vivaldi

View documentation for the original command

$ tldr chromium

vivaldi [options] [url(s)]

--new-window
    Open URLs in a new window.

--new-tab
    Open URLs in a new tab (default behavior if no other options are specified).

--user-data-dir=
    Specify the user data directory (profile) to use.

--version
    Display the Vivaldi version and exit.

--help
    Display help information and exit.

url(s)
    One or more URLs to open in the browser.

The `vivaldi` command launches the Vivaldi web browser from the command line. It's primarily a wrapper around the core Vivaldi executable, providing a convenient way to start the browser, open specific URLs, and manage profiles directly from the terminal. While not as feature-rich as some other browser CLIs (like `chromium`), it is useful for scripting, automation, and quickly launching instances with specific settings or profiles.

It allows users to open URLs in new windows or tabs, specify a user profile to load, and, critically, receive exit code information. Receiving exit code info is crucial for scripting applications because it allows checking the proper execution. The exit code is only sent, if Vivaldi was launched. If Vivaldi was already running, the command only focuses the existing window and sends the URLs to it. In this case, the exit code is always 0.

Vivaldi is a web browser known for its customizability and features aimed at power users, and this command provides a command-line gateway to that functionality.

The `vivaldi` command's options are limited compared to the underlying Chromium engine's command-line flags. For more advanced configuration, explore Chromium flags directly, but behavior may be unpredictable or unsupported by Vivaldi.

The `vivaldi` command returns an exit code indicating success or failure. A value of 0 typically indicates success (e.g., browser launched successfully). Non-zero values indicate errors, such as an invalid URL or failure to launch the browser. The exit code only returns when the browser launches, not if the browser is already running.

Using the `--user-data-dir` option, you can launch Vivaldi with specific profiles. This is useful for separating browsing contexts (e.g., work vs. personal). If the specified directory doesn't exist, Vivaldi will create a new profile in that directory. The profile is only accessed when Vivaldi is launched from command line. Vivaldi offers profile management from its GUI.

The `vivaldi` command was introduced alongside the Vivaldi browser. It's maintained as part of the Vivaldi project, offering a basic command-line interface for launching and controlling the browser. Its development focuses on providing essential command-line functionality without necessarily exposing the full range of Chromium's configuration options. Its usage has grown along with the popularity of Vivaldi, particularly among users who appreciate its customization options and power-user features and want to integrate it into scripting and automation workflows.

chromium(1), firefox(1)