/ 
App-BrowserUtils-0.019
River stage one • 6 direct dependents • 7 total dependents
/ App::BrowserUtils

NAME

App::BrowserUtils - Utilities related to browsers, particularly modern GUI ones

VERSION

This document describes version 0.019 of App::BrowserUtils (from Perl distribution App-BrowserUtils), released on 2023-10-28.

SYNOPSIS

DESCRIPTION

This distribution includes several utilities related to browsers:

1. browsers-are-paused
2. kill-browsers
3. pause-and-unpause-browsers
4. pause-browsers
5. ps-browsers
6. restart-browsers
7. start-browsers
8. terminate-browsers
9. unpause-browsers

Supported browsers: Firefox on Linux, Opera on Linux, Chrome on Linux, and Vivaldi on Linux.

FUNCTIONS

browsers_are_paused

Usage:

browsers_are_paused(%args) -> [$status_code, $reason, $payload, \%result_meta]

Check whether browsers are paused.

Browser is defined as paused if all of its processes are in 'stop' state.

This function is not exported.

Arguments ('*' denotes required arguments):

  • cmndline_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their cmndline.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • exec_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their exec.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • fname_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their fname.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • pid_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their pid.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • quiet => true

    (No description)

  • users => array[unix::uid::exists]

    Kill browser processes that belong to certain user(s) only.

Returns an enveloped result (an array).

First element ($status_code) is an integer containing HTTP-like status code (200 means OK, 4xx caller error, 5xx function error). Second element ($reason) is a string containing error message, or something like "OK" if status is 200. Third element ($payload) is the actual result, but usually not present when enveloped result is an error response ($status_code is not 2xx). Fourth element (%result_meta) is called result metadata and is optional, a hash that contains extra information, much like how HTTP response headers provide additional metadata.

Return value: (any)

pause_and_unpause_browsers

Usage:

pause_and_unpause_browsers(%args) -> [$status_code, $reason, $payload, \%result_meta]

Pause and unpause browsers alternately.

A modern browser now runs complex web pages and applications. Despite browser's power management feature, these pages/tabs on the browser often still eat considerable CPU cycles even though they only run in the background. Pausing (kill -STOP) the browser processes is a simple and effective way to stop CPU eating on Unix and prolong your laptop battery life. It can be performed whenever you are not using your browser for a little while, e.g. when you are typing on an editor or watching a movie. When you want to use your browser again, simply unpause (kill -CONT) it.

The pause-and-unpause action pause and unpause browser in an alternate fashion, by default every 5 minutes and 30 seconds. This is a compromise to save CPU time most of the time but then give time for web applications in the browser to catch up during the unpause window (e.g. for WhatsApp Web to display new messages and sound notification.) It can be used when you are not browsing but still want to be notified by web applications from time to time.

If you run this routine, it will start pausing and unpausing browser. When you want to use the browser, press Ctrl-C to interrupt the routine. Then after you are done with the browser and want to pause-and-unpause again, you can re-run this routine.

You can customize the periods via the periods option.

See also the separate pause_browsers and the unpause_browsers routines.

This function is not exported.

Arguments ('*' denotes required arguments):

  • cmndline_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their cmndline.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • exec_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their exec.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • fname_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their fname.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • periods => array[duration]

    Pause and unpause times, in seconds.

    For example, to pause for 5 minutes, then unpause 10 seconds, then pause for 2 minutes, then unpause for 30 seconds (then repeat the pattern), you can use:

    300,10,120,30

  • pid_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their pid.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • users => array[unix::uid::exists]

    Kill browser processes that belong to certain user(s) only.

Returns an enveloped result (an array).

First element ($status_code) is an integer containing HTTP-like status code (200 means OK, 4xx caller error, 5xx function error). Second element ($reason) is a string containing error message, or something like "OK" if status is 200. Third element ($payload) is the actual result, but usually not present when enveloped result is an error response ($status_code is not 2xx). Fourth element (%result_meta) is called result metadata and is optional, a hash that contains extra information, much like how HTTP response headers provide additional metadata.

Return value: (any)

pause_browsers

Usage:

pause_browsers(%args) -> [$status_code, $reason, $payload, \%result_meta]

Pause (kill -STOP) browsers.

A modern browser now runs complex web pages and applications. Despite browser's power management feature, these pages/tabs on the browser often still eat considerable CPU cycles even though they only run in the background. Pausing (kill -STOP) the browser processes is a simple and effective way to stop CPU eating on Unix and prolong your laptop battery life. It can be performed whenever you are not using your browser for a little while, e.g. when you are typing on an editor or watching a movie. When you want to use your browser again, simply unpause (kill -CONT) it.

