4 ms·

Was just thinking the same thing! It would be nice if those critical of Mozilla offered solutions. I agree with alot of the points raised, but I also empathiz

Was just thinking the same thing! It would be nice if those critical of Mozilla offered solutions. I agree with alot of the points raised, but I also empathize with the tough position Mozilla is in. I know squat about product management and would love to hear some knowledgeable input.

jemmyw 3y ago
I've never made the exact criticisms above but I've got the solution. Taking the money from Google is fine. Stop spending it all. The CEO doesn't need an inflated salary, Mozilla is not a tech giant. Mozilla doesn't need pristine expensive offices in HCOL areas. Mozilla could pay a core group of engineers good salaries, work on Firefox and adjacent tech like servo. If they had done that and banked/invested the rest of the cash they'd have a big runway for the future. How many is core? I don't know. Not 750 though. To change course now would mean layoffs which nobody likes. But I argue they never should have hired that many folks, and to continue with that headcount is throwing good money after bad. If the purpose of the Mozilla organisation was to fund Firefox into the future then they have catastrophically failed at their job. If their purpose was to spread the money they had around to a bunch of people as quickly as possible before it runs out, whilst putting on a good face, then they've succeeded 100%
- j16sdiz 3y ago
  Rust was a spinoff from Mozilla. It doesn't sound very "core" to me. Mozilla have a DNA of inventing their own wheel -- XPCOM was one of them
  - jemmyw 3y ago
    Sure, maybe in my alternative universe Mozilla didn't invent rust. Or they did but it spun out faster. Or... see doesn't really matter, we don't know. And it doesn't mean they couldn't still change course and become a slimmer, Firefox focused organisation with savings in the bank.
- marcinzm 3y ago
  > If the purpose of the Mozilla organisation was to fund Firefox into the future then they have catastrophically failed at their job. If their purpose was to spread the money they had around to a bunch of people as quickly as possible before it runs out, whilst putting on a good face, then they've succeeded 100% The mission statement of the Mozilla Foundation is not about Firefox: > 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.
  - jemmyw 3y ago
    So about as vague as you can get? I guess they can do whatever that like.

jemmyw 3y ago

I've never made the exact criticisms above but I've got the solution. Taking the money from Google is fine. Stop spending it all. The CEO doesn't need an inflated salary, Mozilla is not a tech giant. Mozilla doesn't need pristine expensive offices in HCOL areas. Mozilla could pay a core group of engineers good salaries, work on Firefox and adjacent tech like servo. If they had done that and banked/invested the rest of the cash they'd have a big runway for the future. How many is core? I don't know. Not 750 though. To change course now would mean layoffs which nobody likes. But I argue they never should have hired that many folks, and to continue with that headcount is throwing good money after bad. If the purpose of the Mozilla organisation was to fund Firefox into the future then they have catastrophically failed at their job. If their purpose was to spread the money they had around to a bunch of people as quickly as possible before it runs out, whilst putting on a good face, then they've succeeded 100%

j16sdiz 3y ago
Rust was a spinoff from Mozilla. It doesn't sound very "core" to me. Mozilla have a DNA of inventing their own wheel -- XPCOM was one of them
- jemmyw 3y ago
  Sure, maybe in my alternative universe Mozilla didn't invent rust. Or they did but it spun out faster. Or... see doesn't really matter, we don't know. And it doesn't mean they couldn't still change course and become a slimmer, Firefox focused organisation with savings in the bank.
marcinzm 3y ago
> If the purpose of the Mozilla organisation was to fund Firefox into the future then they have catastrophically failed at their job. If their purpose was to spread the money they had around to a bunch of people as quickly as possible before it runs out, whilst putting on a good face, then they've succeeded 100% The mission statement of the Mozilla Foundation is not about Firefox: > 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.
- jemmyw 3y ago
  So about as vague as you can get? I guess they can do whatever that like.