5 ms·

> Look at all the projects Mozilla got involved in that were not really related to the browser. Do you have some examples of this? Also, their mission is beyon

> Look at all the projects Mozilla got involved in that were not really related to the browser. Do you have some examples of this? Also, their mission is beyond the browser: "Our mission is to ensure the Internet is a global public resource, open and accessible to all. An Internet that truly puts people first, where individuals can shape their own experience and are empowered, safe and independent." [0] I've said it before but I'll say it again since it's relevant: The cost of building and maintaining a competitive browser is huge and it's hard for Mozilla/Firefox to compete with Google/Chrome. Firefox saw its monthly active users go down by ~6% in the last 12 months [1]. I think Mozilla should consider stopping Firefox development and fork Chromium to focus on accessibility and privacy (both in and out of the browser). It's far from ideal--there'll only be one popular browser engine--but it's a trade off that could help Mozilla put more money and time towards its true mission: "to ensure the Internet is a global public resource, open and accessible to all". The cost of building/maintaining Firefox is holding them back from putting more money and effort toward that mission (and I think that's why they're reducing their workforce [2]). [0] https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/mission/ https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/mission/ [1] 222M MAU in Aug. 2019 and 209M MAU as of Aug. 2, 2020 https://data.firefox.com/dashboard/user-activity https://data.firefox.com/dashboard/user-activity [2] "Today we announced a significant restructuring of Mozilla Corporation. This will strengthen our ability to build and invest in products and services that will give people alternatives to conventional Big Tech. Sadly, the changes also include a significant reduction in our workforce by approximately 250 people." https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2020/08/11/changing-world-changing-mozilla/ https://blog.mozilla.org/blog/2020/08/11/changing-world-chan...

72deluxe 6y ago
How am I "empowered" on the Internet? If I do not use Mozilla products, am I powerless when I use the Internet? Are all Apple iPhone users powerless? Can I no longer "shape my own experience" if I use an iPhone with Safari? If I use Mozilla products, do I get given richer webpages where my experience is modifiable by me? If not, how do I "shape" my experience?? The mission statement is vague, which seems to have translated into liberal spending.
- sokoloff 6y ago
  While I agree with your last sentence to some extent, I do believe that having a vibrant, viable Mozilla does serve to empower Internet users in a somewhat similar way as the GPL does. Linux and other GPL software I believe has served as a viable alternative to closed/walled gardens like the Apple ecosystem (and I say that from my Macbook with my iPhone and iPad close at hand). Every time we lament the issues of loss of user power in walled gardens, I think it's substantially true that "it could be even worse" if there were no countervailing forces, like Mozilla.
  - 72deluxe 6y ago
    This is a good point. I am just not a huge fan of the vague mission statement.
    - falcolas 6y ago
      If your mission statement is too concrete, it can actively prevent you from looking at opportunities. Mission statements are like a wind in the sails of the corporation. It doesn't replace the role of the rudder (that's the job of the C level leaders), but it does lead you in a particular direction.
- viraptor 6y ago
  > Are all Apple iPhone users powerless? Can they run a browser which does not work by embedding safari? Can they run another browser which runs JS in JIT mode? > Can I no longer "shape my own experience" if I use an iPhone with Safari? Until relatively recently, the answer was "no". And Mozilla was one of the reasons people knew the alternatives world existed and people kept raising this as an issue with both default iPhone and Android browsers. Neither Safari nor Chrome allowed custom ad and trackers blocking.
  - scarface74 6y ago
    Right because little companies like Google have a hard time breaking through the noise since no one goes to their web page.... Safari on iOS does in fact allow ad blockers and has for five years.
kps 6y ago
> Also, their mission is beyond the browser: Yes, that's the problem. Mozilla was Netscape++ and was pretty darn good at it until their ‘leadership’ lost interest.
Causality1 6y ago
Making Firefox more like Chrome is one reason their user share has fallen off a cliff.

72deluxe 6y ago

How am I "empowered" on the Internet? If I do not use Mozilla products, am I powerless when I use the Internet? Are all Apple iPhone users powerless? Can I no longer "shape my own experience" if I use an iPhone with Safari? If I use Mozilla products, do I get given richer webpages where my experience is modifiable by me? If not, how do I "shape" my experience?? The mission statement is vague, which seems to have translated into liberal spending.

sokoloff 6y ago
While I agree with your last sentence to some extent, I do believe that having a vibrant, viable Mozilla does serve to empower Internet users in a somewhat similar way as the GPL does. Linux and other GPL software I believe has served as a viable alternative to closed/walled gardens like the Apple ecosystem (and I say that from my Macbook with my iPhone and iPad close at hand). Every time we lament the issues of loss of user power in walled gardens, I think it's substantially true that "it could be even worse" if there were no countervailing forces, like Mozilla.
- 72deluxe 6y ago
  This is a good point. I am just not a huge fan of the vague mission statement.
  - falcolas 6y ago
    If your mission statement is too concrete, it can actively prevent you from looking at opportunities. Mission statements are like a wind in the sails of the corporation. It doesn't replace the role of the rudder (that's the job of the C level leaders), but it does lead you in a particular direction.
viraptor 6y ago
> Are all Apple iPhone users powerless? Can they run a browser which does not work by embedding safari? Can they run another browser which runs JS in JIT mode? > Can I no longer "shape my own experience" if I use an iPhone with Safari? Until relatively recently, the answer was "no". And Mozilla was one of the reasons people knew the alternatives world existed and people kept raising this as an issue with both default iPhone and Android browsers. Neither Safari nor Chrome allowed custom ad and trackers blocking.
- scarface74 6y ago
  Right because little companies like Google have a hard time breaking through the noise since no one goes to their web page.... Safari on iOS does in fact allow ad blockers and has for five years.

kps 6y ago

> Also, their mission is beyond the browser: Yes, that's the problem. Mozilla was Netscape++ and was pretty darn good at it until their ‘leadership’ lost interest.

Causality1 6y ago

Making Firefox more like Chrome is one reason their user share has fallen off a cliff.