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> Once you’re ready to test the mobile version of your extension, create a collection on AMO and test it on Firefox for Android Nightly Just in case anyone mis

by 38 3y ago

> Once you’re ready to test the mobile version of your extension, create a collection on AMO and test it on Firefox for Android Nightly Just in case anyone missed this, it seems that Android Firefox STILL will not allow anonymous installation of extensions. Even if you wrote the extension yourself, and want to install on your own device. Only workaround is to only install approved extensions, or be forced into registering on AMO. if I am wrong I will be happy to hear it, but this upcoming release doesn't seem to offer any meaningful change in regards to user privacy and control.

NoahKAndrews 3y ago
I believe that's just instructions for developers to test now, before the open ecosystem ships.
lolinder 3y ago
I think you're reading too much into that one sentence—that seems more like a temporary measure to me—but it's possible that you're correct. However: > any meaningful change in regards to user privacy and control. There's an enormous difference in user control between the 22 extensions that are currently allowed on Firefox Android and an open library of add-ons, even if Mozilla is retaining control of the add-on installation process for now. I don't usually jump to Mozilla's defense, but saying this is no "meaningful change" is rank hyperbole.
- MrStonedOne 3y ago
  [dead]
mkl 3y ago
I'm hoping I'll be able to load my own extensions with something like ViolentMonkey, TamperMonkey, etc., as I do on desktop.
- selcuka 3y ago
  Tampermonkey already works with the current version of Firefox Android.
  - mkl 3y ago
    Oh, great! I hadn't checked for a while.
danShumway 3y ago
> Once you’re ready to test the mobile version of your extension, create a collection on AMO and test it on Firefox for Android Nightly. If you’d prefer to polish your extension before publishing it on AMO, you can also debug and run the extension with web-ext. I think this mirrors the desktop behavior (now correct me if I'm wrong, I very well might be ;)). Firefox Developer Edition on Desktop has options for sideloading, but otherwise to sideload it needs to be signed. You can however temporarily load an extension to test it if you're a developer in I think any version of Firefox. Their link (https://extensionworkshop.com/documentation/develop/developing-extensions-for-firefox-for-android/#install-and-run-your-extension-in-firefox-for-android https://extensionworkshop.com/documentation/develop/developi...) suggests that Android will work (almost) the same -- you can temporarily load an extension to test it, but it needs to be signed unless you're on nightly. I do think forcing every extension to be signed is a mistake and I wish they'd do away with that policy. But at least on first impression, it looks to me like mobile will be as open as desktop is? Which would be a huge improvement considering how locked down the current Firefox for Android is.
hn92726819 3y ago
The article is about changing your add-on in preparation for their changes. Maybe he's saying that right now, before the change, you have to register as a collection?
plorg 3y ago
AMO account isn't actually required for the user, it's required for some entity to create the "collection", but you don't actually have to have an account to use whichever collection with FF on your phone. Certainly most people who are using this method now correspond 1:1 to AMO account holders, but that isn't a necessity of the software. Any sufficiently motivated person could make a collection called "Too Cool For Mozilla Extensions" and tweet out the user name and collection name, and anyone who wanted could use that collection instead. You also can sideload apps in Nightly, although I understand that is not ideal.
- 38 3y ago
  > AMO account isn't actually required for the user, it's required for some entity to create the "collection", but you don't actually have to have an account to use whichever collection with FF on your phone. the backwards logic to justify this sentence is mind boggling. I wrote my own extension, I should be able to install it on my own device without getting permission from daddy Mozilla, period. I should not have to register for that, in the same way I dont have to register with Debian to install a program on Linux.
tonyg 3y ago
So far there's no indication you're wrong : - (

by 38 3y ago

NoahKAndrews 3y ago

I believe that's just instructions for developers to test now, before the open ecosystem ships.

lolinder 3y ago

I think you're reading too much into that one sentence—that seems more like a temporary measure to me—but it's possible that you're correct. However: > any meaningful change in regards to user privacy and control. There's an enormous difference in user control between the 22 extensions that are currently allowed on Firefox Android and an open library of add-ons, even if Mozilla is retaining control of the add-on installation process for now. I don't usually jump to Mozilla's defense, but saying this is no "meaningful change" is rank hyperbole.

MrStonedOne 3y ago
[dead]

mkl 3y ago

I'm hoping I'll be able to load my own extensions with something like ViolentMonkey, TamperMonkey, etc., as I do on desktop.

selcuka 3y ago
Tampermonkey already works with the current version of Firefox Android.
- mkl 3y ago
  Oh, great! I hadn't checked for a while.

danShumway 3y ago

> Once you’re ready to test the mobile version of your extension, create a collection on AMO and test it on Firefox for Android Nightly. If you’d prefer to polish your extension before publishing it on AMO, you can also debug and run the extension with web-ext. I think this mirrors the desktop behavior (now correct me if I'm wrong, I very well might be ;)). Firefox Developer Edition on Desktop has options for sideloading, but otherwise to sideload it needs to be signed. You can however temporarily load an extension to test it if you're a developer in I think any version of Firefox. Their link (https://extensionworkshop.com/documentation/develop/developing-extensions-for-firefox-for-android/#install-and-run-your-extension-in-firefox-for-android https://extensionworkshop.com/documentation/develop/developi...) suggests that Android will work (almost) the same -- you can temporarily load an extension to test it, but it needs to be signed unless you're on nightly. I do think forcing every extension to be signed is a mistake and I wish they'd do away with that policy. But at least on first impression, it looks to me like mobile will be as open as desktop is? Which would be a huge improvement considering how locked down the current Firefox for Android is.

hn92726819 3y ago

The article is about changing your add-on in preparation for their changes. Maybe he's saying that right now, before the change, you have to register as a collection?

plorg 3y ago

AMO account isn't actually required for the user, it's required for some entity to create the "collection", but you don't actually have to have an account to use whichever collection with FF on your phone. Certainly most people who are using this method now correspond 1:1 to AMO account holders, but that isn't a necessity of the software. Any sufficiently motivated person could make a collection called "Too Cool For Mozilla Extensions" and tweet out the user name and collection name, and anyone who wanted could use that collection instead. You also can sideload apps in Nightly, although I understand that is not ideal.

38 3y ago
> AMO account isn't actually required for the user, it's required for some entity to create the "collection", but you don't actually have to have an account to use whichever collection with FF on your phone. the backwards logic to justify this sentence is mind boggling. I wrote my own extension, I should be able to install it on my own device without getting permission from daddy Mozilla, period. I should not have to register for that, in the same way I dont have to register with Debian to install a program on Linux.

tonyg 3y ago

So far there's no indication you're wrong : - (