> Given that webextensions are not just a firefox thing: HN's probably the wrong place to voice that particular concern?
Why not? This thread is about losing valuable capabilities due to the migration to WebExtensions. Firebug was possible in the old extension system; it's impossible (as I understand it) with WebExtensions.
> in terms of cross-browser gains, web extensions rather than "these things only work in this one browser" still seems the right way forward
Do they? Is working on multiple browsers really that useful for extensions, many of which exist specifically to modify the behaviour of a single browser? For that matter, ISTR that WebExtension aren't really cross-browser — there's still some customisation required.
> if we need more out of it, let's get the attention of the people who draft that spec and get them to given more access to the things we need to bring back the functions that made life better
I don't disagree. Why not do that before eliminating useful functionality?
My concern is for Firefox's direction: it has spent the past several years removing useful functionality (most recently extensibility, but also the security of its previous Sync product, which is now thoroughly compromised) and adding extraneous functionality (e.g. Pocket, Hello, even containers[0]). I'm reminded very much of how the GNOME project went off the deep end, removing functionality (twelve years on and it still can't replace xscreensaver) and features because they thought Linux users want simplicity.
Likewise, Firefox and Mozilla seem to have been taking a series of decisions based on an IMHO inaccurate read on Firefox's userbase and that userbase's desires. I believe that Firefox users use it because it is philosophically better: freer, more secure, more private, more open than IE, Chrome or Opera. I think we're fine if it's practically worse, because we know that in time philosophical quality will lead to practical quality, but the reverse rarely happens if ever.
[0] Firefox has supported profiles for years; profiles and containers have significant overlaps in functionality and I think profiles are more usable.
Why not? This thread is about losing valuable capabilities due to the migration to WebExtensions. Firebug was possible in the old extension system; it's impossible (as I understand it) with WebExtensions.
> in terms of cross-browser gains, web extensions rather than "these things only work in this one browser" still seems the right way forward
Do they? Is working on multiple browsers really that useful for extensions, many of which exist specifically to modify the behaviour of a single browser? For that matter, ISTR that WebExtension aren't really cross-browser — there's still some customisation required.
> if we need more out of it, let's get the attention of the people who draft that spec and get them to given more access to the things we need to bring back the functions that made life better
I don't disagree. Why not do that before eliminating useful functionality?
My concern is for Firefox's direction: it has spent the past several years removing useful functionality (most recently extensibility, but also the security of its previous Sync product, which is now thoroughly compromised) and adding extraneous functionality (e.g. Pocket, Hello, even containers[0]). I'm reminded very much of how the GNOME project went off the deep end, removing functionality (twelve years on and it still can't replace xscreensaver) and features because they thought Linux users want simplicity.
Likewise, Firefox and Mozilla seem to have been taking a series of decisions based on an IMHO inaccurate read on Firefox's userbase and that userbase's desires. I believe that Firefox users use it because it is philosophically better: freer, more secure, more private, more open than IE, Chrome or Opera. I think we're fine if it's practically worse, because we know that in time philosophical quality will lead to practical quality, but the reverse rarely happens if ever.
[0] Firefox has supported profiles for years; profiles and containers have significant overlaps in functionality and I think profiles are more usable.