dwb - ArchWiki

# dwb

From ArchWiki
Warning: dwb is based on a WebKit port that is today considered insecure and outdated. It's recommended to use another browser instead. More info here.

dwb is a lightweight and flexible web browser using the webkit engine. It is customizable through its web interface and fully usable with keyboard shortcuts.

## Installation

Install the dwbAUR[broken link: package not found] package. Alternatively, install the dwb-gitAUR package for the development version.

## Basic usage

Starting from a fresh configuration, use `Sk` to open the Keys page. As you can see from there, most bindings are borrowed from Vim and Emacs.

Use `:` to access the command prompt. You can use `Tab` to auto-complete.

Read the man page for more details and enable the `auto-completion` option in the settings to help you learn the bindings.

    $ man dwb

### dwb-specific

    o        = enter url
    O        = enter url in new tab
    f        = spawn hints. Use arrow keys to browse the hints while displaying their URI, or use the hint letters.
    F        = spawn hints in new tab
    ;b       = spawn hints in new background tab
    ;r       = follow multiple background links rapidly
    H        = back
    L        = forward
    J        = go to next tab
    K        = go to previous tab
    'n'+T    = goto 'n' tab
    d        = close tab
    u        = undo close tab
    ctrl+s   = stop
    r        = reload
    R        = reload ignoring cache
    gi       = go to the first input field, doesn't enter input mode, use 'i' for that, so 'gi'+'i'
    ctrl+e   = open editable field in external editor. Useful for forums and wikis.
    ;d       = download via hints
    M        = save bookmark (bookmarks are saved in ~/.config/dwb/default/bookmarks)
    xb       = show/hide status bar
    gf       = toggle source view
    +        = zoom_in
    -        = zoom_out
    =        = reset to 100%

### vim-like

    i        = toggle_insert_mode   (Esc works to go back to normal mode much like Vim)
    Esc      = back to normal mode (ctrl+n works too)
    j        = scroll down
    k        = scroll up
    h        = scroll left
    l        = scroll right
    gg       = go to top
    G        = go to bottom
    /        = find in page
    n        = repeat find forward
    ZZ       = save session and exit

### Notes

Press `v` to switch to caret browsing, then press `space` to toggle between caret and visual mode. Press `Esc` one or two times to go back to normal mode. While in caret browsing, you can use the arrow keys to browse the different parts of the page. Hold `Shift` to select text. Press `Enter` to follow links.

## Configuration

The configuration files are stored in `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/dwb/` (usually `~/.config/dwb/`) and can be easily accessed through the web interface. Type `Ss` to open the Settings page.

### Search engines

Open your favorite search engine, type `gs` to select the web page's first input field, and then enter a keyword associated with it.

Now you can use the keyword in the URI prompt to search directly on the corresponding website. Typing queries directly in the address bar will search with the default search engine, which is the first entry in `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/dwb/searchengines`.

You can also add more by editing the configuration files. This may help for tricky sites like rfc-editor.org.

    .config/dwb/settings

    searchengine-submit-pattern=XXX

    .config/dwb/searchengines

    sp https://startpage.com/do/search?q=XXX
    wp https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?search=XXX&title=Special:Search
    aw https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php?title=Special:Search&search=XXX
    rfc http://www.rfc-editor.org/search/rfc_search_detail.php?rfc=&title=XXX

### keys

Standard keybinds can be edited by executing `:open dwb:keys` (opening dwb:keys as a webpage). Settings are saved as soon as a value is changed and the element loses focus or the return key is pressed. This is reported in the status bar. Combinations of keys are separated with a space. Some less vim-like keys could be defined by:

    dwb:keys

    history_back	 Go back	Mod1 @Left@
    history_forward	 Go forward	Mod1 @Right@

This same format is used below for custom keybinds.

### Custom keybinds

You can create custom key bindings by editing file `custom_keys` in the profile directory. This is `~/.config/dwb/default` by default. All keysyms which do not emit (multi)byte characters, must be enclosed in `@`. One keybind can execute multiple dwb commands. These commands execute in same order as they are defined in bind, and must be separated by `;;` separator. If the keybind's chord is already bound by dwb, it might be ignored (behaviour is not consistent). In such case one can try to check, whether there is collison with binds defined in `~/.config/dwb/keys` and try to unbind the chord there (eg set it to nothing). Any running dwb instance will owerwrite `keys` file on exit, so remember to do your modifications while dwb is not runing or use default dwb interface (`Sk`).

