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diff --git a/content/posts/2023-12-02-firefox-redux.md b/content/posts/2023-12-02-firefox-redux.md new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2ff0f28 --- /dev/null +++ b/content/posts/2023-12-02-firefox-redux.md @@ -0,0 +1,102 @@ +--- +slug: firefox-redux +title: "Firefox Redux" +date: "2023-12-02T17:53:53-04:00" +--- +This weekend I installed [Firefox Nightly][] from [Mozilla's APT +repository][apt-repo] and then switched my desktop browser from +Chrome to [Firefox][]. Thoughts so far... + +### Pros + +- [uBlock Origin][] and other useful extensions will continue to + work past June 2024. +- Importing bookmarks, credentials, and history was seamless. +- Tab switching and omnibar searches are faster than Chrome. +- [Firefox Sync][] and [Firefox View][] are great; I prefer them to + their Chrome equivalents. +- Better interface customization. +- Better bookmark management. +- Better [PDF][] reader. + +### Cons + +- No tab groups. There are several tab management extensions, but none + are as elegant as tab groups. +- Occasional [screen tearing][] on complex pages. +- Chrome has smoother scrolling. + +I also worry about [Mozilla][] as an organization; a substantial portion +of their revenue comes from their contract with Google and they have +made some questionable business decisions in the last couple of years. + +### Why? + +[Manifest V3][eff-manifest-v3] was the final straw; it is a +[thinly-veiled attempt to hobble ad blockers][ars-manifest-v3]. Before +that there was [AMP][], [FLOC][], [Web Environment Integrity][wei], +[Privacy Sandbox][], and probably a dozen other anti-competitive and +user-hostile changes I have forgotten about (see also: +[enshittification][]). + +I switched from [Firefox][] to Chrome a decade ago because of the +minimalist interface and better performance. Neither reason applies +today; the Chrome interface has become cluttered and [Firefox][] +performance has improved substantially. + +In retrospect it was probably unwise for us to give an effective browser +monopoly to an advertising company. + +### Other De-Googling Recommendations + +1. Search engine: [Duck Duck Go][]. Fast, good results, spartan + interface, [useful shortcuts][duckduckgo-bangs], doesn't feed + your search history to Google. +2. Mobile: [Firefox for Android][firefox-android]. Fast, great + interface, supports [uBlock Origin][]. I've used it for years on my + phone and tablet. + + +[ublock origin]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UBlock_Origin + "Free and open source browser extension for content filtering and ad blocking." +[firefox]: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/ + "Mozilla Firefox" +[mozilla]: https://www.mozilla.org/ + "Mozilla" +[firefox-android]: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/browsers/mobile/android/ + "Firefox for Android" +[firefox sync]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firefox_Sync + "Firefox Sync" +[firefox view]: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/how-set-tab-pickup-firefox-view + "Firefox View" +[enshittification]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enshittification + "enshittification" +[eff-manifest-v3]: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2021/12/chrome-users-beware-manifest-v3-deceitful-and-threatening + "Chrome Users Beware: Manifest V3 Deceitful and Threatening (EFF)" +[ars-manifest-v3]: https://arstechnica.com/gadgets/2023/11/google-chrome-will-limit-ad-blockers-starting-june-2024/ + "Google Chrome will limit ad blockers starting June 2024 (Ars Technica)" +[ars-slower-extension-updates]: https://arstechnica.com/google/2023/12/chromes-next-weapon-in-the-war-on-ad-blockers-slower-extension-updates/ + "Chrome’s next weapon in the War on Ad Blockers: Slower extension updates (Ars Technica)" +[tab containers]: https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/containers + "Multi-Account containers extension for Firefox." +[apt-repo]: https://blog.nightly.mozilla.org/2023/10/30/introducing-mozillas-firefox-nightly-deb-packages-for-debian-based-linux-distributions/ + "APT repository for Firefox Nightly packages." +[amp]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accelerated_Mobile_Pages#Reception + "Accelerated Mobile Pages (AMP)" +[floc]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federated_Learning_of_Cohorts + "Federated Learning of Cohorts (FLOC)" +[privacy sandbox]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privacy_Sandbox + "Privacy Sandbox" +[wei]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Web_Environment_Integrity + "Web Environment Integrity" +[doublespeak]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Doublespeak +[firefox nightly]: https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/channel/desktop/#nightly + "Firefox Nightly." +[screen tearing]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screen_tearing + "Rendering artifact where information from multiple frames is shown in a single draw." +[duck duck go]: https://duckduckgo.com/ + "Fast and private search engine." +[duckduckgo-bangs]: https://duckduckgo.com/bangs + "Duck Duck Go bang shortcuts." +[pdf]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PDF + "Portable Document Format (PDF)" |