4 ms·

I don't know why but websites always feel downgraded with Firefox and its descendants. Long load times, incomplete/failed loads, bad font rendering, buffering..

I don't know why but websites always feel downgraded with Firefox and its descendants. Long load times, incomplete/failed loads, bad font rendering, buffering.. It feels evident that webmasters only care for compatibility with Chrome et al. It felt that it was subsiding in between, but sites have again started breaking on it nowadays.

winter_blue 2y ago
I use Firefox a lot (and occasionally Chrome), and I haven't had any issues with Firefox. I've been pretty happy with it.
frosting1337 2y ago
While I agree that develops really only care for Chromium compatability, I've not really noticed any issues with Firefox, except with Google sites every now and then (YouTube in particular).
- dartharva 2y ago
  Yes, Youtube is the main irritant for me as well.
  - mariusor 2y ago
    When it comes to the websites belonging to the competition, I feel like it's unjust to blame Firefox instead of, in this case, Google.
    - dartharva 2y ago
      Google is ironically a key sponsor of Firefox.
- raffraffraff 2y ago
  Weirdly, I've had to install the full Google Chrome because the Chromium has been problematic. Can't remember details, but I think MS Teams was one example.
jmprspret 2y ago
Fonts do always look way better on Chrome. I can't explain it.
- widdershins 2y ago
  It's just familiarity. I use Firefox on macOS and I always think the fonts look fuzzy on Chrome when I'm occasionally forced to use it. I spent a few weeks on Arc (Chrome-based) earlier this year, got used to the fonts, and then they looked a bit weird when I came back to Firefox.
  - seabrookmx 2y ago
    +1 I hate the Chrome fonts for this reason. I'm surprised Mac users are noticing a difference though, I find the difference basically vanishes on really high res displays (like my QHD-ish panel on my Framework 13).
    - pjerem 2y ago
      Pixels aren’t noticeable anymore in such resolutions but font rendering and anti aliasing may still impact perceived contrast and crispness. Though, on such displays, disabling AA totally is a viable option but it will still feel different.
- pjerem 2y ago
  Interesting, font rendering is the number one thing that makes me hate Electron apps (I have so much more reasons to hate Chrome). It’s to the point that I just can’t use, say, VS Code on a monitor that is not Hi-DPI. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that the font doesn’t look better. Maybe it’s aesthetically more pleasing but to me, it’s just harder to read. I have multiple eye issues that may not help and which make me more demanding but since I don’t have this issue with OS rendered fonts, I consider this to be an issue.
exusn 2y ago
Font rendering does feel much worse on macOS, but on Windows you can tweak the cleartype parameters a bit and get it closer to Edge/Chrome. https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/rev/404408660a4d976e2ac25881cb1e1f2712f2d430/modules/libpref/init/all.js#2480-2522 https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/rev/404408660a4d976e2a...
raffraffraff 2y ago
I use Firefox on Linux and in general it's fine. Only really dreadful stuff like Microsoft Teams will outright fail. I've found that using NextDNS or an adblocker is more harmful on certain sites. I've had situations where a website completely fails until I change my DNS provider to 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 or wherever. But I tend to avoid sites like that if I have a choice. I'm sticking with Firefox. I like the account features (sync, send tab to another device etc) but Firefox's killer feature is container tabs, especially with the add-on for regex URL matching for container selection, and the other add-on that automatically handles AWS SSO accounts.
- noisem4ker 2y ago
  I noticed Teams unexpectedly started working in Firefox for me, a few months ago.
  - tux3 2y ago
    That's terrible. Maybe if you downgrade?
- xolve 2y ago
  > especially with the add-on for regex URL matching for container selection Which add-on is that? It would be quite helpful.
  - alje 2y ago
    That is a built-in Firefox container feature. Open a website in a container and then click on the container icon (right next to the search bar) to keep that site open in that container. Every other time, that site loads directly into that container
    - xolve 2y ago
      Thats per domain, not on any pattern of URL.
mrweasel 2y ago
That might be dependent on use case and which sites you use. I haven't installed Chrome for more than 3 years. Firefox has been my primary browser ever since Opera switched from using Presto, but I kept Chrome as a backup for the longest time. Now I don't needed it anymore. I do have Safari available, but that's mostly for testing. When your coming directly from Chrome, then maybe you see the problems more? I know I started really disliking Chrome, mostly do to the UI and the developer tools (which is worse that Firefox and much worse than the old Opera, in my opinion).
Zyten 2y ago
I had the most issues with sites like YouTube, where I‘m not surprised that Chrome based browsers run better. However, I recently also had issues with Sony, where the login page would error out every single time with Safari and Firefox. Chromium worked just fine. I honestly do not understand why there’s this little testing being done. Yeah, Chrome is dominant, but that doesn’t mean that other browsers should not be used or don’t exist. It‘s actively harming users. In our software development projects (HPC software), we deliberately test with all compilers available on HPC systems, just to ensure that nothing breaks…
ilrwbwrkhv 2y ago
As web developers it is our moral and ethical duty to use Firefox / any non chromium browsers because we truly understand the problem of one company controlling the web.
Fire-Dragon-DoL 2y ago
Same problem, to the point that I started testing alternative browsers that are chromium based. Currently using Brave, I couldn't find better alternatives that worked on linux, windows and Android. It's shocking that there isn't a decent chromium based browser that supports extensions on android.
- Kokouane 2y ago
  There is an app called Kiwi Browser that does support extensions on Android. The issue becomes no sync, which I think is also a feature you are looking for. It makes sense that Chrome has never built it, have to keep the users from using Adblock.
  - Fire-Dragon-DoL 2y ago
    I'm aware of Kiwi, but it lags for months to a year behind chromium updates, which is very dangerous. Chrome for sure, I was surprised that also any other browser (Via, Soul, Brave, vivaldi) don't support extensions. I'm on Brave now because while it does not support ublock origin, the adblocker is stronger than the others I tried and works similarly. It also has some sort of builtin sponsorblock, so I use it on the phone over Firefox which is slow.
christophilus 2y ago
Slack video chat works only in Chrome. As in, they explicitly check for non-Chrome browsers and say “Nope. We won’t even let you try”. When I saw that, I thought, “Yep. We’ve come full-circle.” Chrome really is the new IE.
ReadCarlBarks 2y ago
When a site doesn't work properly, please use this form to notify Mozilla: https://webcompat.com/issues/new https://webcompat.com/issues/new

