Download Vivaldi 6.2

Version 6.2 of the Vivaldi web browser has been released. Vivaldi is a web browser developed by former employees of Opera. It mainly targets power users and Opera users before switching to Chromium, although this browser is also based on it. Vivaldi has extensive capabilities, such as mouse gestures, tab stacking, extensive keyboard shortcuts and taking notes on web pages. The browser is free and is being developed for Windows, Linux, macOS and Android. The release notes for this release can be found below.

Massive code refactoring brings speed to Vivaldi

Vivaldi on desktop enables the “Browser windows in Portal”: an underlying change to how Vivaldi handles multiple windows that results in faster opening of windows and reduces memory usage. Over the years, some of you have reported that the opening of new windows was not fast enough. But not anymore!

Our new version on desktop – Vivaldi 6.2 – is now faster, especially when you open a new window. By rendering browser windows through React portals, we’ve unlocked new possibilities, reduced memory usage, and significantly improved overall performance. We’ve also rolled out a new one version on Android phones, tablets, and Chromebooks, today.

What is Portal Windows and its effects?

Portal Windows derived from React, a Javascript Framework, allows for a more efficient sharing of running code between windows. Vivaldi’s codebase, which dates back to 2013, uses React to develop its desktop User Interface. To implement Portal Windows, we took on a daunting multi-layered project that has been in development for several years now.

The implementation of Portal Windows in the browser represents a fundamental shift in how Vivaldi handles multiple windows. The aim was to reduce memory and CPU usage so that we could address bugs and implement improvements that were previously challenging or impossible.

Vivaldi developer, André Schultz who has worked extensively on this project says, “Windows has a new architecture with one UI document as compared to the old way where each window had a separate document. All actions needed a target window so this had to be added as the old way was done in the documents window. This called for a huge refactoring of code. As a result, we now just run one script context for all windows, of the same profile. Private Windows run in a separate context.”

In order to get a deep technical understanding of the React Portal, here is a recommended read. The effects of Portal Windows are noteworthy. The introduction of the Window Panel, which initially displayed only the state of tabs in the current window, has now evolved into a multi-window panel, Windows Panel that was recently introduced. Now you can effortlessly navigate tabs across different windows, thanks to the code refactoring achieved through Portal.

Additionally, not long ago, we made our Pop-up Windows (you know those small, not irritating at all, windows that are created/initiated by websites) portal-based, resulting in them appearing and being faster.

Experience a new window open much faster.

You can now pray farewell to the slow process of opening new windows. Whether you use Shortcuts, Menus, or Quick Commands, the portal-aware functionality ensures a noticeable increase in speed when opening a new window.

During internal tests, we observed a 37% improvement in the opening of new windows compared to the previous version. Even when compared to an older 2018 version of the browser, windows now open a remarkable 64% faster. These results were achieved with a new profile on a machine equipped with a 2GHz Intel Core i3 processor. The exact speed increase will depend on your setup but it should be noticeable for most people.

Looking ahead, the Portal work opens up many possibilities and flexibility for us, and for you. We have exciting plans in the pipeline, including the ability to move Mail tabs between windows, a feature that was previously not possible.

There’s more in Vivaldi 6.2

In this update, we’ve also got some more interesting additions to the browser for a more powerful and personal experience:

• Address Field suggestions: You now have the freedom to prioritize the order from the drop-down menu, tailoring it to your specific needs. By heading to the Address Bar Settings, you can choose to hide categories and select their priority. Whether it’s bookmarks, typed history, nicknames, browser history, or search, we’ll always want you to make your browsing experience more personal.
• Geolocation services make a comeback on MacOS: By utilizing MacOS’ built-in CoreLocation system, powered by Apple Location Services, Vivaldi for MacOS now matches the functionality of its Windows counterpart, which uses the built-in Microsoft Location Service. This is useful when you want a website to provide you with a local map, route, or suggest a nearby restaurant or hotel.
• Clear browsing data button: This handy button in the History panel allows you to quickly purge your recent or entire browsing history and data. With just a click, you can maintain your privacy and keep your browsing experience clutter-free.
• The Feed Reader is now more discoverable: As we believe in the open web and open standards, we’ve made the news feeds more discoverable now, with feeds being detected on more websites. Click the Feed Reader icon in the Address Field to follow updates from most of your favorite news publishers and blogs right in Vivaldi. More here.

Additions to Vivaldi Mail 1.7

• New Mail filters: These filters aim for a better user experience. By default, the “Vertical Layout” now features a drop-down menu with textual descriptions, ensuring you can easily differentiate between similar-looking icons with different functionalities.
  However, if you prefer individual icons, you still have the option to display them. By navigating to “Settings → Mail Settings → Filter View Buttons,” you can customize your Mail filters to suit your preferences.
  For the Horizontal and Vertical Wide Layouts, we have more space and can therefore use text labels to describe each view filter without the need for a drop-down, but again you can just set it to “icons only” if you find that neater.
• Support FastMail OAuth login method: You can seamlessly log in to their Fastmail accounts using the OAuth login method, eliminating the need for app-specific passwords. This integration streamlines the login process and ensures a secure and convenient experience for FastMail users.