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Why TikTok Lynx Reuses the Name of a Beloved Text-Based Browser: Is ByteDance Out of Ideas?

Hazem Abbas

Mar 7, 2025 — 4 min read

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Why TikTok’s Lynx Feels Like a Naming Fail?

As a developer who still fires up the Lynx browser for quick terminal-based web tasks, I have to admit—I’m annoyed. Really annoyed. When I heard TikTok was launching a new React Native competitor called Lynx, my first thought wasn’t “Wow, this is innovative!” It was more like, “Wait… what? Are they trolling us?”

Let’s break it down.

But first, I have to admit, I am really impressed about this new project, I liked it and I believe it can compete with React Native, even Flutter.

The OG Lynx: A Legend in Its Own Right

For those unfamiliar, the original Lynx is a text-based web browser that’s been around since the early ’90s. It’s fast, minimal, and doesn’t track you—basically the anti-TikTok. Developers love it because it strips away all the bloat of modern browsers and lets you focus on content.

Sure, it doesn’t support SSL/TLS out of the box anymore, but tools like w3m or awrit fill that gap if you need something more modern.

So when TikTok dropped “Lynx” as the name for their shiny new framework, it felt… off. Like naming a gas-guzzling SUV after a Prius. The OG Lynx is about simplicity and privacy; TikTok’s Lynx is about building flashy, data-heavy apps. The disconnect is glaring.

Is This Just Lazy Branding?

I get it—naming stuff is hard. But come on. There are literally thousands of words in the English language (and probably a few billion unused ones). Did ByteDance really think, “Hey, let’s take a name tied to minimalism and slap it on our bloated app framework”?

It feels like they were aiming for something sleek and agile (lynx = fast cats, got it), but they missed the mark entirely. Instead of evoking speed and precision, they’ve created confusion. Now every time someone mentions “Lynx,” we’re going to have to clarify: “Do you mean the terminal browser or the TikTok thing?”

And don’t even get me started on how this looks to the developer community. If you’re trying to win over devs who value creativity and originality, reusing a decades-old name feels lazy. Like, couldn’t they at least pick something fresh? Even “TikCat” would’ve been better than this.

Competitors Aren’t Making This Mistake

Look at TikTok Lynx’s competitors. Flutter? Clear, unique, and instantly recognizable. React Native? Ditto. Neither of them is stepping on the toes of some beloved legacy project. Meanwhile, TikTok’s Lynx is stuck explaining itself before anyone even tries it.

This isn’t just nitpicking—it’s branding 101. First impressions matter, especially in tech. If your framework’s name makes people roll their eyes before they even see what it can do, you’ve already lost half the battle.

Can Lynx Still Succeed?

Here’s the thing: I want to like TikTok’s Lynx. If it really is the “React Native killer” it claims to be—if it’s faster, easier to use, and solves real pain points for developers—I might overlook the cringey name. But it’s going to have to work twice as hard to win me over.

That said, I’m not holding my breath. The dev community has long memories, and bad branding sticks. Remember when Microsoft tried to call their cloud storage “SkyDrive,” only to get sued by BSkyB? They had to rebrand to OneDrive, and the whole thing felt messy. TikTok’s Lynx could end up in the same boat if they’re not careful.

What Should ByteDance Have Done Instead?

If I were in charge, I’d scrap the name entirely. Start fresh. Maybe go with something that actually reflects what the framework does, like SwiftUI or Jetpack Compose. Or heck, lean into the animal theme but pick something less loaded—“TikFox,” “ByteBear,” anything but Lynx.

At the very least, they could’ve done their homework. A quick Google search would’ve shown them that “Lynx” isn’t just some random word—it’s a piece of internet history. Respecting that history might’ve earned them goodwill instead of eyerolls.

Final Thoughts: Naming Matters

At the end of the day, TikTok’s Lynx might still succeed. If the framework delivers on its promises, developers will eventually warm up to it. But the road ahead is going to be an uphill climb, and it didn’t have to be this way.

Naming isn’t just a trivial detail—it’s part of how we connect with technology. It shapes how we feel about it, talk about it, and ultimately whether we trust it. By ignoring that, ByteDance has made their job a lot harder.

So here’s my plea to future framework creators: Do better. Pick names that inspire, not confuse or annoy. And for the love of all things holy, stop hijacking names from beloved old open-source projects.

Now, back to browsing Hacker News in my trusty terminal window—with the real Lynx.