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Browservice (Retro Browser Proxy)

Browservice — Modern Web for Retro Machines

Browservice is a web proxy that renders modern websites and serves them as simple HTML with images, allowing vintage browsers to display pages they could never handle natively.

Access

Browservice is permitted through the Torus firewall on all hubs. ADNS dedicatedresolves firewallautomatically rulewhen allowsconnected Torus— usersno toextra reachsetup port 8088 on the Docker host.needed.

How It Works

  1. Open http://10.255.9.241:browse.ring.nekotopia.io:8088/ in your retro browser
  2. You'll see a simple address bar
  3. Type any URL and Browservice renders it server-side using a modern Chromium engine
  4. The result is sent back as basic HTML with inline images that any browser can display

This means your IRIX Netscape Navigator, Windows 3.1 Internet Explorer, or OS/2 WebExplorer can browse modern HTTPS websites including those with JavaScript-heavy frameworks.

Supported Retro Browsers

BrowserPlatformStatus
Netscape Navigator 4.xIRIX 6.5Works well
Internet Explorer 3-5Windows 95/98/NTWorks
MosaicVariousWorks (basic)
Lynx / LinksTerminalWorks
WebExplorerOS/2Works
DilloLinuxWorks well

Limitations

  • No JavaScript interactivity — Forms and links work, but dynamic page updates don't
  • Rendering lag — Each page load requires server-side rendering, so there's a delay
  • No streaming media — Video/audio content won't play
  • Session cookies — Login sessions may not persist between page loads

Use Cases

  • Browse documentation sites from vintage workstations
  • Check modern web services from retro machines
  • Access GitHub, Stack Overflow, or other reference sites
  • Show off your SGI or vintage PC at retro computing meetups

Technical Details

  • Engine: Headless Chromium via CEF
  • Runtime: NativeDocker AppImage processcontainer on Dockerthe platform infrastructure host
  • DNS: browse.ring.nekotopia.io (10.255.9.241)resolves automatically on the Torus)
  • Port: 8088,8088
    • accessible via Torus mesh (firewall rule on all production hubs)
  • MemoryResource note: 2GBBrowservice shareduses significant memory allocation forwhen rendering complex pages. Avoid leaving many tabs open simultaneously.

Troubleshooting

Can't reach browservice

First verify your VPN is working by visiting http://echo.ring.nekotopia.io. If the echo service works but browservice doesn't, try the IP directly: http://10.255.9.241:8088/. If neither works, see Connection Issues.

Page loads slowly or times out

Browservice renders pages server-side using a full Chromium engine. Complex pages (JavaScript-heavy SPAs, large image galleries) take longer. Try simpler URLs first.

Browser shows garbled output

Some very old browsers struggle with the HTML Browservice generates. Try adjusting the quality settings in the Browservice address bar (lower quality = simpler HTML).

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