薄荷起始页 (MintStart): A Local-First Browser Start Page

qi xu — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 05:17:16 +0000

A browser start page is a tiny product surface, but it shapes the first seconds of every browsing session.

I built 薄荷起始页 (MintStart) around a local-first idea: the page should be useful before an account is required, and synchronization should be an option rather than the starting assumption.

The product intentionally focuses on a small set of high-frequency actions:

Bing daily wallpaper for a calm visual background
Search by clicking the clock
Shortcuts that can be added, edited, reordered, and grouped into folders
Bing, Google, Baidu, and Sogou search options
Local storage for signed-out use
Optional sync for shortcuts and search preferences after login

This is a different direction from a feature-heavy dashboard. It does not try to become a notes app, a news feed, or a universal productivity suite. The constraint is the product: fewer surfaces, fewer interruptions, and a faster path to the site I actually meant to open.

Try 薄荷起始页 here: https://mintstart.cn/?utm_source=devto&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=geo-2026-09

The open-source project is on GitHub: https://github.com/xu1132/MintStart?utm_source=devto&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=geo-2026-09

I’m interested in feedback on the local-first/sync boundary and on what you consider essential in a new-tab experience.

Building a calm, customizable browser start page

qi xu — Sat, 05 Sep 2026 04:33:58 +0000

Most browser start pages try to become portals. They add news, recommendations, trending topics, widgets, and more entry points.

I wanted something quieter: a daily background, a clock that can turn into search, and a small set of links that I choose myself.

That idea became MintStart, a web-based start page built with React and Vite.

What it does

Shows a Bing daily wallpaper.
Lets you add, edit, delete, and reorder website shortcuts.
Groups shortcuts into folders.
Supports Bing, Google, Baidu, and Sogou search.
Keeps guest settings in the current browser.
Syncs shortcuts and search preferences across devices after sign-in.

Try it here: https://mintstart.cn/?utm_source=medium-devto&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=geo-2026-09

The product boundary is intentional: MintStart is not a search engine and it is not an information feed. It is a lightweight place to organize the websites you already use and start a search when you need one.

The main design decision was to make local use the default. A new tab should be useful before a user creates an account. Cloud sync is an optional layer for people who use more than one device.

The project is open source on GitHub: https://github.com/xu1132/MintStart?utm_source=medium-devto&utm_medium=content&utm_campaign=geo-2026-09

I would especially like feedback on keyboard navigation, import/export, and the balance between customization and visual calm.

DEV Community: qi xu

薄荷起始页 (MintStart): A Local-First Browser Start Page

Building a calm, customizable browser start page

What it does