ErudaBrowser

ErudaBrowser is a lightweight, 100% Java-free Android WebView browser application. It's designed for developers and users who want a simple browsing experience with access to a JavaScript console for debugging, thanks to the integrated Eruda.js library. The app is built using a Python-centric stack, making it a great choice for Python developers looking to get into mobile app development.

🚀 Quick Start

Option 1: Automated Setup (Recommended)

git clone <repository-url>
cd ErudaBrowser
./setup_dev.sh

Option 2: Manual Setup

git clone <repository-url>
cd ErudaBrowser
python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate
pip install -r requirements.txt

📋 Prerequisites

• Python 3.11+ (recommended for best compatibility)
• Git for version control
• Virtual environment support

Project Details

• Application Name: ErudaBrowser
• Platform: Android (with desktop testing support)
• Programming Languages: Python, JavaScript
• Core Technologies: Kivy, Buildozer, Eruda.js
• Key Features:
  • Dynamic URL loading with intelligent search/URL detection
  • Eruda.js console for JavaScript debugging
  • Offline and online browsing capabilities
  • Light, dark, and system theme support
  • Automated APK builds and releases via GitHub Actions
  • Cross-platform development (Android production, desktop testing)

📁 Project Structure

ErudaBrowser/
├── main.py                          # Main application entry point with improved cross-platform WebView handling
├── assets/
│   ├── index.html                   # HTML frontend with Eruda.js integration and theme support
│   ├── icon.svg                     # Main application icon (SVG format)
│   └── icon_demo.svg                # Demo profile icon
├── requirements.txt                 # Comprehensive Python dependencies for local development
├── kivy-requirements.txt            # Kivy-specific requirements for the build process
├── buildozer-requirements.txt       # Buildozer and build tool dependencies
├── buildozer.spec                   # Optimized Buildozer configuration for Android packaging
├── setup_dev.sh                     # Automated development environment setup script
├── build.sh                         # Build script for local APK generation
├── manifest.json                    # Application metadata and configuration
├── .github/workflows/
│   └── erudabrowser.yml             # Professional CI/CD pipeline for automated builds
└── PROJECT_OVERVIEW.md              # Detailed technical documentation

🏗️ Building the Application

Local Development & Testing

# Set up development environment
./setup_dev.sh

# Activate virtual environment
source venv/bin/activate

# Run for desktop testing (limited functionality)
python3 main.py

# Build APK locally (requires Android SDK setup)
./build.sh

Production Builds via GitHub Actions

The project uses a professional CI/CD pipeline for automated builds:

Automatic Builds

• Push to main: Triggers debug APK build
• Version tags: Creates signed release APK and GitHub release

Manual Builds

1. Go to the "Actions" tab in your GitHub repository
2. Select "Build ErudaBrowser APK" workflow
3. Click "Run workflow"
4. Choose build profile: default or demo

Build Profiles

• Default: Full production build with all features
• Demo: Limited feature set for testing and demonstrations

🔧 Development Features

• Cross-platform compatibility: Develop on desktop, deploy to Android
• Intelligent fallbacks: Graceful handling of missing dependencies
• Professional error handling: Clear error messages and recovery options
• Hot-reloading workflow: Fast iteration during development
• Comprehensive logging: Detailed build logs for troubleshooting

📱 Platform Support

• Primary Target: Android devices (ARM64, ARMv7)
• Development Platform: Linux, macOS, Windows (via WSL)
• Testing: Desktop browsers for rapid prototyping

🔐 Release Management

Configure these GitHub secrets for automated release builds:

• KEYSTORE_BASE64 - Base64 encoded Android keystore
• KEYSTORE_PASSWORD - Keystore password
• KEY_ALIAS - Key alias name
• KEY_PASSWORD - Key password

🎯 Key Improvements

This version includes significant improvements:

• ✅ Python 3.13 compatibility with proper dependency management
• ✅ Enhanced error handling and user feedback
• ✅ Professional build pipeline with comprehensive CI/CD
• ✅ Cross-platform development support
• ✅ Optimized dependencies for faster, more reliable builds
• ✅ Automated setup for quick development environment creation