winter_blue 2y ago

I use Firefox a lot (and occasionally Chrome), and I haven't had any issues with Firefox. I've been pretty happy with it.

frosting1337 2y ago

While I agree that develops really only care for Chromium compatability, I've not really noticed any issues with Firefox, except with Google sites every now and then (YouTube in particular).

dartharva 2y ago
Yes, Youtube is the main irritant for me as well.
- mariusor 2y ago
  When it comes to the websites belonging to the competition, I feel like it's unjust to blame Firefox instead of, in this case, Google.
  - dartharva 2y ago
    Google is ironically a key sponsor of Firefox.
raffraffraff 2y ago
Weirdly, I've had to install the full Google Chrome because the Chromium has been problematic. Can't remember details, but I think MS Teams was one example.

jmprspret 2y ago

Fonts do always look way better on Chrome. I can't explain it.

widdershins 2y ago
It's just familiarity. I use Firefox on macOS and I always think the fonts look fuzzy on Chrome when I'm occasionally forced to use it. I spent a few weeks on Arc (Chrome-based) earlier this year, got used to the fonts, and then they looked a bit weird when I came back to Firefox.
- seabrookmx 2y ago
  +1 I hate the Chrome fonts for this reason. I'm surprised Mac users are noticing a difference though, I find the difference basically vanishes on really high res displays (like my QHD-ish panel on my Framework 13).
  - pjerem 2y ago
    Pixels aren’t noticeable anymore in such resolutions but font rendering and anti aliasing may still impact perceived contrast and crispness. Though, on such displays, disabling AA totally is a viable option but it will still feel different.
pjerem 2y ago
Interesting, font rendering is the number one thing that makes me hate Electron apps (I have so much more reasons to hate Chrome). It’s to the point that I just can’t use, say, VS Code on a monitor that is not Hi-DPI. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that the font doesn’t look better. Maybe it’s aesthetically more pleasing but to me, it’s just harder to read. I have multiple eye issues that may not help and which make me more demanding but since I don’t have this issue with OS rendered fonts, I consider this to be an issue.

