I’m not under the impression that a web browser is a simple thing to build but with Linux advancing the way it has in recent years it continues to surprise me that the “best” browser out there isn’t FOSS.
Chrome and Edge are proprietary wrappers around Chromium (BSD license). Firefox and derivatives are FOSS (Mozilla Public License). Safari is built around WebKit (LGPL/BSD).
The problem, however, is governance. These projects are all too big for anyone to realistically fork and maintain independently. So in practice, they are under control of Google, Mozilla, and Apple — all of which have questionable priorities (especially Google).
Chrome is mostly open-source software, Chromium builds are just missing Google data sync, some video DRM, and other proprietary components. I believe Firefox is completely FOSS.
A lot of internet denizens go out of their way to highlight every misstep firefox has like it is fatal and downplay all of it’s positives, even to the point of suggesting the usage of chromium derivitives.
I hate to admit sometimes that the Chrome experience (especially on mobile) can be a lot smoother and quicker to load, but Firefox wins every time on extensibility. But to your point yes the hate directed Firefox’s way can be well, a bit much.
Even if I ignored everything about the entire ecosystem, just the fact I can use ublock origin in firefox mobile is reason enough to choose it over chrome
Well, because FOSS apps are usually the best/most user friendly option even if they’re not always the most popular. If you woke up after a 30 year coma and had no prior commitments to using any particular software, there would be absolutely zero question that Linux is the best OS today.
An OS is a complicated thing, yet the FOSS option is the safest, most user friendly, and most versatile. I’m just a little surprised there isn’t a browser that checks those boxes too, since the browser is a widely used thing. But I’m guessing because Firefox exists the number of devs willing to give the time investment just isn’t as many.
From someone waking up from a coma without experience with Windows or MacOS, Linux truly is the most user friendly. It may not have been true five years ago but in my mind it is without question true now.
I’m not under the impression that a web browser is a simple thing to build but with Linux advancing the way it has in recent years it continues to surprise me that the “best” browser out there isn’t FOSS.
Hopefully that is about to change!
All major browser engines are FOSS.
Chrome and Edge are proprietary wrappers around Chromium (BSD license). Firefox and derivatives are FOSS (Mozilla Public License). Safari is built around WebKit (LGPL/BSD).
The problem, however, is governance. These projects are all too big for anyone to realistically fork and maintain independently. So in practice, they are under control of Google, Mozilla, and Apple — all of which have questionable priorities (especially Google).
Chrome is mostly open-source software, Chromium builds are just missing Google data sync, some video DRM, and other proprietary components. I believe Firefox is completely FOSS.
Looks like it is! I was under the apparently false impression that it was only partly.
A lot of internet denizens go out of their way to highlight every misstep firefox has like it is fatal and downplay all of it’s positives, even to the point of suggesting the usage of chromium derivitives.
I hate to admit sometimes that the Chrome experience (especially on mobile) can be a lot smoother and quicker to load, but Firefox wins every time on extensibility. But to your point yes the hate directed Firefox’s way can be well, a bit much.
Even if I ignored everything about the entire ecosystem, just the fact I can use ublock origin in firefox mobile is reason enough to choose it over chrome
Why would it? FOSS doesn’t have the funding that commercial software does.
Well, because FOSS apps are usually the best/most user friendly option even if they’re not always the most popular. If you woke up after a 30 year coma and had no prior commitments to using any particular software, there would be absolutely zero question that Linux is the best OS today.
An OS is a complicated thing, yet the FOSS option is the safest, most user friendly, and most versatile. I’m just a little surprised there isn’t a browser that checks those boxes too, since the browser is a widely used thing. But I’m guessing because Firefox exists the number of devs willing to give the time investment just isn’t as many.
most user friendly? cough cough. I doubt. for this - as in works as is - the journey is still long.
From someone waking up from a coma without experience with Windows or MacOS, Linux truly is the most user friendly. It may not have been true five years ago but in my mind it is without question true now.