See also the unpause_browsers and the pause_and_unpause_browsers routines.

This function is not exported.

Arguments ('*' denotes required arguments):

  • cmndline_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their cmndline.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • exec_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their exec.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • fname_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their fname.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • pid_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their pid.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • users => array[unix::uid::exists]

    Kill browser processes that belong to certain user(s) only.

Returns an enveloped result (an array).

First element ($status_code) is an integer containing HTTP-like status code (200 means OK, 4xx caller error, 5xx function error). Second element ($reason) is a string containing error message, or something like "OK" if status is 200. Third element ($payload) is the actual result, but usually not present when enveloped result is an error response ($status_code is not 2xx). Fourth element (%result_meta) is called result metadata and is optional, a hash that contains extra information, much like how HTTP response headers provide additional metadata.

Return value: (any)

ps_browsers

Usage:

ps_browsers(%args) -> [$status_code, $reason, $payload, \%result_meta]

List browser processes.

This function is not exported.

Arguments ('*' denotes required arguments):

  • cmndline_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their cmndline.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • exec_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their exec.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • fname_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their fname.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • pid_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their pid.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • users => array[unix::uid::exists]

    Kill browser processes that belong to certain user(s) only.

Returns an enveloped result (an array).

First element ($status_code) is an integer containing HTTP-like status code (200 means OK, 4xx caller error, 5xx function error). Second element ($reason) is a string containing error message, or something like "OK" if status is 200. Third element ($payload) is the actual result, but usually not present when enveloped result is an error response ($status_code is not 2xx). Fourth element (%result_meta) is called result metadata and is optional, a hash that contains extra information, much like how HTTP response headers provide additional metadata.

Return value: (any)

restart_browsers

Usage:

restart_browsers(%args) -> [$status_code, $reason, $payload, \%result_meta]

Restart browsers.

For each of the requested browser, first check whether browser processes (that run the current user) exist. If they do then terminate the browser first. After that, start the browser again.

Example on the CLI:

% restart-browsers --restart-firefox

To customize command:

% restart-browsers --start-firefox --firefox-cmd 'firefox -P myprofile'

when starting each browser, console output will be captured and returned in function metadata. Will wait for 2/5/10 seconds and check if the browsers have been started. If all browsers can't be started, will return 500; otherwise will return 200 but report the browsers that failed to start to the STDERR.

This function is not exported.

This function supports dry-run operation.

Arguments ('*' denotes required arguments):

  • chrome_cmd => array[str]|str (default: "google-chrome")

    (No description)

  • firefox_cmd => array[str]|str (default: "firefox")

    (No description)

  • opera_cmd => array[str]|str (default: "opera")

    (No description)

  • quiet => true

    (No description)

  • restart_brave => bool

    (No description)

  • restart_chrome => bool

    (No description)

  • restart_firefox => bool

    (No description)

  • restart_opera => bool

    (No description)

  • restart_vivaldi => bool

    (No description)

  • vivaldi_cmd => array[str]|str (default: "vivaldi")

    (No description)

Special arguments:

  • -dry_run => bool

    Pass -dry_run=>1 to enable simulation mode.

Returns an enveloped result (an array).

First element ($status_code) is an integer containing HTTP-like status code (200 means OK, 4xx caller error, 5xx function error). Second element ($reason) is a string containing error message, or something like "OK" if status is 200. Third element ($payload) is the actual result, but usually not present when enveloped result is an error response ($status_code is not 2xx). Fourth element (%result_meta) is called result metadata and is optional, a hash that contains extra information, much like how HTTP response headers provide additional metadata.

Return value: (any)

start_browsers

Usage:

start_browsers(%args) -> [$status_code, $reason, $payload, \%result_meta]

Start browsers.

For each of the requested browser, check whether browser processes (that run as the current user) exist and if not then start the browser. If browser processes exist, even if all are paused, then no new instance of the browser will be started.

when starting each browser, console output will be captured and returned in function metadata. Will wait for 2/5/10 seconds and check if the browsers have been started. If all browsers can't be started, will return 500; otherwise will return 200 but report the browsers that failed to start to the STDERR.

Example on the CLI:

% start-browsers --start-firefox

To customize command to use to start:

% start-browsers --start-firefox --firefox-cmd 'firefox -P myprofile'

This function is not exported.

This function supports dry-run operation.

