11 ms·

I had switched away from FF to use Chrome predominately a few years ago, for a mix of various reasons. Performance being a big one. But I've been thinking more

I had switched away from FF to use Chrome predominately a few years ago, for a mix of various reasons. Performance being a big one. But I've been thinking more about the whole browser monoculture issue, and the importance of Mozilla and Firefox for the Open Web in general lately, so about a week or two ago I started switching back to Firefox as my primary browser. So far, so good. Performance feels pretty snappy so far, and I haven't run across many rendering issues, and none that really matter. All in all, I'd say that if you have been considering Firefox, now might be a good time to give it a shot. This is all, BTW, in reference to the desktop version (Linux specifically) not mobile.

IggleSniggle 6y ago
Even Firefox for iOS (which must use Safari WebView) comes bundles with a decent content blocker. Recommended.
- HenryKissinger 6y ago
  My favorite Firefox extension is tree style tabs. It displays your tabs as a vertical menu on the side rather than on a horizontal line at the top. I've been using this extension for years and I'm going to use it for the rest of my life. I highly recommend checking it out.
  - smabie 6y ago
    I agree, tree tabs is the best. How do people manage with out it?
    - GoblinSlayer 6y ago
      By having 8 tabs.
    - takeda 6y ago
      I really liked Tree Style Tabs before the restrictions on extensions. I do understand that they needed to discontinue them, because it was a roadblock for faster engine, but they felt less like a hack to provide that functionality.
      - smabie 6y ago
        It still works great, has any functionality been removed?
        takeda 6y ago
        I think mostly that it is not part of the UI. Functionality wise I think it is ok. Basically: - the original tabs are still displayed (I know there was some way to tinker with FF files to have them hidden, but now I can't find where I've seen it) - when viewing bookmarks, the treestyle tab disappears (since it's using the same side bar), so then need to use F1 to get it back) - the old version also had an option where the side bar shrunk, and expanded when you hovered mouse, saving some space.
  - Fiahil 6y ago
    I installed Tree Style Tabs by reading recommendations about it. It's true, this extension is great!
  - boring_twenties 6y ago
    You mean you're going to use it for as long as Mozilla allows it.
- cgb223 6y ago
  How does it compare to Mobile Safari ad blocker plug-ins like 1Blocker?
programmertote 6y ago
I use FF and Chrome, but the sites I visit are distinctly split between these two browsers (i.e. I strictly browse some sites on one of these two browser). First, I want FF to be around for a long time to make sure there's no browser monopoly by Chrome. That's the primary reason I use FF. I also trust FF more regarding privacy. So I use FF to log in on sites like my banks, credit cards, and government sites (like IRS and social security). I even use FF to check my Gmail. I use Chrome to browse less trustworthy sites across the internet, and sites that I really don't mind Google tracking my visit such as HN, Reddit, etc. The only Google product that I use on Chrome is YouTube. :) Thank you, FF engineering team for keeping alternative alive on the web.
- verroq 6y ago
  Maybe FF team can answer why they keep pushing crap like Pocket down our throats.
  - tasty_freeze 6y ago
    I'm a long-time Firefox user. I often hear people with savage opinions about Pocket. Can you state what hardship this has caused you? Did it violate your privacy? Does it impose extra layers of clicking to get work done or occupy valuable screen space? Is it helping to fund child slave labor? The only time I am aware of Pocket is when someone online reports how this molehill is a mountain to them. I also wonder where they place their mouths while browsing that they experience it as being shoved down their throats. Imagine how much time you spend on your chosen browser to configure it how you like it. How much extra work is it to set extensions.pocket.enabled to false in about:config if Pocket is causing so much pain?
    - core-questions 6y ago
      > Can you state what hardship this has caused you? It subjected me to a bunch of banal content on my homepage that I didn't want or like. > Does it impose extra layers of clicking to get work done or occupy valuable screen space? It occupied a second or two of my attention when opening a new tab. Sometimes I got suckered into clicking on an article, which I almost immediately regretted every time. > this molehill is a mountain to them. I clicked to disable it and moved on with my life. I find it unfortunate but not worth more than the two seconds of distraction it already took from me.
godelski 6y ago
> This is all, BTW, in reference to the desktop version (Linux specifically) not mobile. Mobile is better, because you can install uBlock. As far as I'm aware Chrome mobile still doesn't allow addons. As for FF on the main browser, they really shot themselves in the foot years ago and left a bad taste in any users' mouths. I see this same message in every HN FF update thread (since quantum). They really did fix most of the bugs and speed, but it is hard to build the brand back. The only performance/bug I sometimes get is if I'm doing a heavy research day and open a metric ton of tabs (>100) and things get pushed into swap and don't release, even after closing FF. But Chrome was always a memory hog as well so it isn't enough to cause me to switch over and this is a niche thing (and easy to resolve).
- black_puppydog 6y ago
  errrr... not sure I understand correctly what you mean with "bugs and speed", specifically "since quantum". I remember that the day that Quantum released, I suddenly got DMs from my non-tech friends who announced that they had installed/updated FF, and were happy how incredibly fast it was. I remember that because those were people who would usually roll their eyes if I mentioned anything software related in a conversation.
  - godelski 6y ago
    > [since quantum] They really did fix most of the bugs and speed... I mean that pre-quantum it was slow and buggy. Post quantum it is fast and not buggy.
    - FillardMillmore 6y ago
      Perhaps my experience or usage of the browser was different from most, but I would not characterize my experience with Firefox pre-Quantum as "slow and buggy". I rarely noticed bugs and it always seemed to be as fast as Chrome was. Granted, I did have ad-blockers installed and I never ran benchmarks but I never noticed much of a difference.
- JBiserkov 6y ago
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
quicklime 6y ago
I’m similar to you, except I’m also using mobile Firefox, and I think the preview/beta Firefox on Android works great. Looking forward to this becoming the standard for everyone. The only compatibility issues I run into with Firefox are with my company’s internal web apps. It really does feel like Chrome is the new IE6 in the enterprise world :(
random42_ 6y ago
Same with me. I jumped to Chrome as soon as it came out because FF was sluggish and pretty much impossible to use. Ironically Chrome was a memory hog although performance didn’t really suffer. When Quantum came out, I switched back to FF and never looked back. Nowadays FF is my primary browser and I use Safari as a secondary browser. Luckily I’ve never experienced the performance issues that come up every time that there is a thread about FF on HN (although I’m starting to suspect that my habit of keeping just a few tabs open might be the reason).