exusn 2y ago

Font rendering does feel much worse on macOS, but on Windows you can tweak the cleartype parameters a bit and get it closer to Edge/Chrome. https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/rev/404408660a4d976e2ac25881cb1e1f2712f2d430/modules/libpref/init/all.js#2480-2522 https://searchfox.org/mozilla-central/rev/404408660a4d976e2a...

raffraffraff 2y ago

I use Firefox on Linux and in general it's fine. Only really dreadful stuff like Microsoft Teams will outright fail. I've found that using NextDNS or an adblocker is more harmful on certain sites. I've had situations where a website completely fails until I change my DNS provider to 1.1.1.1 or 8.8.8.8 or wherever. But I tend to avoid sites like that if I have a choice. I'm sticking with Firefox. I like the account features (sync, send tab to another device etc) but Firefox's killer feature is container tabs, especially with the add-on for regex URL matching for container selection, and the other add-on that automatically handles AWS SSO accounts.

noisem4ker 2y ago
I noticed Teams unexpectedly started working in Firefox for me, a few months ago.
- tux3 2y ago
  That's terrible. Maybe if you downgrade?
xolve 2y ago
> especially with the add-on for regex URL matching for container selection Which add-on is that? It would be quite helpful.
- alje 2y ago
  That is a built-in Firefox container feature. Open a website in a container and then click on the container icon (right next to the search bar) to keep that site open in that container. Every other time, that site loads directly into that container
  - xolve 2y ago
    Thats per domain, not on any pattern of URL.

mrweasel 2y ago

That might be dependent on use case and which sites you use. I haven't installed Chrome for more than 3 years. Firefox has been my primary browser ever since Opera switched from using Presto, but I kept Chrome as a backup for the longest time. Now I don't needed it anymore. I do have Safari available, but that's mostly for testing. When your coming directly from Chrome, then maybe you see the problems more? I know I started really disliking Chrome, mostly do to the UI and the developer tools (which is worse that Firefox and much worse than the old Opera, in my opinion).

Zyten 2y ago

I had the most issues with sites like YouTube, where I‘m not surprised that Chrome based browsers run better. However, I recently also had issues with Sony, where the login page would error out every single time with Safari and Firefox. Chromium worked just fine. I honestly do not understand why there’s this little testing being done. Yeah, Chrome is dominant, but that doesn’t mean that other browsers should not be used or don’t exist. It‘s actively harming users. In our software development projects (HPC software), we deliberately test with all compilers available on HPC systems, just to ensure that nothing breaks…

ilrwbwrkhv 2y ago

As web developers it is our moral and ethical duty to use Firefox / any non chromium browsers because we truly understand the problem of one company controlling the web.

Fire-Dragon-DoL 2y ago

Same problem, to the point that I started testing alternative browsers that are chromium based. Currently using Brave, I couldn't find better alternatives that worked on linux, windows and Android. It's shocking that there isn't a decent chromium based browser that supports extensions on android.

Kokouane 2y ago
There is an app called Kiwi Browser that does support extensions on Android. The issue becomes no sync, which I think is also a feature you are looking for. It makes sense that Chrome has never built it, have to keep the users from using Adblock.
- Fire-Dragon-DoL 2y ago
  I'm aware of Kiwi, but it lags for months to a year behind chromium updates, which is very dangerous. Chrome for sure, I was surprised that also any other browser (Via, Soul, Brave, vivaldi) don't support extensions. I'm on Brave now because while it does not support ublock origin, the adblocker is stronger than the others I tried and works similarly. It also has some sort of builtin sponsorblock, so I use it on the phone over Firefox which is slow.

christophilus 2y ago

Slack video chat works only in Chrome. As in, they explicitly check for non-Chrome browsers and say “Nope. We won’t even let you try”. When I saw that, I thought, “Yep. We’ve come full-circle.” Chrome really is the new IE.

ReadCarlBarks 2y ago

When a site doesn't work properly, please use this form to notify Mozilla: https://webcompat.com/issues/new https://webcompat.com/issues/new