Linux Foundation Launches Chromium Browsers Initiative

The Linux Foundation today announced the Supporters of Chromium-Based Browser initiative to help fund the open development of projects within the Chromium ecosystem, and Microsoft is on board alongside Google, Meta, and Opera.

“Microsoft is pleased to join this initiative, which will help drive collaboration within the Chromium ecosystem,” Microsoft vice president Meghan Perez says. “This initiative aligns with our commitment to the web platform through meaningful and positive contributions, engagement in collaborative engineering, and partnerships with the community to achieve the best outcome for everyone using the web.”

The Linux Foundation says that the Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers initiative will provide a neutral space for industry leaders, developers, and other interest parties to collaborate on Chromium-based software projects outside the formal Chromium governance structure.

“Our open-source principles remain unchanged and we continue to directly contribute to Chromium, bringing our expertise to the project, on behalf of web developers, to improve Edge and other Chromium-based browsers,” the Microsoft Edge team writes in its own post. “By joining the Supporters of Chromium-Based Browsers, we’re furthering our commitment to the project and to the web platform and believe that this initiative will help to increase the diversity in Chromium contributions and provide clear and open governance that directs funds towards community-driven needs.”

This all feels rather vague.