# 📱 aka-browser ### _A side browser for PC — always on top, always within reach._ **Your companion browser for Netflix, Twitter(X), and everything in between.** 🌐 **[Visit our website](https://browser.aka.page)** | 📚 **[Technical Wiki](https://deepwiki.com/hmmhmmhm/aka-browser)** | 🚀 **Currently in Beta** — Stable Release coming in November! aka-browser screenshot [![License: MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-blue.svg)](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT) [![Electron](https://img.shields.io/badge/Electron-Castlabs-47848F.svg)](https://github.com/castlabs/electron-releases) [![TypeScript](https://img.shields.io/badge/TypeScript-5.0-3178C6.svg)](https://www.typescriptlang.org/) [![React](https://img.shields.io/badge/React-18-61DAFB.svg)](https://reactjs.org/) [Features](#-key-features) • [Installation](#-installation--development) • [Building](#building-for-production) • [DRM Support](#-drm-content-playback)
--- ## 🎯 Why aka-browser? **aka-browser** isn't here to replace your main browser—it's designed to work **alongside it**. Think of it as your **always-on-top companion** for those moments when you need a second screen but don't have one. Watch Netflix with subtitles (PiP doesn't show them!), keep Twitter open while working, monitor a live stream, or follow a tutorial—all in a beautiful, compact window that stays right where you need it. ### Perfect For - **Watching Netflix with subtitles** → PiP mode loses subtitles, aka-browser keeps them - **Following Twitter/X** → Keep your timeline visible while working - **Monitoring streams** → Twitch, YouTube Live always in view - **Following tutorials** → Step-by-step guides alongside your code - **Chat windows** → Discord, Slack, or any web chat always accessible - **Music controls** → Spotify, YouTube Music at your fingertips ### Why Not Just Use Your Main Browser? - **Always on top** → Never gets buried under other windows - **Compact & elegant** → Beautiful iPhone frame that doesn't clutter your screen - **Purpose-built** → Lightweight, fast, and distraction-free - **DRM-ready** → Full Widevine support for streaming services - **Instant access** → Lives in your menu bar, launches immediately ## ✨ Key Features ### 🖥️ **Browser Essentials** - **Multi-tab browsing** with visual switcher - **Tab previews** via auto-screenshots - **Trackpad gestures** for navigation - **Dynamic theme colors** with LRU cache - **Smart user agent** switching (mobile/desktop) ### 🎬 **DRM Content Ready** - **Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video** support - **Widevine CDM** integration - **Castlabs EVS** signed for production - **Packaged builds** for DRM validation ### 🎨 **Beautiful Interface** - **iPhone 15 Pro frame** with Dynamic Island - **React 18** + Vite + TailwindCSS - **System theme** detection (light/dark) - **Smooth animations** with optimized rendering ### 🛠️ **Developer Tools** - **Chrome DevTools** (Cmd+Option+I) - **Element inspector** via right-click - **URL bar** with title/domain display - **System tray** with always-on-top ## 🚀 Quick Start ```bash # Clone the repository git clone https://github.com/hmmhmmhm/aka-browser.git cd aka-browser # Install dependencies pnpm install # Run in development mode pnpm run dev ``` That's it! The browser will launch with a beautiful iPhone 15 Pro frame ready for testing. ## 🏗️ Technical Stack ``` ┌─────────────────────────────────────────┐ │ Electron (Castlabs + Widevine CDM) │ ← DRM-ready browser engine ├─────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ React 18 + TypeScript │ ← Modern UI framework ├─────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ Vite + TailwindCSS │ ← Fast builds, beautiful styles ├─────────────────────────────────────────┤ │ electron-builder + EVS signing │ ← Production packaging └─────────────────────────────────────────┘ ``` ## 📦 Installation & Development ### Prerequisites | Requirement | Version | Purpose | | ---------------- | ------- | --------------------------------- | | **Node.js** | 18+ | Runtime environment | | **pnpm** | Latest | Package management (recommended) | | **Python 3** | 3.8+ | EVS signing for DRM builds | | **Castlabs EVS** | - | Production DRM signing (optional) | ### Building for Production Want to watch Netflix? You'll need a production build: ```bash # 1️⃣ Setup EVS signing (first time only) pnpm run evs:setup # 2️⃣ Verify your configuration pnpm run evs:verify # 3️⃣ Build the packaged app pnpm run package ``` > **⚠️ Important**: Netflix and other streaming services **reject development mode** signatures. You **must** use a packaged build for DRM content. ## 🎬 DRM Content Playback aka-browser supports **Widevine DRM** out of the box: ``` Development Mode → ❌ Netflix won't work Production Build → ✅ Full DRM support (L3 level, software-based without TEE) ``` ### How It Works 1. **Widevine CDM** auto-downloads on first run (via Electron Component Updater) 2. **Castlabs EVS** signs the app for production-grade DRM validation 3. **Streaming services** verify the signature and allow playback ### Supported Services | Service | Status | Notes | | --------------------- | ------ | ----------------------------- | | 🍿 **Netflix** | ✅ | Requires production build | | 🏰 **Disney+** | ✅ | Requires production build | | 📦 **Prime Video** | ✅ | Requires production build | | 🎵 **Spotify** | ✅ | Works in dev mode | | 🎬 **Other Widevine** | ✅ | Most require production build | ## 🎯 Who Is This For? Perfect for **anyone** who: - ✅ Wants to **watch Netflix with subtitles** while working (PiP doesn't show them!) - ✅ Needs a **second screen** but only has one monitor - ✅ Likes to **keep Twitter/social media visible** without tab-switching - ✅ Follows **live streams or tutorials** while multitasking - ✅ Values a **clean, elegant interface** over browser clutter - ✅ Wants **always-on-top** functionality with a beautiful design **Bonus for developers:** - 🛠️ Built-in **Chrome DevTools** for testing mobile sites - 📱 **Lightweight alternative** to heavy iOS simulators - 🎨 Perfect for **responsive design** previews ## 🛠️ Design Philosophy This project prioritizes **simplicity and elegance**: - 🎯 **Companion, not replacement** → Works alongside your main browser - ⚡ **Lightweight & fast** → Instant startup, minimal resource usage - 🎨 **Beautiful by default** → iPhone 15 Pro frame with attention to detail - 🪟 **Always accessible** → Menu bar integration, always-on-top support - 🧩 **Just enough features** → What you need, nothing you don't ## 📄 License MIT License - feel free to use, modify, and distribute. ## 👨‍💻 Author **hmmhmmhm** ---
**⭐ Star this repo if you find it useful!** Made with ❤️ for everyone who needs a better way to multitask