Firefox Quantum

[Arthur]

After giving the beta version a quick test it definitely feels faster than Chrome. Has anyone else tried it and been similarly impressed with its speed?

 

Website / Blog / Download (Beta version)

 

Engines are important, both in cars and in browsers. That’s why we’re so revved up this morning – we’re releasing the Beta of a whole new Firefox, one that’s powered by a completely reinvented, modernized engine. Since the version number – 57 – can’t really convey the magnitude of the changes we’ve made, and how much faster this new Firefox is, we’re calling this upcoming release Firefox Quantum.

 

So how we did we make Firefox Quantum so fast?

Firefox has historically run mostly on just one CPU core, but Firefox Quantum takes advantage of multiple CPU cores in today’s desktop and mobile devices much more effectively. This improved utilization of your computer’s hardware makes Firefox Quantum dramatically faster. One example: we’ve developed a breakthrough approach to laying out pages: a super fast CSS engine written in Rust, a systems programming language that Mozilla pioneered. Firefox’s new CSS engine runs quickly, in parallel across multiple CPU cores, instead of running in one slower sequence on a single core. No other browser can do this.

 

We’ve also improved Firefox so that the tab you’re actively using downloads and runs before other tabs you have open in the background. This prioritization of your active tab, along with Firefox’s “just right” multi-process architecture, results in Firefox Quantum often being faster than Chrome, while consuming roughly 30% less RAM.

 

In addition, for the past several months we’ve run a browser-wide initiative to zap any instances of slowness you might encounter while using Firefox. So far our pit crew has fixed 468 of these issues, both small papercuts and big bottlenecks.

 

 

[gshaw]

Sounds promising as Firefox did get rather bloated and clunky which was why I stopped using it.

 

Now if they could put some effort into the following it might be more usable on corporate networks:

 

• official supported GPO templates
  
• change behaviour on a "managed" version so it follows Windows certificate store like Chrome does
  
• similar for proxy detection etc.
  

[LeMarchand]

Didn't know about this, but trying it now. Wonder how many of my favourite extensions won't work...

[Arthur]

Now if they could put some effort into the following it might be more usable on corporate networks:

+1. One of the main reasons we use Chrome is the ease of deployment. I wish Firefox was just as simple.

 

It's crazy to think that 14 years have passed and barely any progress has been made regarding an official MSI installer for Windows...

 

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=231062

 

In one of the more recent comments from that bug thread it seems Mozilla is asking for feedback regarding enterprise support so at least they are considering it...

 

https://qsurvey.mozilla.com/s3/Enterprise-2017

 

That said, at this late stage they might as well not bother with an MSI and distribute Firefox through the Windows Store or provide an .appv file.

 

Ironically it's easier to deploy the Android version of Firefox on Chrome OS than it is on Windows or macOS.

 

Wonder how many of my favourite extensions won't work...

You might find this website useful...

 

https://arewewebextensionsyet.com

[LeMarchand]

You might find this website useful...

 

https://arewewebextensionsyet.com

 

Thanks. I know some (like FEBE) definitely aren't updating. I guess with FEBE my regular PC backup and Firefox Sync should cover (though not happy about doing the passwords via Sync). Will have to check at home, where I have many more extensions, but even at school some are a no-go.

 

 

The second one is very important to my way of working, and I find the top one useful too - though maybe it (and open bookmarks in new tab?) can be done in about:config. Oh well, gonna click "find replacement" buttons.

[mikeprice]

I don't use any extensions - but maybe I'm weird

[LeMarchand]

I don't use any extensions - but maybe I'm weird

 

They're the main reason I use Firefox.

[Arthur]

I don't use any extensions - but maybe I'm weird

Only 40% weird.

 

www.ghacks.net/2016/01/06/surprise-40-of-firefox-users-dont-use-add-ons

 

According to a report by Rebecca Weiss on Bugzilla, about 40% of all Firefox users don't have add-ons installed.

[DeGrimmy]

I had a play about with Quantum on my old Macbook Pro, and it's noticeably faster than the latest Firefox version I was using before. Plus, the default design looks really nice! I'll definitely stick with the beta for now.

[Arthur]

The stable version has been released...

 

https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/quantum

[synaesthesia]

Still saying notify or try beta here

[LeMarchand]

Still saying notify or try beta here

 

Same here, and to get notification you have to be

okay with Mozilla handling my info as explained

[mikeprice]

anyone know if it automatically updates the old Firefox to the Quantum one

or is it something you have to do manually??