    ~/.config/dwb/default/custom_keys

    Control w           :close_tab
    Control @Page_Up@   :focus_prev
    Control @Page_Down@ :focus_next

## Extensions

dwb features an extension manager as a separate executable, dwbem. To list all officially available extensions, use:

    dwbem -a

       Available extensions:      Mainstream equivalent:
       - adblock_subscriptions    Adblock
       - autoquvi                 Video DownloadHelper
       - contenthandler           (Handle requests based on MIME type, filename extension or URI scheme)
       - downloadhandler          (Handle downloads based on mimetype or filename extension, useful if 'download-no-confirm' is set)
       - formfiller               LastPass, Lazarus (Save form data and fill forms with previously saved data, also with gpg-support)
       - googlebookmarks          GBookmarks, GMarks (Add bookmarks to google bookmarks with a shortcut)
       - googledocs               Open with Google Docs, Google Docs Viewer
       - grabscrolling            (Adobe Acrobat style grab and drag mouse scrolling)
       - multimarks               (Bookmark multiple urls to a single quickmark)
       - navtools                 Opera Fast Forward, IE 10 Flip Ahead
       - perdomainsettings        (Change webkit-settings automatically on domain or url basis)
       - pwdhash                  PwdHash
       - requestpolicy            RequestPolicy, Disconnect, Ghostery
       - simplyread               Readability, Clearly
       - speeddial                Speed Dial
       - supergenpass             (Generate domain-based passwords; compatible with the bookmarklet supergenpass but with additional options)
       - unique_tabs              (Remove duplicate tabs or avoid duplicate tabs by autoswitching to tabs with same url)
       - userscripts              GreaseMonkey/Stylish
       - whitelistshortcuts       (Whitelist webkit settings for certain domains with a shortcut)

For more details, use `dwbem -I <extension>` and read the dwb and dwbem man pages. To get more details on all available extensions use `for i in $(dwbem -a | awk '/-/ {print $NF}'); do dwbem -I $i; done`.

Below is a list of popular extensions (or add-ons) for which dwb has a built-in alternative:

- NoScript/Flashblock: dwb blocks flash by default and can block javascript.
- Omnibar: just like Chrome, dwb's address gives quick access to search, history, and bookmarks.
- Download Statusbar: dwb's displays downloads in a neat status bar by default.
- IE Tab: dwb can open a page in any external browser with a simple userscript.
- Session Manager: dwb uses its built-in session manager by default.
- Private browsing: add `xpp:toggle enable-private-browsing` to `custom_keys` to toggle privacy mode by typing `xpp`.

### Adblock

dwb features an Adblock extension. Install it with

    $ dwbem -i adblock_subscriptions

Restart dwb, enable adblocker with `:set adblocker true`, use the adblock_subscribe command and choose your favorite filter (avoid using more than one filter to prevent duplicate entries that make the adblocker much slower). After that you also need to make the changes active with the adblock_update command.

## Userscripts

dwb can execute .js or .sh scripts put in `~/.config/dwb/userscripts/`. Make sure they are executable:

    chmod +x ~/.config/dwb/userscripts/myscript.js

Below are some example scripts, see dwb userscripts snippets for more:

### defer-loading

Prevents tabs from last session to load all at once at startup.

    ~/.config/dwb/userscripts/defer-loading.js

    //!javascript
    if (settings.loadOnFocus === false) {
        execute('local_set load-on-focus true');
    }
    Signal.connect('navigation', function(webview) {
        if (webview == tabs.current) {
            execute('local_set load-on-focus false');
            this.disconnect();
        }
    });

### fast-forward

Opera features a neat key binding which allows users to load to next/previous logical page. This is very useful for forum threads, documentation, and articles spread over several pages.

This feature can be implemented with a simple javascript function and bound to custom keys `}` and `{`:

    ~/.config/dwb/default/custom_keys

    }:exja (function(){var e=document.querySelector("[rel='next']");if(e){location=e.href;}else{var f=document.getElementsByTagName("a");var i=f.length;while((e=f[--i])){if(e.text.search(/(\bnext\b|^>$|^(>>|»)$|^(>|»)|(>|»)$|\bmore\b)/i)>-1){location=e.href; break;}} location.href=location.href.replace(/(\d+)([^\/\d]*)$/, function(a,b,c){return ++b+c})}})();
    {:exja (function(){var e=document.querySelector("[rel='prev']");if(e){location=e.href;}else{var f=document.getElementsByTagName("a");var i=f.length;while((e=f[--i])){if(e.text.search(/(\b(prev|previous)\b|^<$|^(<<|«)$|^(<|«)|(<|«)$)/i)>-1){location=e.href;break;}} location.href=location.href.replace(/(\d+)([^\/\d]*)$/, function(a,b,c){return --b+c})}})();

Alternatively, the `navtools` extension provides the same functionality and more, such as going up one directory, or loading the root URI.

### open-firefox

Opens current page in Firefox with `xf` (uses firefox and libnotify).

    ~/.config/dwb/userscripts/open-firefox.sh

    #!/bin/bash
    # dwb: xf
    firefox $DWB_URI &
    notify-send -u low "Firefox opening $DWB_URI" #optional notification

### startup-noautoreload

Prevents previously-opened tabs from reloading all at once after a restart.

