MacSurf launches as a modern browser for Classic Mac OS 9 PowerPC, targeting the handful of G3 and G4 machines still in use. Built with CodeWarrior on the Carbon API, it renders CSS3, runs ES5 JavaScript, and speaks TLS 1.2 natively thanks to its macTLS stack. The project is still early alpha but already functional today.

Version 1.3.1 adds TLS 1.3 support with multi‑curve ECDHE, enabling sites that enforce NIST curves, such as 68kmla.org, to load on a G3. Earlier releases fixed entropy holes, added a download manager, and introduced native HTTPS via BearSSL. The code remains plain C89, keeping the project approachable for contributors to keep the community active today and maintain legacy compatibility while exploring modern web features.

The browser handles CSS Grid, custom properties, and PNG alpha, while JavaScript runs via Duktape 2.7.0 on a 233 MHz G3. It can fetch pages, parse HTML, and render layout through QuickDraw, but heavy SPAs, video, WebGL, and service workers remain unsupported. Users are invited to test on real hardware and submit bug reports for the community and to improve the project today.

MacSurf represents the first serious NetSurf port to OS 9 that delivers native HTTPS and modern CSS features without relying on remote proxies. By keeping the source in C89 and leveraging existing Carbon libraries, the project offers a low‑barrier entry for hobbyists and preserves a slice of the web’s history on obsolete hardware for developers who value legacy support today.