Arguments ('*' denotes required arguments):

  • chrome_cmd => array[str]|str (default: "google-chrome")

    (No description)

  • firefox_cmd => array[str]|str (default: "firefox")

    (No description)

  • opera_cmd => array[str]|str (default: "opera")

    (No description)

  • quiet => true

    (No description)

  • start_brave => bool

    (No description)

  • start_chrome => bool

    (No description)

  • start_firefox => bool

    (No description)

  • start_opera => bool

    (No description)

  • start_vivaldi => bool

    (No description)

  • vivaldi_cmd => array[str]|str (default: "vivaldi")

    (No description)

Special arguments:

  • -dry_run => bool

    Pass -dry_run=>1 to enable simulation mode.

Returns an enveloped result (an array).

First element ($status_code) is an integer containing HTTP-like status code (200 means OK, 4xx caller error, 5xx function error). Second element ($reason) is a string containing error message, or something like "OK" if status is 200. Third element ($payload) is the actual result, but usually not present when enveloped result is an error response ($status_code is not 2xx). Fourth element (%result_meta) is called result metadata and is optional, a hash that contains extra information, much like how HTTP response headers provide additional metadata.

Return value: (any)

terminate_browsers

Usage:

terminate_browsers(%args) -> [$status_code, $reason, $payload, \%result_meta]

Terminate browsers (by default with -KILL).

This function is not exported.

Arguments ('*' denotes required arguments):

  • cmndline_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their cmndline.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • exec_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their exec.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • fname_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their fname.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • pid_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their pid.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • signal => unix::signal

    (No description)

  • users => array[unix::uid::exists]

    Kill browser processes that belong to certain user(s) only.

Returns an enveloped result (an array).

First element ($status_code) is an integer containing HTTP-like status code (200 means OK, 4xx caller error, 5xx function error). Second element ($reason) is a string containing error message, or something like "OK" if status is 200. Third element ($payload) is the actual result, but usually not present when enveloped result is an error response ($status_code is not 2xx). Fourth element (%result_meta) is called result metadata and is optional, a hash that contains extra information, much like how HTTP response headers provide additional metadata.

Return value: (any)

unpause_browsers

Usage:

unpause_browsers(%args) -> [$status_code, $reason, $payload, \%result_meta]

Unpause (resume, continue, kill -CONT) browsers.

See also the pause_browsers and the pause_and_unpause_browsers routines.

This function is not exported.

Arguments ('*' denotes required arguments):

  • cmndline_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their cmndline.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • exec_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their exec.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • fname_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their fname.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • pid_pat => re_from_str

    Filter processes using regex against their pid.

    If one of the *-pat options are specified, then instead of the default heuristic rules to find the browser processes, these *-pat options are solely used to determine which processes are the browser processes.

  • users => array[unix::uid::exists]

    Kill browser processes that belong to certain user(s) only.

Returns an enveloped result (an array).

First element ($status_code) is an integer containing HTTP-like status code (200 means OK, 4xx caller error, 5xx function error). Second element ($reason) is a string containing error message, or something like "OK" if status is 200. Third element ($payload) is the actual result, but usually not present when enveloped result is an error response ($status_code is not 2xx). Fourth element (%result_meta) is called result metadata and is optional, a hash that contains extra information, much like how HTTP response headers provide additional metadata.

Return value: (any)

HOMEPAGE

Please visit the project's homepage at https://metacpan.org/release/App-BrowserUtils.

SOURCE

Source repository is at https://github.com/perlancar/perl-App-BrowserUtils.

SEE ALSO

Utilities using this distribution: App::FirefoxUtils, App::ChromeUtils, App::OperaUtils, App::VivaldiUtils

App::BrowserOpenUtils

AUTHOR

perlancar <perlancar@cpan.org>

CONTRIBUTOR

Steven Haryanto <stevenharyanto@gmail.com>

CONTRIBUTING

To contribute, you can send patches by email/via RT, or send pull requests on GitHub.

Most of the time, you don't need to build the distribution yourself. You can simply modify the code, then test via:

% prove -l

If you want to build the distribution (e.g. to try to install it locally on your system), you can install Dist::Zilla, Dist::Zilla::PluginBundle::Author::PERLANCAR, Pod::Weaver::PluginBundle::Author::PERLANCAR, and sometimes one or two other Dist::Zilla- and/or Pod::Weaver plugins. Any additional steps required beyond that are considered a bug and can be reported to me.

COPYRIGHT AND LICENSE

This software is copyright (c) 2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 by perlancar <perlancar@cpan.org>.

This is free software; you can redistribute it and/or modify it under the same terms as the Perl 5 programming language system itself.

BUGS

Please report any bugs or feature requests on the bugtracker website https://rt.cpan.org/Public/Dist/Display.html?Name=App-BrowserUtils

When submitting a bug or request, please include a test-file or a patch to an existing test-file that illustrates the bug or desired feature.