    ~/.config/dwb/userscripts/startup-noautoreload.js

    //!javascript
    // prevents previously-opened tabs from reloading all at once after a restart.
    execute("set load-on-focus true");

    var sigId = Signal.connect("navigation", function(wv) {
            if (wv == tabs.current)
            {
                        execute("set load-on-focus false");
                                Signal.disconnect(sigId);
                                    }
    });

### toggle-stylesheet

Toggles between 2 global stylesheets with `xg`.

    ~/.config/dwb/userscripts/toggle-stylesheet.sh

    #!/bin/bash
    # dwb:xg

    CURRENT_STYLESHEET="$(dwbremote get setting user-stylesheet-uri)"

    STYLESHEET_1="file://$HOME/.config/dwb/stylesheets/foo.css"
    STYLESHEET_2="file://$HOME/.config/dwb/stylesheets/bar.css"

    if [[ "${CURRENT_STYLESHEET}" = ${STYLESHEET_1} ]]; then
        dwbremote :local_set user-stylesheet-uri "$STYLESHEET_2"
    else
        dwbremote :local_set user-stylesheet-uri "$STYLESHEET_1"
    fi

### youtube-player

Opens YouTube videos with MPlayer (uses mplayer and youtube-dl).

    ~/.config/dwb/userscripts/youtube-mplayer.js

    //!javascript
    // opens YouTube videos with mplayer.
    var regex = new RegExp("http(.*)://www.youtube.com/watch\\?(.*&)*v=.*");

    Signal.connect("navigation", function (wv, frame, request) {
      if (wv.mainFrame == frame && regex.test(request.uri))
        system.spawn("sh -c 'mplayer \"$(youtube-dl -g " + request.uri + ")\"'");
      return false;
    });

### mpv.sh

The vv keybind will open the URL of current page with mpv, works with You Tube, Dailymotion, Vodlocker and many more video streaming services. (uses mpv libnotify youtube-dl).

    ~/.config/dwb/userscripts/mpv.sh

    #!/bin/bash
    # dwb: vv
    mpv $DWB_URI &
    notify-send  -h string:bgcolor:#000000 -h string:fgcolor:#ff4444 "MPV is opening" "$DWB_URI"

    fi

### rocker gestures

Enables Opera-like rocker gestures for navigating the history. Disable the context menu in the settings first.

    ~/.config/dwb/userscripts/rocker.js

    //!javascript
    var LMB = 1, MMB=2, RMB = 3, UNKNOWN = 10, DOWN = 11, UP = 12;

    var buttonStates = [UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN, UNKNOWN];
    var bp = new Signal("onButtonPress", function(wv, result, ev) {
            var mouseButton = ev.button;

            buttonStates[mouseButton] = DOWN;

            if (mouseButton == LMB && buttonStates[RMB] == DOWN) {
                    execute("history_back");
            } else if (mouseButton == RMB && buttonStates[LMB] == DOWN) {
                    execute("history_forward");
            }
    });
    var br = new Signal("onButtonRelease", function(wv, result, ev) {
            buttonStates[ev.button] = UP;
    });

    bp.connect();
    br.connect();

## Stylesheet

a global stylesheet can be defined in the Settings, under `user-stylesheet-uri` (i.e. `file:///home/tux/.config/dwb/stylesheet.css`)

If you browse with the status bar hidden and are annoyed by the the link previews that appear while hovering over links with the mouse, add this to the stylesheet: `#dwb_hover_element { display:none!important;` }

## Troubleshooting

### Search engines search for undefined

If you are always searching for undefined even with the `searchengine-submit-pattern` option set, then you should edit `$XDG_CONFIG_HOME/dwb/searchengines` and adapt the URIs to match your `searchengine-submit-pattern`.

### Fuzzy font in Github

Install ttf-freefont or add this in your `~/.config/fontconfig/fonts.conf` inside the fontconfig-tags:

     <selectfont>
       <rejectfont>
         <pattern>
           <patelt name="family">
             <string>Clean</string>
           </patelt>
         </pattern>
       </rejectfont>
     </selectfont>

If above solution doesn't help try to remove `xorg-fonts-75dpi` and `xorg-fonts-100dpi` packages.

### HTML5 media

See Browser plugins#Multimedia playback.

## dwb-git

dwb-gitAUR offers many improvements over the stable version, the most notable of which are listed below.

Note: As of May 4th, 2015, the official dwbAUR[broken link: package not found] package should contain all those features, and more.

### Plugin Support

Browser Plugins can be enabled and disabled through the new [dwb:plugins dwb:plugins] settings page. Other Browser plugins may be supported as well, but these two alone will make your dwb experience much more enjoyable.

#### Flash Support

dwb-gitAUR has built in support for the flashplugin. Dwb should auto-detect and enabled the plugin after it is installed. Alternatively, you can install gnash-gtkAUR[broken link: package not found] and it will be detected as well.

#### Java Support

dwb-gitAUR has built in support for the icedtea-web. Dwb should auto-detect and enable the plugin after it is installed.

### Improved Ability to Display Websites

If you are having problems with they layout of websites not loading correctly then give dwb-gitAUR a shot.

Category:

- Web browser

Hidden category:

- Pages with broken package links