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I've been using multiple profiles for months on Firefox via `firefox -P profile1`, `firefox -P profile2`. What's it changing to, moving forward?

Spivak 9y ago
Those aren't changing, the new feature, "Containers", is like having multiple isolated browser sessions running concurrently. So you can organize your tabs by purpose, isolate sensitive accounts, or just be logged into both your Facebook/Google/Twitter accounts at the same time.
- quesera 9y ago
  The confusion is reasonable though -- your description above is exactly how I use Firefox Profiles today (and for many years). What does Containers add? If the only answer is "a more convenient UI", then that's good enough for me!
  - kenhwang 9y ago
    It's not quite a new profile since the container retains all your configuration and extensions and a profile doesn't. It's more similar to a private browsing session, except things aren't forgotten, and you can have as many as you like. And they're tab level so you can treat them they same way you would a tab.
    - chimeracoder 9y ago
      > It's not quite a new profile since the container retains all your configuration and extensions and a profile doesn't. Other way around. Profiles retain configuration and extensions between sessions.
      - johnp_ 9y ago
        Profiles: Every configuration change or extension has to be added in every profile to keep in sync manually across different Firefox instances. Containers: Use the same configuration and extensions across different containers in one running Firefox instance. Both retain configuration and extensions between traditional browser sessions (start/stop). Containers additionally "retain" configuration and extensions across contextual sessions/identities.
  - FBT 9y ago
    With profiles, each profile has it's own history, bookmarks, browser settings, and so forth. In effect, it's a separate instance of Firefox. Sometimes that's what you want, and profiles certainly aren't going anywhere. But the idea behind Containers is just that you can be logged in to separate accounts simultaneously in multiple containers. In practice, that means a better and more convenient UI. Containers work on a per-tab basis, so you can have multiple tabs logged in to the same account right next to each other, instead of in different Firefox processes. Plus, you can right click on a link and select "Open in New Container Tab". So while Containers are more than a UI on top of Profiles, it practice one of the main advantages is the convenience of the UI.

Spivak 9y ago

Those aren't changing, the new feature, "Containers", is like having multiple isolated browser sessions running concurrently. So you can organize your tabs by purpose, isolate sensitive accounts, or just be logged into both your Facebook/Google/Twitter accounts at the same time.

quesera 9y ago
The confusion is reasonable though -- your description above is exactly how I use Firefox Profiles today (and for many years). What does Containers add? If the only answer is "a more convenient UI", then that's good enough for me!
- kenhwang 9y ago
  It's not quite a new profile since the container retains all your configuration and extensions and a profile doesn't. It's more similar to a private browsing session, except things aren't forgotten, and you can have as many as you like. And they're tab level so you can treat them they same way you would a tab.
  - chimeracoder 9y ago
    > It's not quite a new profile since the container retains all your configuration and extensions and a profile doesn't. Other way around. Profiles retain configuration and extensions between sessions.
    - johnp_ 9y ago
      Profiles: Every configuration change or extension has to be added in every profile to keep in sync manually across different Firefox instances. Containers: Use the same configuration and extensions across different containers in one running Firefox instance. Both retain configuration and extensions between traditional browser sessions (start/stop). Containers additionally "retain" configuration and extensions across contextual sessions/identities.
- FBT 9y ago
  With profiles, each profile has it's own history, bookmarks, browser settings, and so forth. In effect, it's a separate instance of Firefox. Sometimes that's what you want, and profiles certainly aren't going anywhere. But the idea behind Containers is just that you can be logged in to separate accounts simultaneously in multiple containers. In practice, that means a better and more convenient UI. Containers work on a per-tab basis, so you can have multiple tabs logged in to the same account right next to each other, instead of in different Firefox processes. Plus, you can right click on a link and select "Open in New Container Tab". So while Containers are more than a UI on top of Profiles, it practice one of the main advantages is the convenience of the UI.