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Add-on support in new Firefox for Android (2021)

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Re: Add-on support in new Firefox for Android (2021)

#61

Post by throwaway0x7E6 »

dblohm7 wrote: post #29

(Former Mozilla developer here, who worked on GeckoView[1], the modern way to embed Gecko into Android apps, including all currently shipped Mozilla browsers on Android) From an engineering perspective, the sad thing about this is that the work to finish extensions in GeckoView was essentially completed in the months after the initial Fenix release. When GeckoView was still being rolled out into release, we understan…

>since that time it has entirely been a business decision to continue restricting the selection of addons available.

yep. a product superior to Chrome would be detrimental to Mozilla's de-facto parent company.

same story with the desktop version.

it's all so tiresome.

Re: Add-on support in new Firefox for Android (2021)

#62

Post by gaius_baltar »

freemint wrote: post #41
dblohm7 wrote: post #29

(Former Mozilla developer here, who worked on GeckoView[1], the modern way to embed Gecko into Android apps, including all currently shipped Mozilla browsers on Android) From an engineering perspective, the sad thing about this is that the work to finish extensions in GeckoView was essentially completed in the months after the initial Fenix release. When GeckoView was still being rolled out into release, we understan…

Can you elaborate how engineering on an open source product is prevented from doing the right thing™ by management?

> Can you elaborate how engineering on an open source product is prevented from doing the right thing™ by management?

I have a purely speculative and very pessimistic opinion that is to not compete too much with Chrome and Google, so Mozilla does not antagonize with the source of their money while still providing Google with a "but we have competition!" card that they can use to prevent governments from treating them as a monopoly.

This is almost a conspiracy theory but, hell, that's the only explanation I have for so many management failures and aversion to their userbase.

Re: Add-on support in new Firefox for Android (2021)

#63

Post by rcMgD2BwE72F »

randy408 wrote: post #4
bwat48 wrote: post #3

misleading title, some addons are available... e.g. I use ublock origin in firefox on android

You mean half a dozen add-ons are available

Far more… if you're using Nightly (I do as my daily browser, with a dozen of active extensions). Not easy though: https://blog.mozilla.org/addons/2020/09/29/expanded-extensio...

Re: Add-on support in new Firefox for Android (2021)

#64

Post by smachiz »

Filligree wrote: post #55
pessimizer wrote: post #39

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The evangelism is even bad. It was more coherent and convincing back when the browser was better.

The evangelism is mostly about stuff that nobody outside the USA cares about. It just looks like the browser is made by crazy people.

It would seem not many people inside the USA care about it either given their market share...

Re: Add-on support in new Firefox for Android (2021)

#65

Post by theandrewbailey »

5e92cb50239222b wrote: post #47
jonkoops wrote: post #34

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This pretty much feels to me what is happening to Mozilla as an organization from an outsider perspective. Engineering is no longer as important as the evangelism and management is making strange decisions that lack focus on what the target audience really is.

Most of that evangelism doesn't even make any sense to me as a non-USian. I understand the US has its own share of internal problems, but feeding that to the whole world when I just want to download the damn browser seems weird. I won't post any links here to avoid offending anyone, but they should be pretty obvious.

As a resident of a flyover state, I re-read that with California instead of US, and it still made sense.

Re: Add-on support in new Firefox for Android (2021)

#66

Post by kevin_thibedeau »

gaius_baltar wrote: post #62
freemint wrote: post #41

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Can you elaborate how engineering on an open source product is prevented from doing the right thing™ by management?

> Can you elaborate how engineering on an open source product is prevented from doing the right thing™ by management? I have a purely speculative and very pessimistic opinion that is to not compete too much with Chrome and Google, so Mozilla does not antagonize with the source of their money while still providing Google with a "but we have competition!" card that they can use to prevent governments from treating them…

Google used the same pressure tactics to force LineageOS to remove their permission spoofing.

Re: Add-on support in new Firefox for Android (2021)

#67

Post by gs17 »

kashyapc wrote: post #50

For a year now, I began using DuckDuckGo's (DDG) "Privacy Browser" on Android. By default it removes ads and third-party trackers; no need for add-ons. So far DDG's browser works roughly on par with my older setup of stock Android Firefox plus a couple of usual extensions. I wonder why DDG's Android browser isn't more well-known.

> By default it removes ads and third-party trackers; no need for add-ons.

I wish it really was "no need", but it's frustrating if their built in list doesn't meet your needs. With uBlock I can add new rules easily.

Re: Add-on support in new Firefox for Android (2021)

#68

Post by yoasif_ »

thinkingemote wrote: post #25

I was writing an extension for Firefox mobile to improve HN a bit to make it work nicer on mobile. Then whoops Firefox no longer does extensions really. * Such a wasted missed opportunity for the mobile web. FF could and still might be able to recognise the utility. (* Yes I can install it via developer mode I think, but it was for you too)

FWIW, people that want to run extensions can either use Fennec (the F-Droid fork, not the old Firefox for Android) or Nightly versions. There are developers targeting this stuff - I wrote about some here: https://www.quippd.com/writing/2022/01/26/most-wanted-add-on...

Re: Add-on support in new Firefox for Android (2021)

#69

Post by cowtools »

moonshinefe wrote: post #42

I like using Firefox on Android because uBlock origin makes mobile browsing at least tolerable and it lets me use the "desktop mode" view on certain sites so e.g. I can listen to youtube playlists even if the phone is locked without paying for a premium service (for what I consider basic functionality). Surprised to hear literally the sole reason I use it on mobile is also neglected. Do they think they're going to ou…

uBlock Origin is still availible on Firefox mobile, just not all addons

Re: Add-on support in new Firefox for Android (2021)

#70

Post by kevin_thibedeau »

moonshinefe wrote: post #42

I like using Firefox on Android because uBlock origin makes mobile browsing at least tolerable and it lets me use the "desktop mode" view on certain sites so e.g. I can listen to youtube playlists even if the phone is locked without paying for a premium service (for what I consider basic functionality). Surprised to hear literally the sole reason I use it on mobile is also neglected. Do they think they're going to ou…

Google only funds Mozilla so it can be an anti-trust figleaf. It's kept on a short leash to ensure it is never a threat.
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