Apple is launching a new version of its Safari web browser aimed squarely at developers. The Safari Technology Preview will allow developers to take a look at web technologies that will be making their way to Safari on OS X and iOS. Apple hopes that developers will use the Safari Technology Preview to experiment and offer feedback to Apple at a faster pace.
Unlike nightly WebKit builds, the Safari Technology Preview is signed and validated by Apple, and works with iCloud. Apple says that the initial version of Safari Technology Preview contains the following features:
- ECMAScript 6: Apple says this is one of the most complete implementations of ECMAScript 6 (ES6), the latest version of JavaScript. ES6 offers support for classes that allow developers to use the object-oriented principals in their JavaScript code, iterators, and new APIs.
- B3 JIT JavaScript Compiler: B3 is a new low-latency, compiler designed from the ground up for JavaScript. B3 optimizes for speedy initial compile times while optimizing the compiled JavaScript for sustained performance.
- Updated IndexedDB Implementation: IndexedDB lets developers store lots of structured data on the client and access that data quickly. Developers have asked for an improved implementation, so Apple released this revamped IndexedDB implementation that is more stable and more standards compliant.
- Shadow DOM: Shadow DOM makes it easier to build large-scale web applications by allowing developers to expose elements on a webpage and defining how they interact with their application. WebKit is the first browser engine to implement this latest version.
- Support for programmatic cut and copy to the clipboard and Content Security Policy Level 2.
The Safari Technology Preview is free to download for everyone, though it's aimed at developers. It requires the latest version of OS X El Capitan, 10.11.4, in order to run.
Reader comments
Apple launches the Safari Technology Preview to test new web technologies
Oh please oh please make a plugin for safari that blocks auto playing videos!!! I can't believe it is 2016 and this still doesn't exist on safari! <sigh>
Those plugins already exist. I've been using one for years. The one I use is called "ClickToPlugin" and videos won't play until I click on them. Another one I use is "FlashToHTML5" which forces sites like YouTube to serve me up videos in Safari's native player instead of the YouTube player (which also means no ads or annoying annotations)
thanks - i will check these out. I had only been looking in Apple's Official "Safari Extensions" pages. I might not be able to install them at work but I am installing them on my home machine right now. thanks again!
Now if only this was on iOS.
I'm not much sure how much use it would be on iOS unless iOS had developer tools built in. You can connect your iPhone via USB to your Mac and use the Safari Technology Preview to debug the page on your iPhone
And it should. Imagine if you could pull up debug tools and they take up half of the split screen. You could then see, in real time, the changes that are made.
When I had Flash installed I used FlashToHTML5 and it worked great. Quick question... What are your favorite Extensions?
Sent from the iMore App
How did you got that icloud icon on the Mac??
Sent from the iMore App
The new ECMAscript is cool, but not much new generally on the web technologies front. Still no support for date, time, datetime-local fields, still no "required" attribute support, no battery API. I really hope these are in Safari 10 or Safari is really going to be lacking behind.