of apps) is: when do people look at blank tabs? Whenever I open a new tab, it's with the intention of entering an address or a search term, and any content would be an unwelcome distraction.
My "startpage" is a four-column list of stuff I usually browse. And usually I sit with my left hand at the left hand side of the keyboard, and with my hand on the mouse on the right. Doing CTRL+T then clicking on where I wanna go, is usually faster and less movements needed than having to manually type the one or two first letters.
I tried sometimes to put "widgets" or other things (like widget on a smartphone) but it's true what you say, it's an unwelcome distraction. But a couple of simple lists seems fine, for me.
I do the same as you, but I know of plenty of people (even some developers) whose computing workflow looks like this: Boot computer, log in, start web browser, make it full screen. And that is where they work/play for the whole day.
That describes ChromeOS users of course, but there are Apple and Windows (and presumably Linux) users who have the same workflow.
it's hard to believe a developer working in a fullscreen browser all day could be anywhere near as productive as an equally-skilled dev using a terminal/keyboard-based workflow. how does one install packages, ssh into boxes, extract data from files, etc? or maybe they only work with cloud services and use webapp IDEs/terminals? seems like a bizarre choice (for devs specifically)
I don't literally spend all day in a browser, but I technically use one most of the day since vscode is based on Electron. My second monitor flips between Firefox and my terminal tmux session, about a 50/50 time split. I'm sure there's plenty of other developers like me, using the terminal for a good number of system tasks but just can't kick the mouse habit completely in their editor.
I'm the same. The only exception is on mobile, sometimes I'll use the quick pinned bookmarks on the new tab page. But on desktop I load a homepage when I launch the browser and only open a new tab when I need to enter a URL or search query.
On my work device, I have daily.dev installed. Every work day, I usually invest 15-20 minutes of catching up with recent news about all things dev and having it as the "new tab" helps me not forgetting about it.
Other than that, yeah, I usually CTRL+T and write right away.
Neat! I use the Tabagotchi extension. There's a little monster that grows and then dies when you have too many tabs open. Helps me keep down the tab-clutter.
I already have the minimal number of features in my new tab in Firefox and I didn't even need to install a 3rd party addon: it's called "Blank page", you can find it in the settings.
As a longtime user of Momentum that switched to Bonjourr about 5 months ago, this looks cool. The search function would be the reason for me to switch to this. Thanks for sharing!
Unrelated, but I think we all need to migrate to a new word instead of "minimal" for such things. Perhaps just "simple." I get what we all mean as applied to this project, but it isn't what minimal typically means in English. A minimal new tab experience would be a blank tab.
Nice project, but I've been using the "Earth View from Google Earth" extension for Chrome for more than 10 years I think and I find it really difficult to part ways with it no matter how many features the new extension in the block has, maybe someday someone will add that feature to a new extension and I will be able to replace it.
The new tab, the web's equivalent of a blank page. Staring at a blank page is sometimes associated with maddening frustration, but in most cases it's actually the possibility of something new that captures us.
Use a warm off-white, not unlike YC's background, and render the brand logo in a subdued grey at the bottom of the tab/page. Make it a link to a landing page on their site: "You love new possibilities. Crane stands ready to serve your imagination."
It looks really nice.
The first question that pops into my head (being aware that this is a popular category of apps) is: when do people look at blank tabs? Whenever I open a new tab, it's with the intention of entering an address or a search term, and any content would be an unwelcome distraction.
I'd be more likely to use something like this if it lived under a regular domain name and I could put it into a pinned tab, personally.
https://web.tabliss.io
> The first question that pops into my head (being aware that this is a popular category of apps) is: when do people look at blank tabs? Whenever I open a new tab, it's with the intention of entering an address or a search term, and any content would be an unwelcome distraction.
My "startpage" is a four-column list of stuff I usually browse. And usually I sit with my left hand at the left hand side of the keyboard, and with my hand on the mouse on the right. Doing CTRL+T then clicking on where I wanna go, is usually faster and less movements needed than having to manually type the one or two first letters.
I tried sometimes to put "widgets" or other things (like widget on a smartphone) but it's true what you say, it's an unwelcome distraction. But a couple of simple lists seems fine, for me.
I do the same as you, but I know of plenty of people (even some developers) whose computing workflow looks like this: Boot computer, log in, start web browser, make it full screen. And that is where they work/play for the whole day.
