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The problem as I see it is that Mozilla is fundamentally two companies, one relatively small that makes almost all the money (thanks to google) the other rather

The problem as I see it is that Mozilla is fundamentally two companies, one relatively small that makes almost all the money (thanks to google) the other rather large that makes basically nothing Paradoxically, the small cash flush company is a nonprofit, while the larger bankrupt one is for profit. Worse, the larger for profit company is simultaneously attempting to he a research institute, an advocacy group and a service. I see no problem with the ceo making a "big" paycheck given the industry and location, but I do have major reservations about the seemingly directionless steering that they and their board have done. This is not a critique of the individual research project, some of them being great, but just because Google gives you a big wad of cash does not mean you can spend it without a plan, or that you can do "everything"

alphaomegacode 6y ago
Really insightful, I didn't even realize any of that. I really thought both the Foundation and the Corporation were hurting. I'm assuming the research you refer to is their WebVR thing and I get it but how do they abandon Servo as a core differentiator and then focus on something that is at best years away. If she were performing, fine, take your $2.5 million but when you let 1/4 of your team go and should have seen it coming, I'm just not so sure it's a justification for management. They're a browser - or should be - and the internet didn't just up and get quarantined because of the pandemic. To me, it's apparent that they saw the browser as secondary to the other items and it made no sense. Really interesting analysis, thanks.
- uberman 6y ago
  If you believe that Mozilla should fundamentally be Firefox (and I am sure many would agree) you will probably be frustrated to learn that Google gives Mozilla about $500 million a year for that and that The Core Firefox team is about 40 people. All the rest of the formerly 1000 employees do other things on behalf of Mozilla but generate basically no revenue. I personally place a huge value on some of these "other" projects though such as MDN the absolute best documentation out there for the web.

alphaomegacode 6y ago

Really insightful, I didn't even realize any of that. I really thought both the Foundation and the Corporation were hurting. I'm assuming the research you refer to is their WebVR thing and I get it but how do they abandon Servo as a core differentiator and then focus on something that is at best years away. If she were performing, fine, take your $2.5 million but when you let 1/4 of your team go and should have seen it coming, I'm just not so sure it's a justification for management. They're a browser - or should be - and the internet didn't just up and get quarantined because of the pandemic. To me, it's apparent that they saw the browser as secondary to the other items and it made no sense. Really interesting analysis, thanks.

uberman 6y ago
If you believe that Mozilla should fundamentally be Firefox (and I am sure many would agree) you will probably be frustrated to learn that Google gives Mozilla about $500 million a year for that and that The Core Firefox team is about 40 people. All the rest of the formerly 1000 employees do other things on behalf of Mozilla but generate basically no revenue. I personally place a huge value on some of these "other" projects though such as MDN the absolute best documentation out there for the web.