The web browser is becoming one of the most important desktop applications now that users are relying on web-apps more, and their performance is key to the success of the more advanced web-apps.

The user’s perception of the responsiveness of a web-based application is in large part dependent on how fast the browser can render heavily styled pages, and execute lengthy bits of JavaScript code.

If browsers are so important, then the question should be asked: “How good are the browsers?”

The short answer: they’re fairly good, and getting better. The browser wars are heated these days with no less than 3 major contenders (Safari, Firefox, and Internet Explorer) so the competition to create a faster, more efficient browser that makes web-apps feel like desktop apps is fierce.

For a longer answer see this JavaScript speed comparison for current browsers.

The link above confirms my observations that Safari is fast and FireFox 2 is dog-slow. However, there is good news for FireFox fans: FF3 (currently in beta) appears to be significantly faster than its older brother according to the article linked above.

Time will tell how the final version of Safari for Windows will perform, but for the time being its Mac-based twin is the smoothest browser to run our Medical Resident Scheduling web-app on.