IggleSniggle 6y ago

Even Firefox for iOS (which must use Safari WebView) comes bundles with a decent content blocker. Recommended.

HenryKissinger 6y ago
My favorite Firefox extension is tree style tabs. It displays your tabs as a vertical menu on the side rather than on a horizontal line at the top. I've been using this extension for years and I'm going to use it for the rest of my life. I highly recommend checking it out.
- smabie 6y ago
  I agree, tree tabs is the best. How do people manage with out it?
  - GoblinSlayer 6y ago
    By having 8 tabs.
  - takeda 6y ago
    I really liked Tree Style Tabs before the restrictions on extensions. I do understand that they needed to discontinue them, because it was a roadblock for faster engine, but they felt less like a hack to provide that functionality.
    - smabie 6y ago
      It still works great, has any functionality been removed?
      - takeda 6y ago
        I think mostly that it is not part of the UI. Functionality wise I think it is ok. Basically: - the original tabs are still displayed (I know there was some way to tinker with FF files to have them hidden, but now I can't find where I've seen it) - when viewing bookmarks, the treestyle tab disappears (since it's using the same side bar), so then need to use F1 to get it back) - the old version also had an option where the side bar shrunk, and expanded when you hovered mouse, saving some space.
- Fiahil 6y ago
  I installed Tree Style Tabs by reading recommendations about it. It's true, this extension is great!
- boring_twenties 6y ago
  You mean you're going to use it for as long as Mozilla allows it.
cgb223 6y ago
How does it compare to Mobile Safari ad blocker plug-ins like 1Blocker?

