นับตั้งแต่ Mozilla embarked on Chrome-me-up journey ไปหลายปี enthusiasm ผม decline six-weekly cadence แต่ละ release Firefox นำสิ่งที่ Firefox shouldn't be มามากกว่า และสิ่งที่ทำให้ cool ในมือ loyal users น้อยลง แต best is yet to come True rite of passage Only most righteous survive WebExtensions
ขณะพยายาม salvage บางอย่าง actively scuppering fanbase และ killing off powerful extension mechanism Mozilla working on fresh air More speed เป็น critical factor ที่ทำให้คน abandon ship แต่ assuming it is ทำ difference? มาทดสอบ
Commence electrolysis
Multi-processing in Firefox Per-tab processing better security sandboxing better stability Noble goals แต่ answer to plea never uttered Regardless ผม playing ball อยากดู Firefox ทำอะไรได้เมื่อ technological underpinnings ใหม่ spread wings
Systems ของผม Firefox sans Australis without bold new interface designed with only 45 chromosomes supreme CTR extension no e10 multi-processing CTR one of many extensions die Firefox 57/58
อยากดู Firefox without extras Kubuntu distro no extensions save default Ubuntu Modifications interfere multi-processing implementation removed เพิ่ม Noscript, Adblock Plus Downloadhelper cooperate nicely might be small set survives winter culling Turned Noscript off tests with other two on sometimes only adblocker
Important take into account compare to Chrome side by side with Adblock Plus extension Hence reason enabled both cases Possible test without modifications แต่ไม่ run browser benchmark per se no reason run checks without extensions เพราะผม find them necessary
Speed
Full MT mode definite performance improvement Evident simple website interaction และ overall responsiveness GUI innocent actions However startup still awfully slow compared Chrome Google's browser launches instantly Firefox takes merry time
Multi-processing leads to increase memory Firefox still hungry beast CPU wise innocent things like downloads Chrome no different but latter suffers less penalty probably more efficient multi-threading architecture
Things affect perceived responsiveness Smooth scrolling turn off right away Hardware acceleration may favor Flash enabled impact performance especially video playback
Tested Kubuntu Zesty mostly peek Windows 10 same machine similar results Firefox feels more sluggish Gap lessens with e10 on แต่ never quite catches up competition Mostly GUI responds not pure page performance Javascript actions Perceived user time delays Child processes spawned handle load แต่ ain't enough
roger 6719 2105 ... /usr/lib/firefox/firefox
roger 6778 6719 ... /usr/lib/firefox/firefox -contentproc
-childID 1 -isForBrowser -intPrefs ...
Customization
Firefox without CTR modifications looks like typical modern browser abstract representation of stupidity Tabs on top history lanes things created for sake of it justified post-creation next best thing Spanish Inquisition remain around despite manifestation of all wrong world worse than hunger Ebola
Can't have sane browser what can? Can't really customize Chrome always that way don't expect to Firefox play half dozen options buttons top right plus icons extensions like Chrome No more status bar No more tabs on bottom No more back, forward, reload, stop buttons as used to be Feels minimalistic but not good way Get used to it same way get used to working in mine quarry
Mollify users Mozilla offers new lightweight compact themes Additional level of abstractization bit more squarish geometry far cry from simple intuitive ergonomically correct form used to be Whatever decide compromise
Future
What does this mean? Mozilla probably trying create platform retain most users through inertia apathy adding changes kind of minimize damage But they do not take away
Improvement? Way yes Multi-processes must modern era brings benefits Compact themes almost excused as really neat But not whole truth
Price to pay high Reward not good enough Not visually not actually Performance not as good hope sacrifice ancient extensions for awesome speed Nope Chrome ahead pure user experience responsiveness both browsers sharing same pointless design Firefox losses more points neutered all advantages over Chrome moving to WebExtensions
Don't know if Firefox regains smooth elegance ~2011 but whatever still on defensive Chrome ahead should remain so far it has One big difference Consistent changes when happen mostly invisible Firefox highly disruptive revolution willingly sacrificing old for new But why new?
All in all another happy-go-lucky browser without distinct features maybe hopefully few useful extensions performance not quite as good chief rival Tell me need latest greatest CPU realize benefits deluded Browsers aren't computer games Should be slim fast if cannot realize entire spectrum computing power lousy implementation Perceived slowness startup speed issues remain Unless solved nothing give Firefox edge
สรุป
Progress มี ไม่ dispute Throw away legacy stuff let browser engines run parallel get nice boost oomph Some popular extensions still work hopefully continue after Firefox 57 Compact themes reasonable Focus these bits pieces feels Mozilla doing something right
But throw away decade hard work foolish way redeem Not how professional work done Yes long run by all means What's missing seamless transition That's what Mozilla didn't get right Seamless Transition Magic of doing software correct way On top still don't get better results rival startup normal use lightweight themes not fully appease veterans Gains offset by big losses Biggest not beating Chrome fair and square Look whole fiasco simplistic terms sacrifice lot still come second Why bother?
Anyway here we are Firefox 54 - what it signifies - neat points If not jaded scarred might cautiously optimistic But progress comes at expense years loyalty passion cannot translate pure technological terms Might be right thing Needed thing But too little, too late Not enough defeat Chrome more than enough destroy fanbase Not winning formula Might change still but for now dire situation More to come
Cheers.
