How to use the command 'chromium' (with examples)

Chromium is an open-source web browser principally developed and maintained by Google. It serves as the foundation for many popular browsers, including Google Chrome, and offers a robust set of features for web browsing, development, and testing. By utilizing command-line options, users can optimize their browsing experience or tailor the browser’s behavior to suit specific needs, such as privacy, efficiency, or development tasks.

Open a specific URL or file

Code:

chromium https://example.com

Motivation:

Opening a specific URL or file directly from the command line can save time and is useful for testing web pages or accessing information quickly. This is especially advantageous for developers who need to test changes in a web page frequently or for users who want to automate the opening of certain sites or files.

Explanation:

• chromium: This is the command used to launch the Chromium web browser.
• https://example.com: This argument represents the URL of the web page you wish to open. It can also be a path to a local HTML file, allowing direct access to web resources or documents.

Example output:

Upon executing the command, Chromium will launch, and the specified web page (https://example.com ) will be displayed in a new tab.

Open in incognito mode

Code:

chromium --incognito example.com

Motivation:

Incognito mode is a privacy feature that allows you to browse without saving your browsing history, cookies, site data, or information entered in forms. This is beneficial for maintaining privacy on shared devices or for testing websites without any saved session data.

Explanation:

• chromium: The command to start the browser.
• --incognito: This option opens Chromium in incognito mode, ensuring that your browsing activity is not stored.
• example.com: The specific website you want to visit in incognito mode.

Example output:

Chromium will open in incognito mode, with a specific warning icon indicating that incognito browsing is active. The site example.com will be opened in this privacy-focused session.

Open in a new window

Code:

chromium --new-window example.com

Motivation:

Opening a webpage in a new window rather than a new tab is sometimes preferable for organization or multi-tasking. It helps when you need to compare two sites side by side or when you wish to separate your browsing sessions distinctly.

Explanation:

• chromium: The command used to initiate the browser.
• --new-window: This flag commands Chromium to open the URL in a separate window rather than in a tab within an existing window.
• example.com: The selected webpage to open in the new window.

Example output:

Chromium launches a new window displaying the webpage for example.com, providing you separate browser instance for focused work.

Open in application mode

Code:

chromium --app=https://example.com

Motivation:

Application mode is tailored for users who need to open a web application that mimics the behavior of a desktop application. This view excludes toolbars, the URL bar, and buttons, presenting a cleaner interface conducive to distraction-free application usage.

Explanation:

• chromium: The command initiating the browser.
• --app=https://example.com: This option opens the webpage as if it were a standalone application, removing standard browser elements for a more immersive experience.

Example output:

Chromium will display the page in a sleek window with interface elements stripped away, simulating a desktop application environment for the specified URL.

Use a proxy server

Code:

chromium --proxy-server="socks5://hostname:66" example.com

Motivation:

Using a proxy server is essential for protecting privacy, accessing blocked content, or testing how websites render from different geographical locations. It’s an invaluable tool for web developers and users needing an additional layer of anonymity.

Explanation:

• chromium: The command to execute the browser.
• --proxy-server="socks5://hostname:66": Specifies that Chromium should route its internet traffic through the given SOCKS5 proxy at hostname and port 66.
• example.com: The target URL to be accessed via the proxy server.

Example output:

Chromium will connect to example.com using the specified proxy server, allowing the user to browse with the proxy settings applied.

Open with a custom profile directory

Code:

chromium --user-data-dir=path/to/directory

Motivation:

This is ideal for users who require multiple browsing environments or need to test how websites behave with different settings, extensions, or without any saved data. By using separate data directories, different browser profiles can be maintained independently.

Explanation:

• chromium: Launches the browser.
• --user-data-dir=path/to/directory: This specifies a custom directory for user data storage, facilitating isolated browsing sessions or testing environments.

Example output:

Chromium will initiate with a fresh profile using settings, extensions, and data from the provided directory path.

Open without CORS validation

Code:

chromium --user-data-dir=path/to/directory --disable-web-security

Motivation:

Web developers often use this when testing APIs or web applications across different origins to bypass CORS (Cross-Origin Resource Sharing) restrictions temporarily. It’s critical for local testing phases without altering server configurations.

Explanation:

• chromium: Command to start the browser.
• --user-data-dir=path/to/directory: A directory for the browser’s temporary profile.
• --disable-web-security: Disables web security features, allowing cross-origin requests which are usually blocked by browsers.

Example output:

A Chromium instance opens, allowing inspection of cross-origin resources without the usual security blocks, ideal for local testing.

Open with a DevTools window for each tab opened

Code:

chromium --auto-open-devtools-for-tabs

Motivation:

Developers heavily rely on Developer Tools to debug JavaScript, inspect HTML/CSS, and analyze performance. Automatically opening DevTools alongside each tab streamlines the development and debugging process without extra manual steps.

Explanation:

• chromium: Initiates the browser.
• --auto-open-devtools-for-tabs: Automatically opens the DevTools pane connected to each newly opened tab, facilitating easier debugging and development workflows.

Example output:

Chromium opens with the DevTools interface immediately loaded alongside your webpages, enhancing accessibility to debugging tools from the get-go.

Conclusion:

By leveraging various command-line options, users can tailor Chromium’s functionality to address particular tasks, optimize privacy and efficiency, or enable enriched development environments. Each use case highlights a specific benefit, enhancing user experience according to tailored needs.