Firefox upcoming WebExtension APIs revealed

When Mozilla released Firefox 57 back in November 2017, support for the new WebExtensions system for browser extensions was limited.

Lack of support for certain APIs was a big problem as it meant that some extension developers could not port their extensions to the new extension system at all, had to omit features to do so, or wait for APIs to become available to produce a port.

The issue would not have been that problematic if Mozilla would not have made the decision to remove the old add-on system in Firefox 57.

New WebExtension APIs were introduced in newer versions of Firefox and others were improved to include new or missing functionality.

While it is fair to say that the WebExtensions system willl never support the same capabilities that Firefox's classic add-on system supported, it is clear that Mozilla is making progress and that the new extension system has become more powerful since the release of Firefox 57.

firefox webextensions apis

Mozilla revealed a list of WebExtension APIs that it plans to include in coming versions of the Firefox browser.

Starting with the release of Firefox 62, the following WebExtension APIs will be introduced in Firefox:

API	target release
userScripts	63
topSites	62
desktopCapture (TBD)	63
declarativeContent	63
Session management	63 (TBD)
Toolbars	63 (TBD)
Overlays	64 (TBD)

There is also discussion going on about introducing a color filter API. Mozilla did not reveal any other information about the upcoming APIs but the API names hint at what those could provide.

Note that the following is my best guess based on the name and some information provided by Bugzilla and Mozilla Wiki pages.

userScripts -- management of userScripts and support for running userscripts in sandboxes and make userscripts more reliable See bug 1437098 and Wiki.

topSites -- extend the functionality of the topSites WebExtensions API. See bug 1446915

desktopCapture -- implementation of Chrome's chrome.desktopCapture API. See bug 1303919

declarativeContent -- to match Chrome's declarative Content API. See bug 1435864.

Session Management -- give extensions control over sessions. See bug 833791

Toolbars -- unclear, maybe control over existing toolbars and options to move icons and such?

Overlays -- secure overlay API to inject without "spamming the website DOM". See bug 1340930.

Some APIs add much requested functionality; session management is probably the number one here as extensions cannot control the functionality directly in Firefox currently. Extensions like Session Boss help themselves by using their own load and save functions.

Closing Words

The new APIs do extend the capabilities of Firefox's extensions system further, and that is a good thing. I'm looking forward to userScripts, session management, toolbars and overlays, as they will improve functionality signifcantly (not sure about toolbars yet).

Now You: What is your take on the additions?

Ghacks needs you. You can find out how to support us here or support the site directly by becoming a Patreon. Thank you for being a Ghacks reader. The post Firefox upcoming WebExtension APIs revealed appeared first on gHacks Technology News.

Original post: https://www.bardtech.com/firefox-upcoming-webextension-apis-revealed/

Can you use the Tor Browser without Tor connection?

Tor Browser is a web browser specifically designed for privacy and anonymity. The web browser is a modified version of Firefox ESR that includes privacy tweaks and even some extensions to improve privacy and security on the Internet. What makes it special is that all connections go through several severs of the Tor network before they connect to the destination. Connections to Tor improve privacy when you are online but could you, in theory, run Tor Browser without Tor? Tor Browser without Tor would still provide better out-of-the-box privacy than Firefox ESR or Firefox Stable -- and other browsers. It is arguably the browser with the best default privacy configuration which might make it attractive to some users. Dropping Tor reduces privacy while online but that can be compensated, e.g. by connecting to a VPN or even chaining VPN services and it would speed things up significantly. Tor is the better choice when it comes to critical tasks, e.g. leaking documents or communication...

12 Striking Dark Wallpaper Sites That Are Perfect for Your Desktop

The computer desktop is a personal space, and so you get to do it up with your choice of wallpapers. Desktop wallpapers reveal something about our natures. The kind of mood you are in. Science says that the choice of colors affect how we think and feel. Maybe also light or the absence of it. So how do you feel about dark desktop wallpapers? The obvious benefit of using dark backgrounds on your desktop is that all your icons and folders stand out in contrast. They make text easier to read. For instance, a dark motivational wallpaper spotlights the inspiring message scribbled on it. So let’s look at a few high-quality free dark-themed wallpapers for your desktop. 1. Wallpapers Craft The better wallpaper sites allow you to choose a wallpaper according to your screen resolution. They also have multiple categories for you to choose from. Wallpapers Craft could be on the shortlist. The catalog of dark wallpapers gives you 1000+ wallpapers to choose from. Sort them by the number of downl...

10 Essential Red Dead Redemption 2 Tips

Red Dead Redemption 2 is one of the most epic open world games ever made. There’s a lot to do in the game, from story missions to sidequests, from hunting animals to robbing banks. And that means Red Dead Redemption 2 can, at times, feel overwhelming. There are some fundamental things you need to learn in order to enjoy Red Dead Redemption 2. And they should help you succeed at playing the game without dying too often. So, here are some essential Red Dead Redemption 2 tips all players should know… 1. Take Note of Your Surroundings This may seem obvious to some, but it’s worth mentioning. Don’t just focus on your destination or waypoint. Instead, scan the horizon for places worth exploring and people worth meeting. Smoke rising into the air means someone has a campfire. A white circle denotes a stranger mission is close by. You’ll also see or hear animals close by that may be worth hunting. 2. Always Set Destinations on Your Map The map in Red Dead Redemption 2 is vast. So vast...

BardTech

Search This Blog