webize

Move away from proprietary apps to focus on a browser-first workflow.

webize aims to provide the most basic tools to move to a browser-first workflow. For a start, webize can generate a local image gallery that may be previewed in the browser at file:///path/to/index.htm so that local filesystem images may be consumed in the local browser.

Philosophy

There are many OSes (platforms) with their own apps for previewing and consuming files. Among all of these interfaces, the most consistent interface is the web browser. We consume websites using the web browser, all apps are powered by the web, and almost every proprietary app out there can be replaced with a web app. So, since we are already familiar with the web browser, why aren't we using it more?

The goal of webize is to help the user move another step away from proprietary, platform-specific apps. Any workflow change that reduce reliance on non-browser apps is progress toward this goal.

webize is primarily for the use on client side for consuming local content (especially thin clients without or with limited virtualization capability). One may use webize on the server, but there should be better static site generators out there.

Install

sudo wget -q https://raw.githubusercontent.com/theohbrothers/webize/master/webize -O /usr/local/bin/webize && sudo chmod +x /usr/local/bin/webize

Usage

Gallery

At present, gallery is kept as minimalistic as possible. But it might already be better than many [bloated] previewing apps out there.

# Linux: Generate index.htm in /path/to for all descendent image files, and opens it in firefox
webize gallery /path/to | xargs firefox

# Cleanup index.htm
webize clean /path/to

# Linux: Generate a scoped index.htm in each descendent folder of /path/to, and opens it in firefox
webize gallery -s /path/to | xargs firefox

# Cleanup index.htm
webize clean -s /path/to

# Mac: Generate index.htm in /path/to for all descendent image files, and opens it in firefox
webize gallery /path/to | xargs open
webize clean /path/to

Keyboard shortcuts:

Key	Behavior
LEFT	Previous image
RIGHT	Next image
UP	Previous image, or previous row in tile mode
DOWN	Next image, or next row in tile mode
PAGEUP	Previous page, or previous page row in tile mode
PAGEDOWN	Next page, or next page row in tile mode
HOME	First image
END	Last image
ENTER	Expand image
BACKSPACE	Back to tile mode
SPACE	Next image
ESC	Escape from full screen, or back to tile mode
F	Full screen
X	Stretch horizontal
Y	Stretch vertical
-	Tile smaller
=	Tile larger
L	Show / Hide label
S	Toggle sort mode
P	Pin / Unpin menu
C	Copy File Path
K	Toggle whether keyboard shortcuts are enabled or disabled

Development

Available as vscode tasks.

# Test script
./test.sh

# To test the gallery, make some pictures available
cp -rf /path/to .pictures

# Debug (Local browser)
./webize gallery . | xargs firefox

# Debug (Remote browser)
./webize gallery .
docker-compose up
curl --head http://yourserver:8080/.pictures/index.htm

Known issues

• High memory usage on loading index.htm, because the actual images are used in <img src>.