The new MV3 architecture reflects Google’s avowed desire to make browser extensions more performant, private, and secure. But the internet giant’s attempt to do so has been bitterly contested by makers of privacy-protecting and content-blocking extensions, who have argued that the Chocolate Factory’s new software architecture will lead to less effective privacy and content-filtering extensions.
For users of uBlock Origin, which runs on Manifest V2, “options” means using the less capable uBlock Origin Lite, which supports Manifest V3.
Why would Mozilla do that? I guess only if Google gave them an ultimatum because they do give Mozilla a lot of money
I assume they just support both with no plans to phase out v2
Firefox’s implementation of manifest v3 doesn’t come with the same restriction as Google’s. Ad blockers will still work with manifest v3 on Firefox (but not on chrome).
This means that all manifest v3 extensions made for Chrome work with Firefox, and almost all manifest v3 extensions made for Firefox will work with Chrome.
Ah; but do they have plans /not/ to phase out v2?
Because if they don’t, phasing it out will eventually be the easiest way to maintain their codebase and performance.
A lot is kind of an understatement:
“In 2022, 81% of Mozilla’s revenues were derived from Google”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mozilla_Corporation#:~:text=In 2022%2C 81%25 of Mozilla’s,twice hourly from Google’s servers.
https://assets.mozilla.net/annualreport/2022/mozilla-fdn-2022-fs-final-0908.pdf
With that level of support, I don’t think an ultimatum would be required.
Oh wow that’s much more than I thought
Because Mozilla is about money. They just have to be a bigger browser alternative to Chrome/Chromium than all the rest on Windows and Google will give them money to stay afloat. But if they don’t implement manifest v3, addon writers won’t be able to generate addons for both Chrome/Chromium and Firefox, meaning it will become less relevant and maybe another alternative will come in to take their place (their sweet sweet Google money).
Anti Commercial-AI license
If there’s any whiff of Google forcing Mozilla to do anything they’ll instantly be investigated for monopolistic abuse by the EU.
Hell, the whole reason why Google is paying Mozilla is to keep it alive to be able to say “see, we’re not the only browser left”. If Mozilla dies then Chrome would be under constant scrutiny.
They already support manifest v3, but with less restrictions than Chrome’s implementation.
Indeed, that’s what I quoted originally. What I’m saying is that them going the whole way wouldn’t be a surprise.
Anti Commercial-AI license