programmertote 6y ago

I use FF and Chrome, but the sites I visit are distinctly split between these two browsers (i.e. I strictly browse some sites on one of these two browser). First, I want FF to be around for a long time to make sure there's no browser monopoly by Chrome. That's the primary reason I use FF. I also trust FF more regarding privacy. So I use FF to log in on sites like my banks, credit cards, and government sites (like IRS and social security). I even use FF to check my Gmail. I use Chrome to browse less trustworthy sites across the internet, and sites that I really don't mind Google tracking my visit such as HN, Reddit, etc. The only Google product that I use on Chrome is YouTube. :) Thank you, FF engineering team for keeping alternative alive on the web.

verroq 6y ago
Maybe FF team can answer why they keep pushing crap like Pocket down our throats.
- tasty_freeze 6y ago
  I'm a long-time Firefox user. I often hear people with savage opinions about Pocket. Can you state what hardship this has caused you? Did it violate your privacy? Does it impose extra layers of clicking to get work done or occupy valuable screen space? Is it helping to fund child slave labor? The only time I am aware of Pocket is when someone online reports how this molehill is a mountain to them. I also wonder where they place their mouths while browsing that they experience it as being shoved down their throats. Imagine how much time you spend on your chosen browser to configure it how you like it. How much extra work is it to set extensions.pocket.enabled to false in about:config if Pocket is causing so much pain?
  - core-questions 6y ago
    > Can you state what hardship this has caused you? It subjected me to a bunch of banal content on my homepage that I didn't want or like. > Does it impose extra layers of clicking to get work done or occupy valuable screen space? It occupied a second or two of my attention when opening a new tab. Sometimes I got suckered into clicking on an article, which I almost immediately regretted every time. > this molehill is a mountain to them. I clicked to disable it and moved on with my life. I find it unfortunate but not worth more than the two seconds of distraction it already took from me.

godelski 6y ago

> This is all, BTW, in reference to the desktop version (Linux specifically) not mobile. Mobile is better, because you can install uBlock. As far as I'm aware Chrome mobile still doesn't allow addons. As for FF on the main browser, they really shot themselves in the foot years ago and left a bad taste in any users' mouths. I see this same message in every HN FF update thread (since quantum). They really did fix most of the bugs and speed, but it is hard to build the brand back. The only performance/bug I sometimes get is if I'm doing a heavy research day and open a metric ton of tabs (>100) and things get pushed into swap and don't release, even after closing FF. But Chrome was always a memory hog as well so it isn't enough to cause me to switch over and this is a niche thing (and easy to resolve).

black_puppydog 6y ago
errrr... not sure I understand correctly what you mean with "bugs and speed", specifically "since quantum". I remember that the day that Quantum released, I suddenly got DMs from my non-tech friends who announced that they had installed/updated FF, and were happy how incredibly fast it was. I remember that because those were people who would usually roll their eyes if I mentioned anything software related in a conversation.
- godelski 6y ago
  > [since quantum] They really did fix most of the bugs and speed... I mean that pre-quantum it was slow and buggy. Post quantum it is fast and not buggy.
  - FillardMillmore 6y ago
    Perhaps my experience or usage of the browser was different from most, but I would not characterize my experience with Firefox pre-Quantum as "slow and buggy". I rarely noticed bugs and it always seemed to be as fast as Chrome was. Granted, I did have ad-blockers installed and I never ran benchmarks but I never noticed much of a difference.
JBiserkov 6y ago

deleted 6y ago

[deleted]

quicklime 6y ago

I’m similar to you, except I’m also using mobile Firefox, and I think the preview/beta Firefox on Android works great. Looking forward to this becoming the standard for everyone. The only compatibility issues I run into with Firefox are with my company’s internal web apps. It really does feel like Chrome is the new IE6 in the enterprise world :(

random42_ 6y ago

Same with me. I jumped to Chrome as soon as it came out because FF was sluggish and pretty much impossible to use. Ironically Chrome was a memory hog although performance didn’t really suffer. When Quantum came out, I switched back to FF and never looked back. Nowadays FF is my primary browser and I use Safari as a secondary browser. Luckily I’ve never experienced the performance issues that come up every time that there is a thread about FF on HN (although I’m starting to suspect that my habit of keeping just a few tabs open might be the reason).