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Firefox Sync actually works

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Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#211

Firefox has multiple compelling reasons to use it: Sync Containers Tree Style Tabs uBlock Origin on Android Open Source since 1998! Not based on Chromium Be wary of sync on a fresh Linux install, it might sync the default bookmarks and merge them with your own. Not a huge deal but definitely an annoyance.

I’ll have to look into containers and tree style tabs. I have never knowingly used those.

I don’t use containers all that much (I just auto clear cookies and history when Firefox is relaunched) but I can’t overstate the workflow upgrade that was my switching to TST a few years ago. That combined with a plethora of mouse macros for moving between tabs, changing their position in the tree hierarchy, and other basic functionality really made the experience of using a web browser more enjoyable and interesting. Lots of customization to be had with userChrome.css + TST css theming. Thankfully there’s a lot of prebuilt configs shared on GitHub to help get you started.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#212

Firefox has multiple compelling reasons to use it: Sync Containers Tree Style Tabs uBlock Origin on Android Open Source since 1998! Not based on Chromium Be wary of sync on a fresh Linux install, it might sync the default bookmarks and merge them with your own. Not a huge deal but definitely an annoyance.

I’ll have to look into containers and tree style tabs. I have never knowingly used those.

Especially if you do any web development or IT, containers is great for testing different cookies. You can easily be logged in under multiple different accounts in the same browser window, which can be super useful for debugging certain issues tied to user accounts on a site. It's honestly such a useful feature that I'm shocked there isn't an alternative available in chrome, but it does also thwart tracking so I can see why Google won't implement it.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#213

One of the things that I like about Firefox is that it lets you right click on websites that disable right clicking by holding down shift. Reminds you that the browser should be the user's agent and not the website's.

This is great, but... As the meme goes, "why do we even have that lever" to disable a mouse click? More evidence that browsers are out of control, and have given over way too much agency to web developers. If a user doesn't want to right click on a page, they can just... not right click. Why does the developer even have a say?

It's about allowing a custom right click action more than just disabling it. There are plenty of use cases for making a custom action happen on right click. Google Docs adds a custom menu on right click. Games often have a use case for right clicking.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#214
For a while, two things kept me from switching to Firefox entirely: instant translation and Google product compatibility. The first one was solved in Firefox 118 several weeks ago. The second one keeps nagging me: Google Maps are somehow jittery in Firefox, and I think there's something with YouTube, too. So, I am waiting for an inevitable manifest v3 transition of Chrome to ditch it for good.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#215

One of the things that I like about Firefox is that it lets you right click on websites that disable right clicking by holding down shift. Reminds you that the browser should be the user's agent and not the website's.

This is great, but... As the meme goes, "why do we even have that lever" to disable a mouse click? More evidence that browsers are out of control, and have given over way too much agency to web developers. If a user doesn't want to right click on a page, they can just... not right click. Why does the developer even have a say?

Usually it is done for one of three main reasons:

- to make it hard for the user to copy/save stuff

- to offer context menu in a web app

- in a web app game for whatever

The first reason is clearly hostile to the user. The rest is arguably reasonable.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#216

One of my biggest gripes with Firefox sync is the way they have divided the mobile bookmarks from the pc ones. It makes the ux kinda weird as a lot of the bookmarks I use on my desktop I also use on my phone and vice verca. But when I add a bookmark on my phone it ends in a separate mobile bookmark folder.

I like Firefox. I've been using Developer Release path for years. Yet, the memory usage is such a hog.

I almost cannot run VS 2022 or Android Studio while also running Firefox to check for questions on code. [1]

I have two tabs open responding to this post (HN and HN comment), and Firefox has 13 processes running in Task Manager with ~1 GB of memory used. And in there, is a -42 MB process. I'm not even sure what a -42 MB process even means in Task Manager. No wait, now its -77 MB.

[1] Note: this is also a serious issue with VS 2022 and Android Studio. Every release, Android Studio somehow gets slower. A couple years ago, I used to be able to build, test on emulator, and deploy while having a browser open. Now I can barely open the emulator. VS is kind of a joke. To build a couple 100 line WinRT file it loads the entire device library from all of history (following MS' examples)

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#217

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I’ll have to look into containers and tree style tabs. I have never knowingly used those.

Containers are the best. I use them every day. Also I switched from Tree Style Tab to Sidebery. I like it better for some reason.

I found a config that worked for me using TST so I haven’t explored other methods for vertical tabs. What eventually convinced you to try Sidebery and what convinced you not to switch back to TST? I’m curious what I’m missing out on!

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#218

Firefox has multiple compelling reasons to use it: Sync Containers Tree Style Tabs uBlock Origin on Android Open Source since 1998! Not based on Chromium Be wary of sync on a fresh Linux install, it might sync the default bookmarks and merge them with your own. Not a huge deal but definitely an annoyance.

If Containers is a sufficient alternative to Chromium's profiles, I'm switching, that was the only thing holding me back.

Firefox has its own profiles, which are separate from containers.

`about:profiles` shows you a window for creating and switching to a different one. I add that as a bookmark on the bookmarks toolbar of the two profiles I use

I believe there is a `-P` option to open a new window with a specific profile. I do not use it. I usually just open the browser and then go to the aforementioned bookmark and open the other profile.

I use different colorways to differentiate the windows between the two profiles.

There may be addons that alleviate a few of the pain-points with Firefox profiles. I have not tried to find any.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#219

Firefox has multiple compelling reasons to use it: Sync Containers Tree Style Tabs uBlock Origin on Android Open Source since 1998! Not based on Chromium Be wary of sync on a fresh Linux install, it might sync the default bookmarks and merge them with your own. Not a huge deal but definitely an annoyance.

Not entirely owned by google.

Re: Firefox Sync actually works

#220

Firefox has multiple compelling reasons to use it: Sync Containers Tree Style Tabs uBlock Origin on Android Open Source since 1998! Not based on Chromium Be wary of sync on a fresh Linux install, it might sync the default bookmarks and merge them with your own. Not a huge deal but definitely an annoyance.

Most important is that Firefox is the only barrier that protects us from Google locking up internet behind a DRM.

Firefox has compromised on DRM before and there's no reason to expect they won't cave again next time.
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