BrowserPort
Desktop Utility
About
BrowserPort is a modern, privacy-first browser picker for macOS, Windows, and Linux. Tired of every link opening in the same default browser? BrowserPort solves this by acting as your system's default browser, presenting a beautiful floating widget whenever you click a link. Choose Chrome for development, Firefox for privacy, Safari for personal browsing, or any other installed browser—all with a single keystroke. Built with Electron and React, the app features a Spotlight-inspired interface with full keyboard navigation, making it lightning-fast to route links to the right browser. The app follows strict Electron security best practices with context isolation, sandboxing, and no node integration in the renderer. All browser detection happens locally on your device—no analytics, no tracking, no data collection. Available as a direct download from GitHub with auto-updates, or from the Mac App Store with sandboxed security. Open source under BSD-3-Clause license, inviting community contributions and security audits.
Technologies Used
Key Features
- Cross-platform support (macOS, Windows, Linux)
- Protocol handler for http:// and https:// URLs
- Automatic browser detection on system startup
- Spotlight-style floating widget UI with glassmorphism
- Full keyboard navigation (arrows, numbers, Enter, Escape)
- Custom SVG icons for major browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, Brave)
- Auto-update system for direct downloads (not Mac App Store)
- Single instance architecture to prevent multiple windows
- System tray integration with About dialog
- Zero data collection - fully local operation
- Sandboxed renderer process with context isolation
- BSD-3-Clause open source license
Challenges & Solutions
Building a cross-platform protocol handler required deep understanding of each operating system's URL scheme registration mechanisms. On macOS, the app needed to work both as a standard build and a sandboxed Mac App Store build, which prohibited protocol handler registration and required different entitlements. Windows and Linux each had their own registration quirks that needed custom handling. Implementing a single-instance architecture across platforms was critical to prevent multiple picker windows when users clicked links rapidly. The UI needed to be fast and responsive, appearing instantly when links were clicked, which required careful optimization of the browser detection and window creation logic. Auto-updates presented another challenge—electron-updater worked well for direct downloads, but the Mac App Store version needed update checks completely disabled and different code paths. Ensuring Electron security best practices meant implementing proper sandboxing, context isolation, and secure IPC communication via contextBridge. Browser detection needed to be both comprehensive and performant, scanning standard installation directories without blocking the main process.
Outcomes & Impact
Successfully launched on GitHub with automated CI/CD builds for macOS, Windows, and Linux. The app has received positive feedback for its clean UI and instant responsiveness. The Spotlight-style interface makes browser selection feel natural and fast, with users reporting they can route links in under a second. The single-instance architecture works flawlessly, preventing window clutter during rapid link clicking. Auto-updates via electron-updater ensure users stay current with the latest features and security fixes. The Mac App Store version passed Apple's strict sandboxing and privacy requirements, demonstrating compliance with App Store guidelines. The open-source nature has enabled community contributions, with users submitting bug reports and feature requests. The zero-data-collection privacy policy aligns with modern privacy expectations, with full transparency via the public GitHub repository. The app has proven particularly popular among developers and power users who juggle multiple browsers for different contexts (work, personal, testing, privacy). Currently preparing for wider distribution with improved documentation and marketing materials.
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