Google left a lot of ticked off Linux programmers when it changed its API rules for Chromium. But maybe it’s time Chromium stopped being a Google-only open-source project and became a true community open-source program.
On March 15, 2021, Google will limit access to many Chrome application programming interfaces (API) inside the open-source Chromium web browser. Google’s doing this because, «third-party Chromium-based browsers integrating Google cloud-based features, such as Chrome sync and Click to Call, that were intended only for Google Chrome users». In other words, «this meant that a small fraction of users could sign into their Google Account and store their personal Chrome sync data, such as bookmarks, not just with Google Chrome, but also with some third-party Chromium-based browsers». Google has a perfect right to do this. It’s their web browser. Yes, Chromium is open source, but if you’re using their APIs to access their services, Google gets to call the shots. But, should Google alone be the one to decide? Google’s move made many Linux distribution Chromium developers and maintainers miserable. As Red Hat’s community Linux distro Fedora, Chromium’s maintainer, Tom Callaway tweeted, with Google «cutting off access to the Sync and ‘other Google Exclusive’ APIs from all builds except Google Chrome. This will make the Fedora Chromium build significantly less functional (along with every other distro packaged Chromium)». Fedora will, however, keep shipping Chromium. Other Linux distributors have had enough, however. Eric Hameleers, who maintains Chromium for Slackware Linux, is dumping Chromium. «I will not package and distribute a Chromium for Slackware if that package is crippled by the absence of login to Chrome Sync,» he said.
