Gazelle (web browser)

{{Short description|Web browser research project}}

Gazelle was a research web browser project by Microsoft Research, first announced in early 2009.[http://research.microsoft.com/apps/pubs/default.aspx?id=79655 "The Multi-Principal OS Construction of the Gazelle Web Browser"] (Microsoft Research whitepaper, PDF) The central notion of the project was to apply operating system (OS) principles to browser construction.[http://www.osnews.com/story/21793/Gazelle_Applying_Operating_System_Concepts_to_the_Browser "Gazelle: Applying Operating System Concepts to the Browser"] OSNews July 7, 2009 In particular, the browser had a secure kernel, modeled after an OS kernel, and various web sources run as separate "principals" above that, similar to user space processes in an OS. The goal of doing this was to prevent bad code from one web source to affect the rendering or processing of code from other web sources. Browser plugins are also managed as principals.

Gazelle had a predecessor project, MashupOS, but with Gazelle the emphasis was on a more secure browser.{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-serviceos-a-potential-piece-of-microsofts-cloud-play-post-windows-8/|title=Microsoft's ServiceOS: A potential piece of Microsoft's cloud play, post-Windows 8|date=11 March 2011|website=ZDnet|first=Mary Jo|last=Foley|access-date=22 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsofts-mashupos-leaps-like-a-Gazelle/|title=Microsoft's MashupOS leaps like a Gazelle|date=23 February 2009|website=ZDnet|first=Mary Jo|last=Foley|access-date=22 April 2018}}

By the July 2009 announcement of ChromeOS, Gazelle was seen as a possible alternative Microsoft architectural approach compared to Google's direction.[http://news.cnet.com/8301-13860_3-10280270-56.html "Microsoft's Gazelle browser takes a radical path"] CNet July 7, 2009[http://www.theweek.com/article/index/98332/Googles_Chrome_OS_vs_Windows "Google’s Chrome OS vs. Windows"] The Week July 8, 2009[https://www.theguardian.com/technology/blog/2009/jul/08/google-chrome-splashop "Google Chrome OS: is it copying Microsoft's Gazelle or is it more like Splashtop?"] The Guardian July 8, 2009 That is, rather than the OS being reduced in role to that of a browser, the browser would be strengthened using OS principles.

The Gazelle project became dormant, and ServiceOS arose as a replacement project also related to browser architectures.[http://research.microsoft.com/apps/pubs/default.aspx?id=131540 Resource Management for Web Applications in ServiceOS]{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/serviceos-microsofts-morphing-browser-operating-system-project/|title=ServiceOS: Microsoft's morphing browser-operating system project|date=26 May 2010|website=ZDnet|first=Mary Jo|last=Foley|access-date=21 April 2018}} But by 2015, the SecureOS project was also dormant, after Microsoft decided that its new flagship browser would be Edge.{{cite web|url=https://www.zdnet.com/article/microsoft-plans-to-add-containers-to-windows-client-too/|title=Microsoft plans to add containers to Windows client, too|date=2 December 2015|website=ZDnet|first=Mary Jo|last=Foley|access-date=21 April 2018}}{{cite web|url=https://www.pcworld.com/article/2916480/project-spartan-no-more-microsofts-new-browser-is-called-edge.html|title='Project Spartan' no more: Microsoft's new browser is called Edge|website=PCWorld|publisher=IDG|first=Jared|last=Newman|date=29 April 2015|access-date=22 April 2018}}