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I switched to Firefox as my primary browser a couple of months ago, and have been happy enough that I haven't looked back. It is significantly more smooth and p

I switched to Firefox as my primary browser a couple of months ago, and have been happy enough that I haven't looked back. It is significantly more smooth and performant than it was; the work on Quantum cannot be understated, and the minor fiasco with their extensions ecosystem, though painful, I feel was the right move. With that said, a few anecdotes keep jumping out at me: - Pocket integration. Dive into about:config, turn it off, lather rinse repeat on every device and every fresh OS install. I have about a dozen. - The default theme has two large "spacer" elements that shrink the address bar towards the center. These might not bother anyone else, but they drove me nuts; fortunately they can be removed with the customization menu. - Bookmarks sync well (yay!) but don't always retain the same ordering on each device, which gets a bit confusing. I can work around this easily enough, but it's not quite as smooth as the same feature on Chrome. - JavaScript performance is not as fast as Chrome. This is normally a non-issue, but occasionally I'll run into someone's ShowHN demo here and find that while it technically works, the performance is sometimes quite slow. Ditto for anything using WebGL. Again, mostly a non-issue, but I do find myself firing up Chrome to run the odd app. Most of these issues are relatively minor, and fortunately Firefox still has a fantastically intelligent community, so any time I ran into an issue the solution was a quick search away. I think the value add in feeling like I'm in more control of my browser is well worth it, and I hope Mozilla continues moving in this direction. More competition is good!

giancarlostoro 9y ago
> - The default theme has two large "spacer" elements that shrink the address bar towards the center. These might not bother anyone else, but they drove me nuts; fortunately they can be removed with the customization menu. Every single time I install Firefox on a new OS I remove them. They drive me nuts too!
torstenvl 9y ago
"the work on Quantum cannot be understated" I agree 100%, which is why I am not switching back.
- klez 9y ago
  Why? What's wrong with Quantum?
  - torstenvl 9y ago
    On Mac at least, basic UI like hover highlighting is extremely slow. Obviously everyone's environment, use case, and experiences are different. For me, personally, Quantum is not even in the same league as Chrome or Safari. (Also, for me, personally, I think downvoting people who have differing experiences is less than productive.)
    - zeta0134 9y ago
      Nothing wrong with having a different opinion, and this is useful critique! No complaints here, however your original comment lacked this information. It's being downvoted because it doesn't really contribute anything to the discussion. If you'd included this extra tidbit originally, I think it would have been fine.
    - klez 9y ago
      Just to be clear, I didn't downvote neither this nor the post I replied to.
    - andyhoang 9y ago
      When I first try FF 58, its my exp also. But after FF 59, I gave it another try, much better. Did u tried it with 58 or 59?
orbital-decay 9y ago
Side note to anyone who might like Pocket but don't want to depend on a third-party service (even from Mozilla themselves): try Wallabag. It's a bit lacking in typesetting options, but overall it's a neat self-hosted alternative.
gnicholas 9y ago
I know there was some controversy when Firefox integrated (and then acquired) Pocket, but I don't quite understand why people were so upset. My understanding (from having talked with folks at Mozilla) is that the suggested stories are personalized on the client side—so any info used to customize the stories for you isn't flowing back to Mozilla. Instead, they deliver a bunch of stories to the client, then the client sorts out which ones will be recommended. From a privacy perspective, this seems like a good way to do things. And I personally find the suggested stories to be interesting sometimes, and never creepy/inappropriate. Regardless, it's good to know this can be turned off.
- zeta0134 9y ago
  I had no idea it was all clientside! That makes me significantly less worried about it. I guess I'm so used to recommendations being done serverside that I'm jaded by default.
csdreamer7 9y ago
> Bookmarks sync well (yay!) but don't always retain the same ordering on each device, which gets a bit confusing. I can work around this easily enough, but it's not quite as smooth as the same feature on Chrome. I have never had an issue with bookmark sync on Firefox. I did with Chrome-my bookmarks order would be rearranged every time I changed something, other devices would be messed up. It is one of the biggest reasons why I stuck with Firefox all these years.
bad_user 9y ago
I use Pocket and I like it. I don't consider it a blunder, because it addresses a problem I have and because Pocket is now owned by Mozilla, an organization that I trust. The Pocket mobile apps are also really good and polished. I'm actually a paid customer of Pocket Premium ever since it got acquired by Mozilla. I hope they'll open source the implementation and fix their interface — I don't like that their search doesn't have an URL that I can use as a search provider. Also Pocket's Firefox integration is actually less invasive than Chrome's extension, which I don't appreciate. I like for example having an "add to Pocket" link on HN items or in Twitter. And the Chrome extension also gives you a homepage with trending articles on Pocket. So I don't like Pocket's Firefox integration, but not for the same reason. I don't like it because it is less capable than Chrome's. -- I also have Chrome installed and try it out from time to time. But Firefox's UI is much better and I haven't had any performance issues with it, quite the contrary, for my usage patterns Firefox feels better.
johnp_ 9y ago
If `extensions.pocket.enabled` doesn't sync (I don't know if it does by default), consider adding `services.sync.prefs.sync.extensions.pocket.enabled`, then it will synchronize across devices. Bookmark sync is currently getting a complete overhaul to fix the various shortcomings: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WoM7JEatr_QJ1CrGk2rwoSDy8OhkWj9vbEmfzwVJ8O4/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WoM7JEatr_QJ1CrGk2rwoSDy...
- anotherevan 9y ago
  With the upcoming death of Xmarks, I've often idly wondered how hard it would be to write a Chrome extension that could use Firefox's bookmark sync facility.
  - hrez 9y ago
    Ha, I have exactly the same thoughts. Except it could be any 3d party file syncing service i.e. syncthing, dropbox, gdrive etc. Any cross browser bookmark syncing alternative left? - Looks like it's either you stick with a single browser brand or come up with your own bookmark syncing.
morganvachon 9y ago
> - Pocket integration. Dive into about:config, turn it off, lather rinse repeat on every device and every fresh OS install. I have about a dozen. This always bothered me, especially after it became hard-coded into the project. I used to do the same as you to remove it, but now I use Waterfox which rips it out at the source. > - Bookmarks sync well (yay!) but don't always retain the same ordering on each device, which gets a bit confusing. I can work around this easily enough, but it's not quite as smooth as the same feature on Chrome. I have found that if I give it about five minutes after syncing, my bookmarks tend to line themselves up according to the last fully synced install. This is important as I put all my bookmarks on the bookmarks bar arranged by folders and subfolders, and muscle memory gets thrown off if I don't give them time to sync positions.
enzolovesbacon 9y ago
I have the same issues/annoyances as you. Also, for the past few weeks, I set up a few Linux desktops. When you install Firefox Quantum alongside with the pre-installed Firefox ESR (most of mainstream distros has it) and enable sync, your bookmarks will have a higher chance of being incorrectly synced and your history (if you chose to sync it) will probably be at FIREFOX_PROFILE_DIR/places.sqlite.corrupt A simple fix is to close Firefox and $ cd ~/.mozilla/firefox/YOUR_PROFILE $ mv places.sqlite.corrupt places.sqlite I'm still trying to find the time to prepare a proper bug report.
dorgo 9y ago
> minor fiasco with their extensions ecosystem minor? you are kidding >feeling like I'm in more control of my browser I lost the control of my browser after quantum. Now I still have some control over the websites displayed in the browser but the browser itself (loading screen, private mode, new-tab, reading view, focus of adress bar, all chrome-urls, ... ) are out of reach. Mozilla took 40% of control away. Without serious effort (fork , hacking..) I can't control my browser any more.
robin_reala 9y ago
A lot of the JS problems arise from developers building against v8. I primarily develop with Firefox and do the same the other way: wrote a demo last year that ran at 60fps in Firefox, but <15fps when I tried it in Chrome. Turned out that out-of-index array accesses drop v8 out of a performance optimisation, but had I developed against it in the first place I might have abandoned the whole approach as lacking performance instead of just realising it was a quirk of a particular engine. Incidentally rewriting it to guard against out-of-array accesses only got Chrome up to 50fps so it was still down on Firefox. Maybe other assumptions of mine?

