A look at Firefox forks
I’m a hard-core Firefox use since my early usage of the internet in 2004. This was my first browser and will probably stay my main browser unless something fundmentally changes. Also I hate chrome browser so much. Thats just to establish some facts about how I feel about that. Firefox for me means freedom in context of internet browsers. People usually will use semantic arguments about Google chromium being open source ..etc. But all these are bogus claims for me. Google controls the project, full stop. But Mozilla isn’t perfect, actually far from it. The firefox normal version (even developer edition) comes with annoying and less private settings. It take 15-30 minutes for me to go through everything on a new machine to have fully functional browser, this includes any of the forks.
I’m also an iOS user, so Firefox there is just a fork of webkit with some Firefox cosmetics and sync service attached (which I selfhost its server). This means that I don’t use Firefox on mobile and stick to safari because thanks to Apple, they don’t allow even webextensions on any of these cosmetic forks. I use Firefox on my m1 MacBook and my Linux -PopOS- machine running on humble mini PC.
This is a discusson on some of the Firefox forks projects and give good overview of some of them. It starts by addressing Mozilla’s recent decisions, including diversifying beyond Firefox and changing its terms of use, have led to dissatisfaction among many Firefox users, prompting them to seek alternatives. The alternative for most of them is not going to Chrome but to Firefox forks mainly. Here is my takeaway from this discussion.
Key Takeaways
- There are many forks of Firefox, such as IceCat, Floorp, LibreWolf, and Zen, each offering distinct features and approaches to privacy and usability.
- IceCat focuses on free software principles and includes addons like
LibreJSandJShelterto enhance user privacy, albeit at the cost of site compatibility. - Floorp, which was originally based on Chromium, now utilizes Firefox code and offers a unique dual-sidebar layout and workspace features, emphasizing user organization and privacy. Developed by some geeky Japaneese Students
- LibreWolf provides a more privacy-centric experience by disabling telemetry and offering easy configuration management across multiple profiles. It is the standard recommended fork among several privacy oriented communities like PrivacyGuides.
- Zen browser introduces a modern interface with features like a tab sidebar and split-screen mode, although its usability may require users to navigate less intuitive settings. It is the closest thing to Arc Browser you can have right now in Firefox world.
- All of these forks are dependent on Mozilla for security updates and development, raising concerns about their long-term sustainability.
- The discussion also includes the challenges faced by alternative browsers like Nyxt and NetSurf, which may struggle with site compatibility and user experience.
Comment
This article failed to mention some of the very active and strong forks like Waterfox and Mullvad Browser which are probably the best browsers for privacy and functionality.