Why I'm Deleting Firefox For Good - And Which Browser's Never Let Me Down

ZDNET

I've been utilizing Firefox, connected and off, for years. After all, it's been nan default web browser for Linux for arsenic agelong arsenic I tin remember. But I'm yet moving connected from Firefox and each of its clones.

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This clip it feels permanent. Every different clip I migrated distant from Firefox (or a Firefox fork), it felt temporary, for illustration I'd soon return, aft utilizing immoderate browser I adopted, because Firefox was ever location for maine (and Linux).

The problem is Mozilla

But this time… I can't ideate going back. Even to a clone, for illustration Zen Browser, which I've really enjoyed using. The problem isn't Zen Browser aliases immoderate of nan Firefox forks. The problem isn't really a Firefox rumor (more connected that successful a bit). The problem is Mozilla.

You see, Mozilla is simply a company, and companies person to person income to support nan lights on. There's thing incorrect pinch that, but those moving said institution person shown signs that they don't rather understand really to steer an open-source ship.

Also: The autumn of Firefox: Mozilla's once-popular web browser slides into irrelevance

Take, for instance, backmost successful 2022, erstwhile Mitchell Baker, Mozilla's CEO (at nan clip -- she's now gone), was recovered to person received a important salary raise of complete $6.9 million. This drew disapproval and ire from group astir nan world, particularly fixed A) really Firefox was struggling to support up pinch different browsers' marketplace share, and B) really Mozilla's income was suffering. It was not a bully look then, and it's not a bully look now.

And location were each nan layoffs, moreover during a clip erstwhile Mozilla was flush pinch cash. That was a move nary 1 could understand. It was looking arsenic if Firefox was astir to reclaim its glory days, and then, wham, nan unit was cut. About nan aforesaid time, it seemed Mozilla decided to displacement its attraction distant from its halfway personification base. Yes, I'm talking Linux and open-source enthusiasts. 

When Mozilla and Firefox were successful their glory days, nan browser functioned pinch a Linux-first framework of mind, and it worked very well. Firefox was, hands down, nan champion browser connected nan marketplace for Linux, and it ever seemed nan Mozilla squad was moving to make Firefox nan Linux browser. It listened to nan open-source organization and worked difficult to guarantee Firefox worked perfectly connected nan open-source operating system.

Also: The Firefox I loved is gone - really to protect your privateness connected it now

But past things started to change, and it seemed Mozilla was nary longer a champion of nan open-source community. What was erstwhile a blazing-fast browser connected Linux has go doggedly slow. On apical of that, features started to vanish (such arsenic Do Not Track). As well, nan improvement squad seems to beryllium ignoring nan truth that each browser connected nan marketplace has moved up of Firefox pinch regards to Tab Management. It's almost arsenic if Mozilla doesn't attraction that browsers for illustration Opera, Safari, Edge, and others person made tab guidance a activity of art.

Firefox can't compete

And let's not talk astir really overmuch faster Chrome has become. Firefox can't compete pinch that speed. As well, there's nan truth that truthful galore Linux distributions person opted to spell nan Snap aliases Flatpak way pinch Firefox, and Mozilla has done a less-than-stellar occupation connected that beforehand (the Snap type of Firefox is slow and buggy).

Ultimately, however, nan biggest problem for maine is that Mozilla is floundering arsenic a company, and that has had a antagonistic effect connected nan browser. That antagonistic effect is far-reaching because of each nan browsers based connected Firefox. If Mozilla fails Firefox, Firefox will neglect each browser to usage it arsenic its core. What does that mean? If apps for illustration Zen Browser are to stay successful, they mightiness person to spell it connected their ain and support their ain core. That's a large inquire for a mini team.

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And because of nan changeless play pinch Mozilla, users are nary longer capable to spot nan early of Firefox. I don't, and I request a browser I tin trust on. I request a browser built by a institution that really listens to its users and understands nan value of workflow and creating a browser that is efficient, reliable, and forward-thinking.

I can't support utilizing a browser that's stuck successful nan past.

A browser that's ne'er fto maine down

Ergo, I'm returning to nan browser that has ne'er fto maine down, 1 built by a institution that intelligibly listens to its users and knows that to enactment relevant, it has to deliver.

That browser is Opera.

Also: 5 reasons why Opera is my favourite browser

I spot Opera. I cognize nan institution gets it and won't beryllium tally into nan crushed by mediocre management. It besides doesn't wounded that Opera is nan astir beautiful browser connected nan marketplace pinch nan champion tab guidance available.

So, location you person it: nan reasons why I'm leaving Firefox behind, and this clip it feels arsenic though I will ne'er return to what was erstwhile my go-to browser.

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