giancarlostoro 9y ago

> - The default theme has two large "spacer" elements that shrink the address bar towards the center. These might not bother anyone else, but they drove me nuts; fortunately they can be removed with the customization menu. Every single time I install Firefox on a new OS I remove them. They drive me nuts too!

torstenvl 9y ago

"the work on Quantum cannot be understated" I agree 100%, which is why I am not switching back.

klez 9y ago
Why? What's wrong with Quantum?
- torstenvl 9y ago
  On Mac at least, basic UI like hover highlighting is extremely slow. Obviously everyone's environment, use case, and experiences are different. For me, personally, Quantum is not even in the same league as Chrome or Safari. (Also, for me, personally, I think downvoting people who have differing experiences is less than productive.)
  - zeta0134 9y ago
    Nothing wrong with having a different opinion, and this is useful critique! No complaints here, however your original comment lacked this information. It's being downvoted because it doesn't really contribute anything to the discussion. If you'd included this extra tidbit originally, I think it would have been fine.
  - klez 9y ago
    Just to be clear, I didn't downvote neither this nor the post I replied to.
  - andyhoang 9y ago
    When I first try FF 58, its my exp also. But after FF 59, I gave it another try, much better. Did u tried it with 58 or 59?

orbital-decay 9y ago

Side note to anyone who might like Pocket but don't want to depend on a third-party service (even from Mozilla themselves): try Wallabag. It's a bit lacking in typesetting options, but overall it's a neat self-hosted alternative.

gnicholas 9y ago

I know there was some controversy when Firefox integrated (and then acquired) Pocket, but I don't quite understand why people were so upset. My understanding (from having talked with folks at Mozilla) is that the suggested stories are personalized on the client side—so any info used to customize the stories for you isn't flowing back to Mozilla. Instead, they deliver a bunch of stories to the client, then the client sorts out which ones will be recommended. From a privacy perspective, this seems like a good way to do things. And I personally find the suggested stories to be interesting sometimes, and never creepy/inappropriate. Regardless, it's good to know this can be turned off.

