Startpage

Startpage is a customizable local browser homepage that replaces the new-tab page with a clock, weather widget, search overlay, and bookmark grids, styled entirely through CSS variables. This open-source project is built with plain HTML, CSS, and JavaScript, so it runs in any modern browser without any build step or server, and it is designed to live in a single folder on your machine.

What is Startpage?

Startpage is a static startpage template hosted on GitHub under the repository danggoodcode/startpage, described as a "Custom homepage for use locally in browser." It takes a small set of user-editable files — index.html, bookmarks.js, and CSS variables — and produces a functional new-tab page displaying the current time, local weather, a search overlay, and organized bookmark links. No server-side code is involved, and the project has 539 stars, indicating community interest.

Key Features

• Bookmark management — Bookmarks are stored in an array in bookmarks.js, where each section has a title and a links array of name/URL pairs, making updates a matter of editing a JavaScript file rather than HTML.
• Search overlay — Press a key to bring up a search box that uses the engine defined in the searchUrl variable in index.html; examples for DuckDuckGo and Bing are included.
• CSS variable theming — All colors are controlled by variables in the :root selector, including --bg, --fg, --secondaryFg, --containerBg, --searchBg, --scrollbarColor, and --fontFamily, so retheming requires changing values in one place.
• Clock and weather — The page displays a live clock and a weather widget, with the foreground color of these elements set by the --fg variable.
• Font customization — The --fontFamily variable defaults to "Roboto Mono", monospace, and can be swapped for any imported font.
• Local file operation — There is no build step; you open index.html directly in a browser, and all assets stay local, making it suitable for use as a personal homepage or new-tab replacement.

Who is it for?

• Minimalist browser users — People who want a fast, distraction-free new-tab page with just the essentials: time, weather, search, and bookmarks.
• Developers and tinkerers — Users comfortable editing JavaScript and CSS who want deep control over every aspect of their startpage, down to the exact hex color.
• Privacy-conscious individuals — Because everything runs locally in the browser, there is no cloud sync or account system; your bookmarks and searches are not sent to a Startpage server (only to the search engine you configure).
• Hobbyists — Anyone who enjoys customizing their digital environment and sharing their setup, as the project is open source and hosted on GitHub.

What can you do with it?

• Replace the new-tab page: Set the local index.html as your browser's homepage or new-tab page and get a consistent, personal launchpad.
• Organize bookmarks into sections: Create any number of bookmark groups, each with its own header, and arrange them in the grid layout; the README notes the default styling expects four sections, but you can adjust the bookmark-set CSS class width for more.
• Switch search engines instantly: Update one variable in index.html to use DuckDuckGo, Bing, or any engine that supports URL-query search, and all searches from the overlay are routed there.
• Theme to match your setup: Change the background and text colors, enable custom scrollbar colors, and swap in a different monospace font by editing the CSS variables at the top of the stylesheet.

How does Startpage work?

Open the project folder, edit bookmarks.js to add your links, change the searchUrl variable in index.html to your preferred search engine, and adjust the CSS variables in :root for colors and fonts. Then load index.html in your browser and either navigate to the file manually or set it as your homepage. All changes take effect on refresh because the page is static and reads those files directly.

Pricing

Startpage is free and open source. You can clone or download the repository from GitHub, modify it, and use it locally without paying anything or creating an account.

Alternatives

• Tabliss — a popular browser extension for new-tab pages that also offers widgets like clock and weather, but its customization is primarily through a visual editor rather than editing code.
• Momentum — a widely used new-tab extension that focuses on a visually rich dashboard with a daily photo, to-do list, and focus timer, but it is a closed-source extension rather than a local file.

FAQ

Is Startpage free?

Yes, the project is open source and free to use. You simply download the files and open them in your browser; there are no subscriptions, accounts, or hosted services.

How do I change the search engine?

Locate the searchUrl variable in index.html and replace its value with a search URL that accepts a query string. For example, use https://duckduckgo.com/?q= for DuckDuckGo or https://www.bing.com/search?q= for Bing.

How do I add my own bookmarks?

Edit the bookmarks array in bookmarks.js. Each bookmark section needs a title and a links array, and each link should have a name and url. The default layout expects four sections, but you can modify the CSS width of bookmark-set for more.

Can I change the colors to match my theme?

Yes, all colors are controlled by CSS variables in the :root block. You can change the background, foreground, secondary foreground, container background, search overlay background, and custom scrollbar color by editing their hex values.

Is there a mobile version or responsive design?

The README does not mention responsive behavior, and the template is designed primarily for desktop browsers as a local startpage. Since it is static HTML, you can view it on mobile, but the layout may need adjustments for small screens.