 

Mike

[Arthur]

Direct download links...

 

Windows

[b]x64[/b]: https://download-installer.cdn.mozilla.net/pub/firefox/releases/57.0/win64/en-GB/Firefox%20Setup%2057.0.exe
[b]x86[/b]: https://download-installer.cdn.mozilla.net/pub/firefox/releases/57.0/win32/en-GB/Firefox%20Setup%2057.0.exe

 

Mac

https://download-installer.cdn.mozilla.net/pub/firefox/releases/57.0/mac/en-GB/Firefox%2057.0.dmg

 

Release Notes

 

Still saying notify or try beta here

I think the CDNs are still in the process of being updated, but the direct links above work for me.

 

- - - Updated - - -

 

anyone know if it automatically updates the old Firefox to the Quantum one

Should be automatic.

[LeMarchand]

anyone know if it automatically updates the old Firefox to the Quantum one

or is it something you have to do manually??

 

Should be automatic.

 

Presumably anyone who swapped to "Developer" will stay on that branch?

[jthompson]

Just trying it out now. I think it looks and feels nice, and none of the extensions I use are broken. I'm a happy Vivaldi user at work, but I converted to FF for all my personal stuff about a year or so ago (loooove FF Focus on Android).

[LeMarchand]

none of the extensions I use are broken

 

Wish the same was true for me . Have found some replacements/workarounds, but a couple still elude me.

[jthompson]

Wish the same was true for me . Have found some replacements/workarounds, but a couple still elude me.

 

I don't really use many, tbh, and nothing very obscure. uBlock Origin, Privacy Badger and HTTPS Everywhere.

[ReadTheNetwork]

Yep I like this .

 

Just need to work out if I can control it over a network or not...

[Arthur]

Just need to work out if I can control it over a network or not...

Nope! Mozilla aren't interested in any kind of enterprise support...

 

https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=231062#c427

 

Very shortsighted IMO.

 

The CCK also doesn't work with Firefox 57 onwards.

 

https://mike.kaply.com/2017/11/15/firefox-quantum-and-cck2/

[XiJ]

My Mac FF updated automatically last night. Now I’ve adjust the default theme I just say I love it. It’s been a long long long time since I was excited by a browser but It feels so quick!

[mikeprice]

Been using for almost a day now at home and at work - certainly feels quicker

[pete]

56 > 57 update on Sierra and it worked fine all of yesterday. Launched it today and every tab I open crashes, whether I turn off recent tabs / history or not or fiddle with incognito options.

 

Reverted to ESR for the time being until I have time to mess about with it.

[LeMarchand]

Anyone got any Quantum compatible add-ons to replace:

 

Amazon Wishlist Button (the Amazon Assistant has some scary permissions)

Add To Search Bar (right click in a search box to add a custom search)

BugMeNot (right click to attempt to log into a site you really CBA to create a log in for via BugMeNot)

Context Search (highlight word and send to one of your search engines - found some replacements but you have to recreate all your custom searches, which isn't that simple)

Fast Dial (sets up a "Fast Dial" page - opening a new tab gives similar, but not as customisable or aesthetically pleasing, functionality)

FEBE/CLEO/OPIE (ways to back up FF and create add on "packs")

NoScript (blocks Javascript unless you choose to allow or whitelist)

Password Exporter (think you can guess what this does)

[Arthur]

NoScript (blocks Javascript unless you choose to allow or whitelist)

uBlock Origin would be a good replacement if you enable the "Advanced" mode.

 

 

A cool thing you can do with this add-on is create rules that enable you to block all requests to a particular domain when they come from a third-party website, but not when you visit the website itself. Facebook is a great use case for this.

 

You can either create the rules though the GUI or directly in the rules editor.

 

Using Facebook as an example, first you would visit facebook.com and create a rule that looks like this...

 

 

Then when you visit another site, all requests to Facebook are automatically blocked.

 

 

This is what the rules look like in the rules editor.

 

* facebook.com * block
* facebook.net * block
* fbcdn.net * block
www.facebook.com facebook.com * allow
www.facebook.com facebook.net * allow
www.facebook.com fbcdn.net * allow

 

See the wiki for more details.

 

Password Exporter (think you can guess what this does)

Have you considered using a third-party password manager like LastPass? There wouldn't be any need to export the passwords then.

Edited November 17, 2017 by Arthur