That describes ChromeOS users of course, but there are Apple and Windows (and presumably Linux) users who have the same workflow.
it's hard to believe a developer working in a fullscreen browser all day could be anywhere near as productive as an equally-skilled dev using a terminal/keyboard-based workflow. how does one install packages, ssh into boxes, extract data from files, etc? or maybe they only work with cloud services and use webapp IDEs/terminals? seems like a bizarre choice (for devs specifically)
I don't literally spend all day in a browser, but I technically use one most of the day since vscode is based on Electron. My second monitor flips between Firefox and my terminal tmux session, about a 50/50 time split. I'm sure there's plenty of other developers like me, using the terminal for a good number of system tasks but just can't kick the mouse habit completely in their editor.
Maybe cloud IDEs are mandated by orgs in some cases! I’d leave on day 1
Lots of orgs use Replit, which is just a cloud IDE anyways
when i open a new tab its often to open a bookmark - so for me a speed dial is super useful. here's mine (open source): https://github.com/conceptualspace/yet-another-speed-dial
I'm the same. The only exception is on mobile, sometimes I'll use the quick pinned bookmarks on the new tab page. But on desktop I load a homepage when I launch the browser and only open a new tab when I need to enter a URL or search query.
On my work device, I have daily.dev installed. Every work day, I usually invest 15-20 minutes of catching up with recent news about all things dev and having it as the "new tab" helps me not forgetting about it.
Other than that, yeah, I usually CTRL+T and write right away.
It's just some inspiration I can have when typing in my URL bar I guess
I leave a new tab open, and seeing this kind of information is useful
I've been using Tabby Cat [1] for a few years now and under no circumstance will I replace my cute cats with a productivity tool.
[1] https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/tabby-cat/mefhakmgc...
Neat! I use the Tabagotchi extension. There's a little monster that grows and then dies when you have too many tabs open. Helps me keep down the tab-clutter.
https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/tabagotchi-ne...
I already have the minimal number of features in my new tab in Firefox and I didn't even need to install a 3rd party addon: it's called "Blank page", you can find it in the settings.
Neat! Reminds me of Tabliss (https://github.com/joelshepherd/tabliss) as well.
As a longtime user of Momentum that switched to Bonjourr about 5 months ago, this looks cool. The search function would be the reason for me to switch to this. Thanks for sharing!
Also checkout Minim for chrome. Very Minimal and Open Source
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/minim-a-minimal-new...
I love these things. I have a custom NTP for my Chrome and FF profiles. It's my productivity hack.
I put all my super frequent bookmarks there, big buttons are easy to click, keyboard shortcut.
Doesn't sync tho :(
> Doesn't sync tho :(
maybe try synchronizing over github or gitlab thru git?
This is great, giving it a try!
A few first impressions:
- The dark overlay when customising the screen makes it hard to see the visual adjustments- And
- Can the clock default to system (12 or 24 hours)?
- Can I add the pinned tabs I had on the default home screen somehow?
When saying pinned tabs, you mean shortcuts, right?
I have added these suggestions to the to-do list and should come out in the next update!
Yes, I did not know what they were called.
Currently, you can't. Chrome doesn't have a built-in API for getting these, but you can have a bookmarks widget.
What about Firefox? Which is what I am using.
After some research, it doesn't seem like Firefox supports it.
Reminds me of the mac lock screen, nicely done!
It looks nice and works well.
Unrelated, but I think we all need to migrate to a new word instead of "minimal" for such things. Perhaps just "simple." I get what we all mean as applied to this project, but it isn't what minimal typically means in English. A minimal new tab experience would be a blank tab.
I agree! "Minimalistic" would probably have been a better choice for this project.
next on the list are the js frameworks called "vanilla"
> Flowtide is a beautiful, smart New Tab page for your browser.
Than, please, add a screenshot to the repository.
https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=42201300
I added it! Thanks so much for your feedback!
Nice project, but I've been using the "Earth View from Google Earth" extension for Chrome for more than 10 years I think and I find it really difficult to part ways with it no matter how many features the new extension in the block has, maybe someday someone will add that feature to a new extension and I will be able to replace it.
The new tab, the web's equivalent of a blank page. Staring at a blank page is sometimes associated with maddening frustration, but in most cases it's actually the possibility of something new that captures us.
White label this and sell it to luxury brands. Sell it to Crane Stationary, Leuchtturm1917. Here's your potential customer list: https://thepleasureofwriting.com/pages/shop-paper-by-brand
Use a warm off-white, not unlike YC's background, and render the brand logo in a subdued grey at the bottom of the tab/page. Make it a link to a landing page on their site: "You love new possibilities. Crane stands ready to serve your imagination."