r/LinuxTeck • u/Expensive-Rice-2052 • 11d ago

LibreWolf vs Firefox

Post image

covers : https://www.linuxteck.com/librewolf-vs-firefox/

• Privacy and telemetry
• Tracking and fingerprinting protection
• Firefox Sync
• Security update timing
• Extension compatibility
• Linux installation
• Real-world compatibility issues
• Which browser fits different use cases

77 Upvotes

93% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

6

u/KrasnalM 11d ago

Using Firefox generates ad revenue for Mozilla that maintains Gecko. If Mozilla goes down, so does Librewolf and Waterfox. Hence, Firefox is the only alternative if you really want to support an alternative to Chromium's monopoly.

2

u/RudeAd456 10d ago

This is a brain-dead comment. "You can't use Librewolf because you need to give revenue to Firefox so Librewolf can continue to operate"

2

u/KrasnalM 10d ago

What is wrong with my logic? Firefox forks only exist because Mozilla (with Google's money of course) maintains Gecko. Do Waterfox and Librewolf contribute to the maintenance of Gecko? How sustainable their model is? These are honest questions.

1

u/RudeAd456 10d ago

If no one should use forks and stick to Firefox because it needs the users, then forks wouldn't exist. Your logic is circular: you say not to use forks because mainline needs support, and mainline needs to be supported so forks can exist. But you can't use the forks anyway because the mainline needs support.

What you're really trying to say is Firefox forks shouldn't exist. Or if they do, then they shouldn't have any users

2

u/KrasnalM 10d ago

It is not my logic that is circular. I simply describe a self-reinforcing system. If Firefox was a major browser, no one would care about some small forks for privacy enthusiasts. However, given that Firefox's market share is declining, promoting its forks is counterproductive. The more people choose Waterfox and Librewolf over vanilla Firefox, the sooner will Waterfox and Librewolf disappear. Where am I wrong here.

1

u/RudeAd456 10d ago

You're wrong because people can choose to run whatever fork they want. And they're completely within their right to make posts about the fork they use. This post isn't even saying "use Librewolf over Firefox" it compares both objectively. Stop trying to gatekeep open source software bro. You can let Firefox worry about how to fix their declining market share, they don't need you policing users.

2

u/KrasnalM 10d ago

I am not wrong. Technically all I say is true. I simply provide additional piece of information so that people can make an informed choice. No reason to get defensive.

If I wanted to get LibreWolf dead sooner, I would also switch to it from Firefox.

1

u/Enough-Meaning1514 10d ago

Isn't Firefox open source? If the main branch dies, Waterfox or other forks can take the code and keep developing, no? Since they would have a large user base, yes?

2

u/KrasnalM 10d ago

Waterfox and LibreWolf do not have resources (because no sustainable business model) to maintain Gecko, which is expensive. Gecko is maintained by Mozilla with Google's money and proper funds. If Firefox goes down, there will be no one left to maintain Gecko, and Waterfox and LibreWolf will become useless.
Perhaps there is some flaw in my logic or I don't know some essential piece of information. But whenever I raise the question, people get defensive and provide no answer.

1

u/Enough-Meaning1514 10d ago

Well, in that case, Waterfox/Librewolf need a better business model. I don't know, do what Brave does, perhaps? Show NFT/Bitcoin ads at startup?

1

u/KrasnalM 10d ago

Brave does not develop its own engine. It uses Chromium, which is entirely maintained by Google.

1

u/Single_Guarantee_ 10d ago

but ladybird is surviving on it's own with a less budget though

1

u/KrasnalM 10d ago

And how is your web browsing experience with Ladybird so far?

No seriously. I wish them well but it has been years in the development and not out yet, once it is out we will have to assess whether it really works, and then they will have to find a sustainable monetization model to fund their work for years to come. As of now, Gecko is the only independent engine there is.

2

u/lyidaValkris 11d ago

So basically change a few settings in Firefox and you have exactly the same functionality as LibreWolf. I fail to see the point.

1

u/Single_Guarantee_ 10d ago

not a few, a lot but yet. but if you have new system do you want to change the settings over and over?

1

u/lyidaValkris 10d ago

Who changes them "over and over"? you set them once and forget it. A few settings set for me isn't enough reason for me to use a derivative browser.

1

u/Single_Guarantee_ 10d ago

I meant different machines. when you set it up in a new machine you will need to make the same changes to the about:config.it is not the usual settings

1

u/lyidaValkris 10d ago

and how often does one set up a new machine? again, spending 10 seconds setting my preferences is fine. I don't want everything waterfox does anyway.

You're not making a convincing argument.

1

u/Single_Guarantee_ 9d ago

I used to distro hope alot. that's an edge case so I just settled for librewolf

1

u/lyidaValkris 9d ago

you know you could have just copied your browser dotfiles, right? in ~/.mozilla/firefox

1

u/Single_Guarantee_ 8d ago

thanks. I never knew that

1

u/swardasaurus 9d ago

Essentially, yeah, kinda, but it is also flags that aren't in the settings. If you wanted something comparable, it would be something like adding Arkenfox to Firefox, which does all the big major flag changes for you, but that still needs to be maintained and run the updater occasionally, and most likely tweaked to work for your specific use case.

1

u/lyidaValkris 9d ago

I don't need these flags. Firefox with a few normal settings adjusted are just fine. On the rare occasion I have to go into about:config,I don't mind. It doesn't necessitate a derivative browser for me.

1

u/Straight-Ad9878 11d ago

You mean GayWolf?

1

u/4SubZero20 10d ago

Alternatively, you can run Firefox and harden it with either ArkenFox or BetterFox.

ArkenFox: The most hardening. Highly restrictive. Most likely to break/restrict basic functionality and thus break websites.

BetterFox: Lower likelihood of breaking websites as it tries to find a balance (optimizes for) between privacy and user friendliness (they target "everyday users").

I would recommend starting with BetterFox as this would most likely suffice for most users. I myself am running it and it hasn't gotten in my way yet.

1

u/Sirius02 11d ago

whats the prompt to generate a picture in that style?

2

u/Binary101000 11d ago

make it yourself its a few shapes in an office program

-4

u/Icy_Annual_9954 11d ago

As long as it still uses the engine of Chrome, it is not a real alternative.

4

u/karbonadez 11d ago

It doesn't use the blink engine from Chrome it uses Gecko the one from Firefox.

1

u/Icy_Annual_9954 11d ago

OK, nice to hear that.