zeta0134 9y ago
I had no idea it was all clientside! That makes me significantly less worried about it. I guess I'm so used to recommendations being done serverside that I'm jaded by default.

csdreamer7 9y ago

> Bookmarks sync well (yay!) but don't always retain the same ordering on each device, which gets a bit confusing. I can work around this easily enough, but it's not quite as smooth as the same feature on Chrome. I have never had an issue with bookmark sync on Firefox. I did with Chrome-my bookmarks order would be rearranged every time I changed something, other devices would be messed up. It is one of the biggest reasons why I stuck with Firefox all these years.

bad_user 9y ago

I use Pocket and I like it. I don't consider it a blunder, because it addresses a problem I have and because Pocket is now owned by Mozilla, an organization that I trust. The Pocket mobile apps are also really good and polished. I'm actually a paid customer of Pocket Premium ever since it got acquired by Mozilla. I hope they'll open source the implementation and fix their interface — I don't like that their search doesn't have an URL that I can use as a search provider. Also Pocket's Firefox integration is actually less invasive than Chrome's extension, which I don't appreciate. I like for example having an "add to Pocket" link on HN items or in Twitter. And the Chrome extension also gives you a homepage with trending articles on Pocket. So I don't like Pocket's Firefox integration, but not for the same reason. I don't like it because it is less capable than Chrome's. -- I also have Chrome installed and try it out from time to time. But Firefox's UI is much better and I haven't had any performance issues with it, quite the contrary, for my usage patterns Firefox feels better.

johnp_ 9y ago

If `extensions.pocket.enabled` doesn't sync (I don't know if it does by default), consider adding `services.sync.prefs.sync.extensions.pocket.enabled`, then it will synchronize across devices. Bookmark sync is currently getting a complete overhaul to fix the various shortcomings: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WoM7JEatr_QJ1CrGk2rwoSDy8OhkWj9vbEmfzwVJ8O4/ https://docs.google.com/document/d/1WoM7JEatr_QJ1CrGk2rwoSDy...

anotherevan 9y ago
With the upcoming death of Xmarks, I've often idly wondered how hard it would be to write a Chrome extension that could use Firefox's bookmark sync facility.
- hrez 9y ago
  Ha, I have exactly the same thoughts. Except it could be any 3d party file syncing service i.e. syncthing, dropbox, gdrive etc. Any cross browser bookmark syncing alternative left? - Looks like it's either you stick with a single browser brand or come up with your own bookmark syncing.

morganvachon 9y ago

> - Pocket integration. Dive into about:config, turn it off, lather rinse repeat on every device and every fresh OS install. I have about a dozen. This always bothered me, especially after it became hard-coded into the project. I used to do the same as you to remove it, but now I use Waterfox which rips it out at the source. > - Bookmarks sync well (yay!) but don't always retain the same ordering on each device, which gets a bit confusing. I can work around this easily enough, but it's not quite as smooth as the same feature on Chrome. I have found that if I give it about five minutes after syncing, my bookmarks tend to line themselves up according to the last fully synced install. This is important as I put all my bookmarks on the bookmarks bar arranged by folders and subfolders, and muscle memory gets thrown off if I don't give them time to sync positions.

enzolovesbacon 9y ago

I have the same issues/annoyances as you. Also, for the past few weeks, I set up a few Linux desktops. When you install Firefox Quantum alongside with the pre-installed Firefox ESR (most of mainstream distros has it) and enable sync, your bookmarks will have a higher chance of being incorrectly synced and your history (if you chose to sync it) will probably be at FIREFOX_PROFILE_DIR/places.sqlite.corrupt A simple fix is to close Firefox and $ cd ~/.mozilla/firefox/YOUR_PROFILE $ mv places.sqlite.corrupt places.sqlite I'm still trying to find the time to prepare a proper bug report.

dorgo 9y ago

> minor fiasco with their extensions ecosystem minor? you are kidding >feeling like I'm in more control of my browser I lost the control of my browser after quantum. Now I still have some control over the websites displayed in the browser but the browser itself (loading screen, private mode, new-tab, reading view, focus of adress bar, all chrome-urls, ... ) are out of reach. Mozilla took 40% of control away. Without serious effort (fork , hacking..) I can't control my browser any more.

robin_reala 9y ago

A lot of the JS problems arise from developers building against v8. I primarily develop with Firefox and do the same the other way: wrote a demo last year that ran at 60fps in Firefox, but <15fps when I tried it in Chrome. Turned out that out-of-index array accesses drop v8 out of a performance optimisation, but had I developed against it in the first place I might have abandoned the whole approach as lacking performance instead of just realising it was a quirk of a particular engine. Incidentally rewriting it to guard against out-of-array accesses only got Chrome up to 50fps so it was still down on Firefox. Maybe other assumptions of mine?