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I use Tab Mix Plus for multi-row tabs in Firefox. It's so important to how I browse that it's the main reason why I use Firefox. If it goes away, then I have

I use Tab Mix Plus for multi-row tabs in Firefox. It's so important to how I browse that it's the main reason why I use Firefox. If it goes away, then I have no reason to use Firefox.

thom_nic 11y ago
I was thinking the same thing. Tab Mix Plus sounds like one of those extensions that might not be doable under the new API... Which would explain why there's no chrome version. Also the main reason why I use Firefox as well... This window has 20 tabs open :)
- wvenable 11y ago
  Doing research phases I can have 100 tabs open -- although only 30-40 actually fit on the screen at once (3 rows). Even if Tax Mix Plus was ever doable under the new API (and it won't be), somebody has to write it, test it, and maintain it. I'm not confident that will happen. The churn is just tossing out a lot of existing code and might never be replaced. I just turned off automatic updates. It's sad that all good things do eventually come to an end.
Tobu 11y ago
Tab Mix Plus is explicitly mentioned as something they'll support: https://wiki.mozilla.org/WebExtensions#Additional_APIs https://wiki.mozilla.org/WebExtensions#Additional_APIs
- brighteyes 11y ago
  The blogpost should have led with that. A lot of the discussion here is based off of people incorrectly assuming addons like that won't work.
  - the8472 11y ago
    That still only covers extentensions that have already been invented. It doesn't solve the problem of letting people tinker to discover the need for a new API in the first place.
    - brighteyes 11y ago
      You can still tinker when building firefox from source. I agree it's not as convenient as the default builds being open to such modding, but that's the point - the default builds should be safer because 99% of users don't tinker.
      - the8472 11y ago
        So it's ok to make life harder for 1% so the 99% have it easier? And why make it "safer" for the 99%, considering they have been able to live with the current situation for years? Shouldn't things be improved for everyone? And aren't those 1% that tinker those who provide new stuff to the 99%?
        pcwalton 11y ago
        > And why make it "safer" for the 99%, considering they have been able to live with the current situation for years? It's hard for me to read this comment as anything other than "browser security is fine and people shouldn't bother trying to improve it".
        the8472 11y ago
        Well, fixing security bugs obviously is necessary. But that doesn't mean that features should be thrown out of the window in the name of security. And I was mostly referring to mozilla's tendency to nanny its users. For example the argument for extension signing is that users can't decide for themselves what to install. And that even side-loading from the operating system would be too dangerous because some users could get tricked (in my book that's a people problem, not a software problem). And again, the argument for whitelisted, locked-down APIs for extensions is security, that giving extensions the same powers as native applications (which don't have to be signed) is unacceptable. Again, reducing features in the name of security. Fixing privilege escalation attacks and nannying users so they don't apply foot-guns are two quite separate approaches to security in my opinion. Especially since the latter is onerous on powerusers while the former is not. The restrictions weren't necessary in the past, the situation was clearly good enough for millions to start using browsers. Why is it necessary now?
- wvenable 11y ago
  Lets be clear; they won't be supporting Tab Mix Plus. They will be providing an API that might allow something similar to be built by someone. This is a good thing but nothing is guaranteed.
  - brighteyes 11y ago
    It's not guaranteed, but they said they are hiring people to work with addon developers to update their addons. It seems very likely Tab Mix Plus would be on the top of that list, since it's already mentioned as an addon they want to work in the new model.
hugoc 11y ago
That and Tree Style Tabs are the reason I left Chrome. The path that firefox has been on for the last few months is sad.

I use Tab Mix Plus for multi-row tabs in Firefox. It's so important to how I browse that it's the main reason why I use Firefox. If it goes away, then I have no reason to use Firefox.

thom_nic 11y ago

I was thinking the same thing. Tab Mix Plus sounds like one of those extensions that might not be doable under the new API... Which would explain why there's no chrome version. Also the main reason why I use Firefox as well... This window has 20 tabs open :)

wvenable 11y ago
Doing research phases I can have 100 tabs open -- although only 30-40 actually fit on the screen at once (3 rows). Even if Tax Mix Plus was ever doable under the new API (and it won't be), somebody has to write it, test it, and maintain it. I'm not confident that will happen. The churn is just tossing out a lot of existing code and might never be replaced. I just turned off automatic updates. It's sad that all good things do eventually come to an end.

Tobu 11y ago

Tab Mix Plus is explicitly mentioned as something they'll support: https://wiki.mozilla.org/WebExtensions#Additional_APIs https://wiki.mozilla.org/WebExtensions#Additional_APIs

brighteyes 11y ago
The blogpost should have led with that. A lot of the discussion here is based off of people incorrectly assuming addons like that won't work.
- the8472 11y ago
  That still only covers extentensions that have already been invented. It doesn't solve the problem of letting people tinker to discover the need for a new API in the first place.
  - brighteyes 11y ago
    You can still tinker when building firefox from source. I agree it's not as convenient as the default builds being open to such modding, but that's the point - the default builds should be safer because 99% of users don't tinker.
    - the8472 11y ago
      So it's ok to make life harder for 1% so the 99% have it easier? And why make it "safer" for the 99%, considering they have been able to live with the current situation for years? Shouldn't things be improved for everyone? And aren't those 1% that tinker those who provide new stuff to the 99%?
      - pcwalton 11y ago
        > And why make it "safer" for the 99%, considering they have been able to live with the current situation for years? It's hard for me to read this comment as anything other than "browser security is fine and people shouldn't bother trying to improve it".
        the8472 11y ago
        Well, fixing security bugs obviously is necessary. But that doesn't mean that features should be thrown out of the window in the name of security. And I was mostly referring to mozilla's tendency to nanny its users. For example the argument for extension signing is that users can't decide for themselves what to install. And that even side-loading from the operating system would be too dangerous because some users could get tricked (in my book that's a people problem, not a software problem). And again, the argument for whitelisted, locked-down APIs for extensions is security, that giving extensions the same powers as native applications (which don't have to be signed) is unacceptable. Again, reducing features in the name of security. Fixing privilege escalation attacks and nannying users so they don't apply foot-guns are two quite separate approaches to security in my opinion. Especially since the latter is onerous on powerusers while the former is not. The restrictions weren't necessary in the past, the situation was clearly good enough for millions to start using browsers. Why is it necessary now?
wvenable 11y ago
Lets be clear; they won't be supporting Tab Mix Plus. They will be providing an API that might allow something similar to be built by someone. This is a good thing but nothing is guaranteed.
- brighteyes 11y ago
  It's not guaranteed, but they said they are hiring people to work with addon developers to update their addons. It seems very likely Tab Mix Plus would be on the top of that list, since it's already mentioned as an addon they want to work in the new model.

hugoc 11y ago

That and Tree Style Tabs are the reason I left Chrome. The path that firefox has been on for the last few months is sad.