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I remember using extensions on Firefox android years ago. Is my memory failing in this or did they remove them before putting them back?

shmde 3y ago
Your memory is failing you. Been using firefox android ( stable and beta) with the addons (ublock etc) since a few years now.
- speedgoose 3y ago
  Another comment mentions the quantum Firefox update from 2017. I think I was using Firefox on Android from around 2014. But I probably also used it after the update. I guess all my extensions were quickly whitelisted by Mozilla.
- unmole 3y ago
  You could install custom extensions on Firefox Android. Now you have to jump through hoops to install anything that isn't blessed by Mozilla.
  - heap_perms 3y ago
    Indeed. They have too much authority with the marketplace. Does someone know if it is feasible to build Fenix from source, fork it and then add a startup function that sideloads any extension the user chooses, not just the blessed ones? I'm considerung doing this, but don't want to spend a lot of time doing something impossible.
    - unmole 3y ago
      This can be a starting point: https://github.com/fork-maintainers/iceraven-browser https://github.com/fork-maintainers/iceraven-browser
    - prmoustache 3y ago
      Fennec allows you to install extensions you want afaik, even xpi files in your phone storage.
      - unmole 3y ago
        Fennec is dead. The current project is Fenix which has a lot of functionality missing.
wvenable 3y ago
Yes. Firefox on Android used to be basically identical to Firefox on the desktop and it was great. It supported all extensions that the desktop version did. But then they decided they needed a mobile-specific experience and created the current dumbed down version with limited add-on support.
- iudqnolq 3y ago
  I was quite skeptical up until now. But this article includes legitimate reasons Android has different API needs, like the absence of reliable long-lived processes. If they actually finish and release this then I'll be convinced they had a good reason to need to iterate on the API design in a semi-closed beta.
- lopis 3y ago
  The old Firefox was a terrible App, performance wise. The new one tried to create a better experience so they restricted addons until they knew it wasn't a problem...
  - friend_and_foe 3y ago
    Why not just put up a warning for extensions that dont work well and let the user decide? I've used several unsupported extensions in iceraven for years and had no problems, which leaves me feeling suspicious about their stated motivation.
    - orra 3y ago
      > Why not just put up a warning for extensions that dont work well and let the user decide? Because the typical user will ignore the warning and install the extension. Then down the line Firefox will be slow and they forget why. Then they uninstall Firefox. Sure, you can avoid this trap personally. But the statistical behaviour is harmful to a healthy Firefox userbase.
      - friend_and_foe 3y ago
friend_and_foe 3y ago
Nope, youre right. With the Firefox Quantum update they took away extension support with the exception of a handful of white listed extensions.

shmde 3y ago

Your memory is failing you. Been using firefox android ( stable and beta) with the addons (ublock etc) since a few years now.

speedgoose 3y ago
Another comment mentions the quantum Firefox update from 2017. I think I was using Firefox on Android from around 2014. But I probably also used it after the update. I guess all my extensions were quickly whitelisted by Mozilla.
unmole 3y ago
You could install custom extensions on Firefox Android. Now you have to jump through hoops to install anything that isn't blessed by Mozilla.
- heap_perms 3y ago
  Indeed. They have too much authority with the marketplace. Does someone know if it is feasible to build Fenix from source, fork it and then add a startup function that sideloads any extension the user chooses, not just the blessed ones? I'm considerung doing this, but don't want to spend a lot of time doing something impossible.
  - unmole 3y ago
    This can be a starting point: https://github.com/fork-maintainers/iceraven-browser https://github.com/fork-maintainers/iceraven-browser
  - prmoustache 3y ago
    Fennec allows you to install extensions you want afaik, even xpi files in your phone storage.
    - unmole 3y ago
      Fennec is dead. The current project is Fenix which has a lot of functionality missing.

wvenable 3y ago

Yes. Firefox on Android used to be basically identical to Firefox on the desktop and it was great. It supported all extensions that the desktop version did. But then they decided they needed a mobile-specific experience and created the current dumbed down version with limited add-on support.

iudqnolq 3y ago
I was quite skeptical up until now. But this article includes legitimate reasons Android has different API needs, like the absence of reliable long-lived processes. If they actually finish and release this then I'll be convinced they had a good reason to need to iterate on the API design in a semi-closed beta.
lopis 3y ago
The old Firefox was a terrible App, performance wise. The new one tried to create a better experience so they restricted addons until they knew it wasn't a problem...
- friend_and_foe 3y ago
  Why not just put up a warning for extensions that dont work well and let the user decide? I've used several unsupported extensions in iceraven for years and had no problems, which leaves me feeling suspicious about their stated motivation.
  - orra 3y ago
    > Why not just put up a warning for extensions that dont work well and let the user decide? Because the typical user will ignore the warning and install the extension. Then down the line Firefox will be slow and they forget why. Then they uninstall Firefox. Sure, you can avoid this trap personally. But the statistical behaviour is harmful to a healthy Firefox userbase.
    - friend_and_foe 3y ago

friend_and_foe 3y ago

Nope, youre right. With the Firefox Quantum update they took away extension support with the exception of a handful of white listed extensions.