Free Software that I rely on. One per day.

Day 24:

Firefox

I've been using Mozilla-based browsers since Netscape, and I still do.

And a LOT of my time is spent using the browser, whether socializing on the Fediverse or managing my server.

Despite the current kerfuffle over Mozilla incorporating opt-out AI features that no one wants, I think they are still the best option. Perhaps I'll have to tinker with my settings, or perhaps I'll use one of the several available forks -- but it'll still be Mozilla underneath.

Also, I think it is critical to retain an ecosystem of multiple browsers, rather than a single approved one. We saw the dangers of that with Internet Explorer, and we see it now with Chromium dependencies.

https://www.firefox.com
https://www.mozilla.org
https://firefox-source-docs.mozilla.org/

#FreeSoftwareAdvent #FireFox #Mozilla #WebBrowser

#Mozilla choosing to kill embeddable Gecko (make it a #Firefox only engine, essentially) over a decade ago was such a tragic mistake.

Alternative browsers & desktop apps had no choice but to go with WebKit or Blink/Electron.

As a result, Mozilla have nobody to blame but themselves for their minuscule marketshare and nil developer mindshare today.

Further readings:
* https://lwn.net/Articles/436412/ (circa 2011)
* https://www.chrislord.net/2016/02/24/the-case-for-an-embeddable-gecko/ from @Cwiiis
* https://dutherenverseauborddelatable.wordpress.com/2016/03/07/the-gecko-monoculture/ from @Yoric

#OpenWeb

I’m sorry, but I have switched from #Firefox to #Chromium
I don’t believe it could be a good browser anymore 😔
#Librewolf is still an alternative but it is now to dependant of a software going to the wrong direction

@elala

LLMs = Lies Lies and Morelies

(twisted grammar version intended)

Pretending there's confussion about sometihng as clear cut as "opt-in" is just broadcasting the assumption you think your users are STUPID.

This toot is still about #Firefox

This is what happens when you hire cheap spin doctors

> I think there are some grey areas in what 'opt-in' means to different people

This toot is clearly about #Firefox

This is what happens when you hire cheap spin doctors

> I think there are some grey areas in what 'opt-in' means to different people

This toot is clearly about #Firefox

@bodil That's why #phoenix approach through advanced config is quite interesting. It let you use #firefox, but with all the feature you may expect when you use a fork. And as it is not a fork, you're up to date

https://codeberg.org/celenity/Phoenix/wiki/Features

#Mozilla choosing to kill embeddable Gecko (make it a #Firefox only engine, essentially) over a decade ago was such a tragic mistake.

Alternative browsers & desktop apps had no choice but to go with WebKit or Blink/Electron.

As a result, Mozilla have nobody to blame but themselves for their minuscule marketshare and nil developer mindshare today.

Further readings:
* https://lwn.net/Articles/436412/ (circa 2011)
* https://www.chrislord.net/2016/02/24/the-case-for-an-embeddable-gecko/ from @Cwiiis
* https://dutherenverseauborddelatable.wordpress.com/2016/03/07/the-gecko-monoculture/ from @Yoric

#OpenWeb

@Gargron wrote...

"I've finally switched to the @Vivaldi browser. I've been using Firefox for as long as I've been on the internet, but the focus on AI means it's no longer the browser for me. Thankfully unlike Chrome, Vivaldi supports the uBlock Origin extension which is the most important extension for being able to browse the web nowadays."

I've had exactly the same experience! Migrated from #MacOS to #Ubuntu #Linux over the summer. #Firefox was the default browser. In my case FF had/has a huge memory leak that was left to fester for over a month. Looked around and switched to the #Vivaldi browser thinking I'd lose #uBlock--but (pleasant surprise!) there was no limitation on that or any other plug-in I have. 🙂

So far (less than a month) I'm very impressed and happy with Vivaldi. Recommended! 👍

@Vivaldi

Quick PSA : yes, #Mozilla has been disappointing, but so far, they’re the only organization preventing Google to have a full control over web standards. Blink/WebKit-based browsers (Chromium, Vivaldi…) do NOT help at all in that regard.

So please use #Firefox or a #Gecko-based alternative ( #ZenBrowser, #LibreWolf…). Ride the nightly release train and report bugs if you can. #Servo is getting ready, but for the next ~5 years, Gecko is our only suitable option.

Mozilla right now.

#firefox #mozilla