zshell

Browser panes

Open websites beside a terminal, navigate with native controls, and keep links inside the project.

Zshell can put a built-in browser in any tab or split pane. It is useful for a local dev server, API documentation, an issue, or anything else you want beside the terminal that is using it.

Opening a browser

  • Choose File → New Browser Tab for a blank tab.
  • Open the command palette (Cmd+P) and run New Browser Tab or New Browser Pane.
  • Command-right-click a detected URL in a terminal and choose New Browser Tab or New Browser Pane to open it without copying the address.

Browser tabs belong to the selected project and participate in its normal tab and pane layout. If no project is open, Zshell creates one to hold the browser.

The field at the top accepts a full URL, a hostname, or search terms:

  • zshell.sh becomes an HTTPS address.
  • localhost, local hostnames, IP addresses, and explicit ports use HTTP.
  • Everything else becomes a Google search.

Use Cmd+L to focus the field and Cmd+R to reload. The toolbar also has Back, Forward, Stop/Reload, Share, and Open in Default Browser controls. Trackpad back and forward gestures work too.

ActionShortcut
Focus address barCmd+L
Reload pageCmd+R

Right-click a link on a page for Open Link in New Tab or Open Link in New Pane. The new page stays in the same project workspace.

In a terminal, a plain Command-click opens a detected web URL in your default browser. Command-right-click is the version that offers a Zshell tab or pane. Local paths have a parallel workflow described under Paths and URLs.

What is preserved

Switching tabs or projects keeps the page as you left it, including history, scroll position, forms, and in-page state. When Zshell relaunches, it restores the current URL and layout, but not the full back/forward history.

Browser panes keep cookies, logins, and other site data across tabs and launches. This is not a private-browsing mode.

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