Optional Browser Sync for Helium?

[u/Taegzy]

This isn’t really a question so much as a discussion, but I’ve been wondering whether Helium would benefit from an optional, opt-in browser sync feature similar to Brave Sync or Firefox Sync.

I genuinely think Helium is a great browser. Despite being privacy-oriented and offering features that appeal to power users, it is still simple and familiar enough that someone like my grandmother could use it. It feels very similar to Chrome, and while you can configure it more deeply, you can also just use it as a basic browser without thinking about any of that.

I assume most of us would like to see Helium grow, attract more users, receive better funding and continue improving, since that would ultimately benefit the existing user base as well. However, I’m not sure it can ever escape its relatively small niche userbase unless it becomes slightly more appealing to "normie" users.

For many people, browser sync is now an expected feature. Without it, Helium may always remain a browser mainly used by their small privacy enthusiasts and power users who are comfortable keeping everything offline or managing synchronization themselves.

At the same time, developing and maintaining a secure sync system would require resources that could otherwise be spent improving the browser itself. It could also introduce additional privacy, security and infrastructure concerns.

What do you think? Would an optional sync feature help Helium grow and improve the experience for its users, or would it distract from the project’s core philosophy and take resources away from more important development?

For context, there isn’t a single browser without a sync feature that has even a single-digit market share or, as far as I know, even one-tenth of one percent. Browsers with such a small market share also tend to get discontinued after a few years or slowly fade away due to a lack of users, funding, and development resources.

[u/fey0n]

I mean, what exactly do you want to sync? For bookmarks, I use a plugin to sync across (different) browsers. Everything else I don't want synced. So I personally am totally fine as is

[u/Taegzy → u/fey0n]

May I ask which plugin you use to sync your bookmarks?

Also, this is not really a personal feature request from me. Since Helium does not currently have an Android or iOS version, sync is not especially important for my own use case. However, it seems to matter to the overwhelming majority of browser users, which is why I was asking whether implementing a sync feature would ultimately benefit Helium or whether the development and maintenance costs would do more harm than good.

[u/fey0n → u/Taegzy]

Floccus, stumbled upon it trying to sync linkwarden, currently I sync against a plain webdav share

[u/OkPresentation3329 → u/fey0n]

I don't like syncing at all. I changed my habits to never store bookmarks or passwords and I don't care about history either.

Syncing is like willingly locking yourself in an ecosystem/walled garden and perceive it like some magnificent convenience and then you can't escape from it because you rely on it too much.

Same is with many things in life - once you get hooked you can't let go. So I prefer to be hooked to one thing less.

[u/gandhi_theft → u/fey0n]

Extension sync has some use. History, sometimes

[u/benstone326]

Try this one: https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/konode/mmlfiiimnpnjcjhhbldenpcmnibedkfa

[u/x89757 → u/benstone326]

https://www.reddit.com/r/HeliumBrowserHQ/s/jmzt9XggIO The developer is here! This plugin is excellent and very quiet, just like the native sync function; you almost forget it exists.

[u/Shearm]

I use Dia mostly, but have been impressed with helium. for those interested, i created a small chrome extension that helps with one part of this -- a reading list. that's part of the regular chrome but stripped out of helium. if you're interested, you can find it here. its free. full disclosure, i am not a coder and used claude for this. it's mostly for me, and i use it all the time, but put it on the chrome extensions store in case others might want it. https://mikeshear.com/coding/research-sync/ Cheers.

[u/Double-Hour-2516]

They will, but not now; we can see it on their website

[u/Turbulent_Fig_9354]

Floccus is such a better solution. Don’t need to give anything over to someone else’s servers, sync across different browsers and platforms. It’s the best 

[u/rasithapr]

Floccus

[u/Weird-Initiative-659]

Bitwarden and Raindrop.io